Electric shock or a fatal electrocution accident can happen anywhere. However, these accidents are most common on construction sites. Despite being less common than other types of injuries, accidents involving electricity usually result in very serious or fatal injuries.
Have you been hurt on the job or lost a loved one to an electrocution accident? The Goidel & Siegel attorneys have more than 30 years of experience representing injured construction workers. Contact our New York electrocution accident attorneys for a free consultation to discuss how we can help you.
Electrical injuries are one of the most serious construction site injuries and one of the most common. In 2019, 166 workers were killed in electrocution accidents in the U.S. About 739 workers were killed from electrical exposure between 2012 and 2016 alone. About 43% of these deaths were in construction followed by repair, maintenance, and installation (22%).
Electrocution is one of the construction industry’s “fatal four.” That same year, there were 1,900 non-fatal workplace electrical injuries, 27% of which were in construction.
Between 2007 and 2014, there were 144 construction workers killed on the job in New York City alone. They accounted for 27% of workplace fatalities but only 5% of the city’s workforce. Electrocution was the third leading cause of worker death.
Electrical injuries are common on construction sites. These injuries come in four types:
Certain occupations are at a higher risk of electrical shock and electrocution than others. This includes:
According to OSHA, electrocution accidents on construction sites usually occur for one of the following reasons:
Sometimes electrical injuries happen due to a worker’s carelessness or inattention. They may also be caused by poorly maintained or defective equipment or safety violations such as a lack of fall protection, improper grounding, bad wiring, and more.
Electrocution is a fatal injury. Electrical shocks, however, can still be incredibly serious with potentially permanent consequences. An electrical shock can cause:
Construction workers who suffered an electrical shock may suffer from:
After your accident, you may be entitled to compensation from several sources. The primary source for compensation is workers’ compensation. This no-fault system pays for reasonable medical care. It also offers benefits for lost wages and disability. However, these benefits are capped and may not fully compensate you for your lost earnings. You cannot recover money for your pain, suffering, anguish, and other personal losses through workers’ comp.
You may be entitled to additional compensation through a third-party lawsuit. If a third party like a subcontractor was negligent, or you have a product liability case for defective equipment, you may seek compensation beyond workers’ comp. This can include your pain and suffering, mental anguish, personal losses, and lost earnings beyond the workers’ compensation cap.
New York Labor Law protects construction workers by holding owners and general contractors strictly liable for many violations:
You can hold a general contractor or building owner liable under New York Labor Law if your electrical injury or a loved one’s electrocution was caused by a safety violation under these statutes.
Electrical injuries are among the most frightening and serious construction accidents. Fatal electrocutions are also a very real risk that construction workers face. If you have been hurt in an electrical accident or lost a loved one to electrocution, Goidel & Siegel is here to help you.
Our law firm has tirelessly fought for injured construction workers and their families for more than 30 years. Our multilingual trial lawyers have extensive experience with workers’ compensation and labor law claims. We will fight for the full compensation you deserve from the insurance companies.
Call our law office today at (929) 593-2024 for a free consultation with our New York electrocution accident attorneys. We will meet you however you are comfortable, including through a virtual consultation.
56 W. 45th Street 3rd Floor New York, NY 10036
