Electrocution accidents are some of the most dangerous on construction sites. Electrical accidents cause many hard-to-see injuries, with some workers wrongly believing they are not seriously injured even after several volts of electricity run through them. Call Michael J. Lichner today to speak with an experienced Joliet construction site injury lawyer. Our firm believes injured workers deserve fair compensation for their injuries, and we have the skills and resources to make that a reality.
Main Causes of Electrocution Accidents
There are many ways workers are hurt in electrocution incidents, including:
Wiring Defects
Workers can suffer electrocution due to improper wiring. Electricity might surge unexpectedly, or a worker could accidentally touch an exposed wire that was not properly installed. Wiring defects are often hard for some construction workers to see, so they are injured inadvertently.
Improper Grounding
Grounding involves connecting an electrical circuit to the ground. Adequate grounding is critical for worker safety, and any failure can lead to electrocution accidents when a construction worker is accidentally shocked.
Defective Equipment
Many tools are powered by electricity. A defect could lead to an electrical injury, especially when tools are worn out or used without proper maintenance.
Overhead Power Lines
Someone working on a roof or ladder is at risk of electrical accidents. A ladder might slide and accidentally touch a live wire, leading to an electrocution since the aluminum ladder conducts electricity. Someone on the roof might accidentally touch a live wire when they forget where they are in relation to the wires.
Water
Water is a great conductor of electricity, and construction sites are often damp after a night of rain. Some power tools are more dangerous to handle when they are wet.
Other problems include basement flooding, where water can seep into electrical outlets and conduct electricity.
Damaged Insulation
Insulation protects workers by creating a barrier between a live wire and the worker. However, insulation damage can lead to electrocution accidents.
Defective Gloves
Many workers wear insulated gloves to minimize the risk of electrocution, but gloves need to be in good working order. Some are worn out, or they were possibly designed in a defective manner. Even though a worker is wearing personal protective equipment, they can still get injured. Electrocution is a frightening experience, so call a construction site injury lawyer to discuss what steps to take. Typically, you should preserve any protective equipment for your lawyer to inspect.
Preventing Electrocution Accidents in Construction Sites
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has created federal standards to prevent electrocution accidents at job sites. General contractors should know about these rules and implement them to minimize the risk of serious injury.
For example, construction workers should locate utilities before beginning their work. That will help them from accidentally touching a power source.
Contractors should also use ground-fault circuit interrupters, which are an important safety tool for dealing with wet conditions at the site. Other requirements include learning what a safe distance is when around power lines.
Failure to follow OSHA guidelines puts everyone’s safety at risk. Nonetheless, many contractors try to save money or fail to employ common-sense protections because they are in a rush to meet a tight deadline. They also neglect to provide critical training to workers to help them protect themselves.
Electrocution Accidents and Injuries
Workers can suffer both direct and indirect injuries when electrocuted.
Direct injuries are those caused by the electrical current coursing through a worker’s body:
- Brain injuries
- Organ damage
- Internal burns
- Nerve damage
- Cardiac arrest
- Respiratory arrest
Indirect injuries usually occur after a worker falls. Someone who is electrocuted while working on a ladder or scaffolding can fall and suffer various traumatic injuries, such as:
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Broken bones
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Herniated discs
- Paralysis
Falling from a second story or higher is incredibly dangerous, and a leading cause of catastrophic or fatal injuries. If a person survives, they could become permanently disabled.
Seeking Compensation for an Electrical Accident
Construction workers should be covered by their employer’s workers’ compensation insurance, which is required in Illinois. This insurance pays no-fault benefits, including medical care to treat direct and indirect injuries. So long as you were hurt in the course of work, you should qualify for benefits.
Injured workers might also receive wage loss benefits if their injuries are sufficiently serious to keep them out of work. Electrocution injuries can be substantial. You might need surgery or time in the intensive care unit. A brain injury could take a year or longer to heal, with a worker losing income each week they are away from the job site.
If someone died in the accident, surviving family members might receive a death benefit through workers’ compensation. Call our office to speak with our legal team about what steps you should take.
Can You Sue for Electrocution Accidents on Construction Sites?
Possibly. You cannot sue your employer, who is protected by the workers’ compensation system. Workers’ comp benefits are the sole remedy against your employer for an on-the-job accident.
However, you might sue a different defendant for:
- Defective gloves or other personal protective equipment (PPE). The manufacturer might have put a defective product on the market, and they are liable when this product injures a worker.
- Faulty equipment. Defective equipment can electrocute someone who is using it according to directions.
- Undisclosed hazards on the property, such as a buried wire. The property owner could be legally liable for an electrocution injury if the property is dangerous.
Filing a personal injury lawsuit is a good way to supplement compensation from a workers’ comp award. Attorney Lichner has the experience in both workers’ compensation and personal injury that injured workers need to maximize the amount of money they receive.
Schedule Your Free Consultation
Electrocution accidents injure thousands of people each year, and construction is one of the most dangerous jobs in the state. Michael J. Lichner can help if you or your loved one was injured in a construction accident. Contact us to learn next steps and schedule a free consultation.