Electrocution Accidents
New York Electrocution Accident Lawyers Who Help Clients Recover Compensation
Though electricians and their apprentices account for nearly twenty percent of all electrocutions, live wire injuries and fatal electrocutions can happen to anyone, in any industry. All types of skilled construction workers are electrocuted every year, including carpenters, welders, heavy machinery operators, plumbers, bricklayers, sheet rockers and painters. Over 40 percent of worker electrocution deaths happen when a worker or equipment being used comes into contact with overhead power lines. Many other electrical injuries are caused by contact with exposed wiring.
Workers compensation insurance companies in New York see hundreds of electrocution cases each year, and they will often downplay the extent of the injuries or look for excuses to deny claims. Don’t put up with a denied workers compensation claim. Call the determined New York work injury attorneys at Pasternack Tilker Ziegler Walsh Stanton & Romano, LLP so we can fight for your rights.
Electrocuted On the Job? Call a Relentless, Experienced Workers Compensation Lawyer
Anyone working in the construction industry is at risk of being hurt by an electric current. Not only are overhead power lines dangerously close to workers using cranes, bucket trucks, bulldozers, scaffolds and ladders, but many workers are electrocuted in crawl spaces under buildings, in ceilings, attics, basements or when drilling through walls. The result of electric shock can be severe burn injury, nerve damage, heart attack, neurological damage, pain in the hands or feet, even broken bones.
Employees of other industries can suffer high voltage shock injuries as well. A healthcare worker can be electrocuted by a faulty plug on a heart monitor, an office worker typing on a keyboard could be electrocuted by a frayed extension cord, or a utility worker could accidentally touch a live underground wire. Workers who repair machines and appliances, who work with lighting or neon signs, and who rig theatrical lighting are at risk for electrocution as well.
What are the four main types of electrical injuries?
Electrical injuries can occur in various ways, each with their own mechanisms and potential health risks. The four main types of electrical injuries include:
- Electric shock: Symptoms can range from mild tingling sensations to severe burns, cardiac arrest, and even death. They can also cause indirect injuries from falls.
- Electrical burns: These injuries can cause deep tissue damage, which may not be immediately apparent.
- Arc burns: These burns often cause severe skin damage and are commonly seen in industrial electrical accidents where high-voltage equipment is used.
- Muscle contractions and blunt trauma: These involuntary contractions can be powerful enough to throw someone away from the electrical source. It can often lead to blunt trauma injuries such as bone fractures and head injuries.
The chance of survival from these injuries often depends on the voltage of the electric current, the path the current takes through the body, the duration of the exposure, the timeline and effectiveness of the medical response, and your overall health.
How do electrical accidents in the workplace affect workers?
Recovering from a serious electrocution accident is often not a quick process. Electrical accidents in the workplace can lead to partial or total disability. Long-term damage from electrical injuries may include:
- Memory loss
- Fainting
- Sciatica
- Loss of balance
- Frequent headaches
- Muscle spasms
- Limited range of motion
- Numbness
- Persistent pain
If you sustained electrocution injuries on the job, then you should get workers’ compensation to cover your medical expenses and replace your lost income during your recovery. If you have permanent damage, you may be eligible for permanent disability and schedule loss of use (SLU) benefits. However, in order to access those benefits, you need strong legal representation. An electrocution accident lawyer can help.
Live Wires Injure and Kill New York Workers Every Year
If you were electrocuted at work, or if you lost a loved one in a job-related fatal electrocution, call Pasternack Tilker Ziegler Walsh Stanton & Romano, LLP toll-free at (800) 692-3717 or contact us online for a free evaluation. We fight hard to protect the rights of New Yorkers.