Working on a construction site comes with risks, but few are as sudden and severe as electrical shock injuries. An accident involving electricity can be devastating for construction workers and their families. From burns to cardiac complications and even wrongful death, electrical shock injuries are a stark reminder of how dangerous construction sites can be.
In New York, laws are in place to protect workers from unsafe conditions, but unfortunately, these protections don’t always prevent accidents. If you or someone you know has suffered an electrical injury on a construction site, talk to a dedicated New York City construction accident lawyer right away.
A skilled attorney from The Perecman Firm will help you understand your rights and make a profound difference in your recovery and future. We will work to secure you the maximum compensation so you can focus on your health and well-being.
Understanding Electrical Shock Injuries on Construction Sites
Construction sites are filled with potential hazards, and electricity is among the most dangerous. Many workers come into contact with electrical systems daily, whether through handling tools, working near power lines, or navigating active sites with exposed wiring.
Here’s how some of the most common electrical accidents occur on construction sites:
- Contact with Power Lines: Construction projects near live power lines present a constant hazard. A worker might accidentally come into contact with a live power line while operating a crane, scaffolding, or ladder. This type of contact can lead to severe burns, nerve damage, and, in tragic cases, death.
- Faulty Electrical Equipment: In some cases, machinery and equipment may not be properly grounded or may have faulty wiring. This risk is particularly high if the equipment is not regularly inspected or maintained, leading to short circuits, exposed wires, or other dangerous conditions.
- Inadequate Grounding or Insulation: Electrical systems and tools must be correctly grounded and insulated to prevent workers from accidental exposure to electric currents. A failure to follow basic electrical safety protocols, like grounding, can make the entire worksite more hazardous.
- Wet or Damp Conditions: Water and electricity are a dangerous combination. Electric shocks can occur more easily when construction work happens in damp areas, near open water, or after rainfall. Injuries are almost inevitable if the work site isn’t prepared with proper safety equipment to mitigate electrical risks in wet conditions.
Types of Injuries from Electrical Accidents on Construction Sites
Electrical injuries can have catastrophic consequences, including burns, nerve damage, muscle and tissue injury, and even death. For survivors, the road to recovery is often long and challenging, involving extensive medical care, rehabilitation, and potential long-term disabilities. For families who lose a loved one to electrocution on the job, the emotional and financial toll is immeasurable.
The injuries from an electrical shock vary based on the voltage, duration of exposure, and point of contact, but they’re often severe. Some common injuries from electrical accidents include:
- Burns: High-voltage electricity can cause severe burns that penetrate deep into muscle and tissue, often requiring surgeries and grafts.
- Cardiac Complications: Electrical shock can disrupt the heart’s rhythm, leading to complications like arrhythmia or cardiac arrest.
- Nerve and Brain Damage: Electrical injuries can damage nerves, leading to loss of sensation or movement in certain areas of the body. In severe cases, brain injury may result from electrical exposure, causing cognitive and emotional changes.
- Muscle and Tissue Damage: The electric current may cause muscles to contract strongly, sometimes leading to broken bones, torn muscles, and other tissue injuries.
For construction workers dealing with these life-altering injuries, securing compensation is critical not only for medical expenses but also for lost income and long-term care. That’s where the guidance of a construction accident lawyer becomes invaluable.
Compensation Categories for Electric Shock Injury Claims
After suffering an electric shock injury on a construction site, many workers face financial and emotional challenges alongside the physical pain of recovery. New York laws allow injured workers to pursue various types of compensation to help address the losses and hardships caused by these injuries.
Understanding the full scope of potential compensation is crucial, and working with an experienced construction accident attorney ensures that you receive fair consideration for each type of loss. Here are the primary categories of compensation that an electric shock injury claim may cover:
Medical Expenses
Medical costs are often the largest and most immediate concern for someone injured in a construction accident. Compensation should cover emergency treatment, hospital stays, surgeries, ongoing medical care, physical therapy, and any other necessary treatments related to the injury.
Lawyers will work with medical professionals to estimate the full extent of medical expenses, including anticipated future treatments that can help you get the best possible outcome.
Lost Income
Many injured construction workers face time away from work while they recover, which means lost income. Compensation for lost wages includes the income you would have earned if the injury had not taken you off the job. To calculate lost wages, lawyers will gather information from your employer about your standard work hours, pay rate, and other sources of income impacted by the injury.
Future Earnings
Compensation can also cover future earning potential for workers facing long-term or permanent injuries. Injuries from electric shocks can lead to disabilities that prevent someone from returning to their previous job or working in any capacity.
Compensation for future earnings helps to offset these financial losses and ensure a stable financial future. Estimating future earnings can be complex, and lawyers may bring in vocational and economic experts to determine how the injury could impact your ability to work in the future.
Pain and Suffering
Physical pain from electric shock injuries can be severe and long-lasting, impacting your overall quality of life. Compensation for pain and suffering addresses the physical discomfort and limitations caused by the injury.
Pain and suffering awards vary depending on the severity of the injury, how it affects your daily life, and how long the pain or discomfort is expected to last. A lawyer can advocate for a fair assessment by presenting medical documentation and expert testimony on your behalf.
Emotional Distress
Electric shock injuries can be traumatic and may result in psychological effects like anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Compensation for emotional distress considers the mental toll of the injury and how it affects your life and relationships. An experienced attorney will help document the emotional impact of the injury, working with therapists and counselors to provide evidence of this form of suffering.
Loss of Quality of Life
In cases where electric shock injuries lead to permanent physical or mental changes, compensation may cover a reduction in your quality of life. For instance, you may no longer be able to participate in activities you once enjoyed or require assistance with everyday tasks.
This form of compensation acknowledges the personal and emotional loss you’ve experienced and helps provide financial support as you adapt to your new normal.
By working with the team of construction accident lawyers at The Perecman Firm, you gain access to resources that support accurate and thorough valuation of your claim. Your attorney will fight to ensure that each category is fully considered and that you receive fair compensation that aligns with the true impact of your injury.
The Complexities of Electrical Injury Claims
Construction accident cases involving electrical injuries are among the most complex to litigate. Here are just a few reasons why legal representation is so crucial in these cases:
- Multiple Parties May Be Liable: Electrical accidents can result from the negligence of multiple parties, such as equipment manufacturers, subcontractors, or property owners.
- Comprehensive Evidence Collection: In these cases, gathering evidence is essential, but doing so alone can be overwhelming, especially when recovering from a serious injury. Your lawyer will collect incident reports, witness statements, and medical records on your behalf, ensuring that your case is supported by thorough documentation.
- Assessing Long-Term Damages: Electrical injuries can lead to long-term or even permanent disabilities. A construction accident attorney with experience in catastrophic injuries understands the need to pursue compensation that covers future medical care, ongoing therapy, and any necessary lifestyle adjustments.
- Wrongful Death Considerations: For families who’ve lost a loved one to electrocution, filing a wrongful death claim adds another layer of complexity. The claim must demonstrate that negligence led to the fatal injury, requiring careful investigation and skilled presentation. A wrongful death lawsuit can provide surviving family members with financial support for funeral expenses, lost income, and the emotional pain of their loss.
Why Hiring a Construction Accident Lawyer Matters
If you’ve experienced an electrical injury on the job, it’s natural to wonder about your next steps. Many injured workers in New York assume that workers’ compensation will cover their expenses, but these benefits rarely address the full impact of a severe injury. Hiring a construction accident lawyer to handle your claim provides several advantages:
- Thorough Case Investigation: Proving fault in an electrical shock injury case can be complex. Was the accident due to faulty equipment, negligence on the part of a contractor, or unsafe site conditions? Your lawyer will investigate every angle of the case to ensure that all responsible parties are held accountable.
- Navigating New York Labor Laws: New York’s Labor Law Sections 240, 241, and 200 offer protections to construction workers, including specific provisions for electrical injuries. For instance, Labor Law Section 241 imposes a duty on employers to maintain safe working conditions for construction workers, including properly handling electrical hazards. Experienced attorneys know how to use these laws to their client’s advantage.
- Securing Maximum Compensation: In cases of serious injury, it’s essential to pursue all forms of compensation available. A skilled lawyer will work to secure funds for medical expenses, lost income, rehabilitation, and the pain and suffering caused by the accident. If a wrongful death occurs, attorneys can also pursue compensation for the family’s loss, covering funeral expenses and emotional suffering.
- Dealing with Insurance Companies: Insurance companies often seek to minimize payouts, especially when large sums are at stake. A construction accident lawyer knows how to handle these negotiations and ensure you’re not pressured into accepting a low settlement.
- Representing You in Court: If the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement, a lawyer will be prepared to take your case to court. They’ll present compelling evidence, call on expert witnesses if needed, and advocate on your behalf to ensure you have the best possible chance of securing full compensation through a jury verdict.
With The Perecman Firm on your side, you can feel confident knowing your case is being handled diligently and carefully. We focus on maximizing your compensation so that you and your family can focus on healing and rebuilding.
How OSHA Violations Build a Case for Negligence
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has strict regulations in place to protect workers from electrical hazards on construction sites. These regulations outline specific requirements for preventing electric shock injuries, such as ensuring proper grounding of electrical equipment, providing protective gear, implementing lockout/tagout procedures, and maintaining safe distances from live power sources.
When a construction accident involving electric shock occurs, OSHA regulations become essential in determining liability. If an investigation reveals that an employer, contractor, or site manager violated OSHA’s safety standards, this can serve as evidence of negligence.
For example, if a contractor fails to provide adequate training on handling live wires or does not follow lockout/tagout procedures, this breach of OSHA standards may directly point to their responsibility for causing the injury.
A personal injury attorney with extensive experience handling construction site injury claims can use these OSHA violations as leverage to establish liability, holding the responsible parties accountable for failing to provide a safe working environment. By doing so, the attorney strengthens your case and can help maximize the compensation you receive for your injury.
Choose The Perecman Firm for Your Electrocution Injury Claim
For decades, the Perecman Firm has been a trusted ally for injured construction workers in New York City, Queens, and Long Island. Our commitment to making things right for injured workers means we leave no detail unchecked.
We stand up to the powerful entities responsible for construction site safety violations and hold them accountable. When you work with us, you’re not just another case; you’re a valued client whose health, well-being, and future matter deeply to us.
Our warm and welcoming team is ready to support you every step of the way, from the initial consultation to securing a settlement or verdict that provides for your future. For a free consultation, reach out to us today, and let us show you the difference a compassionate, experienced New York City personal injury lawyer can make.
Call our New York City office at 212-977-7033, our Queens, NY, office at 718-587-0108, or our Jericho office on Long Island at 516-268-0130. You can also contact us online.