One of the most devastating, industrial workers, and mechanical workers come from electric shocks or electrocution. In fact, electrocution is the second leading cause of death to construction workers, just behind falls. About 1,000 people die every year from electrocution, with around 700 of these deaths attributed to occupational electrocution. Workers using cranes, cherry pickers, scaffolding, and metal ladders may come into contact with overhead power lines and suffer an electric shock large enough to stop their hearts. The type of current, voltage, and duration of the electricity entering one’s body will determine the severity of the injuries a person sustains from electric shock. Rail and train yards are full of high voltage wires and electric sources and are often the source of the most catastrophic electrocution accidents.
Injuries Caused By Electrical Sources on a Construction Site Can Be Severe
Injuries caused by contact with electrical sources can range from severe burns that require surgery and skin grafting, heart damage, blindness, brain damage, amputation, nerve damage, to permanent disability, and death. Many times, secondary injuries are sustained when someone is thrown from the source of electricity and can result in broken bones, internal organ injuries, spinal cord injuries, paralysis, and death. If you or someone you love was seriously injured by electric shock, our Philadelphia catastrophic injury lawyers may be able to help you determine who was at fault for your injuries.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reported that the majority of electrocution accidents that occur at the workplace occur due to unsafe equipment or installation, unsafe work practices, lack of safety training, or an unsafe environment, and are largely preventable. Safety measures that can prevent electrocution on the job include the use of insulation and guarding, keeping electric tools properly maintained, and using protective equipment like rubber insulated gloves, face shields, sleeves, hoods, and rubber matting. If employers fail to adequately train their employees or fail to provide basic safety equipment and devices to protect their employees from electric shock and electrocution, they may be held responsible for employees’ injuries.
While the majority of severe electric shock accidents occur at the workplace, defective household products, and improper wiring can also cause electric shock and electrocution in the household or other places of public accommodation. Wires that are poorly insulated or exposed and outlets without grounding can be especially hazardous to children, who can be seriously injured by lower voltages than adults. Thousands of household products like hair dryers, power tools, kitchen appliances, and other electronics have been recalled for posing serious electric shock and electrocution hazards. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has reported at least 70 electrocution fatalities occur annually from consumer products.
Liability for Philadelphia Construction Site Electrocution Injuries
If you have been harmed in an electrical accident that was not your fault, you could be entitled to monetary compensation. However, what options are available will depend on the circumstances surrounding your injury.
If you were injured while working, Pennsylvania’s workers’ compensation laws would prohibit you from filing a personal injury lawsuit against your employer. The upside is that workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, so you are not required to prove that your employer did anything reckless or careless to qualify for benefits. The trade-off for not suing your employer is a streamlined system for injured employees to collect financial benefits for their medical expenses and a percentage of their lost wages. You should speak with an experienced Philadelphia workers’ compensation attorney so you understand your rights.
In other cases, someone who suffers an electrocution injury could file a lawsuit against a responsible third-party. For instance, a construction worker could have been using a power tool with a defective cord that resulted in a painful and debilitating electrical injury. In this case, the injured worker could have a claim against the manufacturer of the tool or another party in the chain of distribution.
Someone who suffered an electrocution injury could also have a claim against the property owner. When the job site owner is an entity other than your employer, they could be held accountable if you could prove that the construction site was negligently maintained. For example, if the owner failed to adhere to federal, state, or local safety standards or did not disclose a known hazard.
If you pursue a third-party claim, you will have to demonstrate that another person or entity’s negligence caused your injury. Additionally, you will also have to prove that your conduct did not contribute to the accident to avoid having your compensation lowered or denied. In Philadelphia, if an injured person contributed to an accident, their financial recovery could be decreased by their percentage of fault. If you were more than 50% to blame for an accident, you will not be permitted to receive any compensation in a personal injury lawsuit.
If you are injured in an electrocution accident, you should speak with our accomplished Philadelphia personal injury attorney to determine if there are liable third-parties and if you have a solid legal case against them.
Compensation for Electrocution Injuries in Philadelphia
The type and amount of compensation available after an electrocution accident depends on the type of claim. If you qualify for workers’ compensation benefits, you will recover your medical expenses and a portion of your lost wages.
However, through a third-party personal injury claim, you could be entitled to significantly more compensation. For example, if you cannot work, whether it is for a few weeks, months, or years, you could recover your entire lost wages. Additionally, while workers’ compensation covers your medical expenses, you could recover additional costs such as parking fees, medication, and home modifications if required.
Electrocution victims are also entitled to compensation for their physical, emotional, and mental suffering. These types of non-economic damages are not typically available in a workers’ compensation claim.
Experienced Electrocution Accident Attorneys in Philadelphia
If a defective or unsafe product seriously injured or electrocuted you or a loved one, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Our highly skilled Philadelphia product liability lawyers have been awarded millions on behalf of their catastrophically injured clients.
