Construction sites are home to numerous dangers. Electrocution is one such danger that carries a high degree of risk given the strength of the currents that could be in use at construction sites and the fact that many objects on construction work sites can carry an electrical current, including:
- Ladders;
- Scaffolding;
- Scissor lifts;
- Any metal that could be part of the what is being constructed; and
- Standing water.
Life-altering consequences can result for construction workers who have suffered an injury because of an electrical accident. A number of debilitating injuries can result from electrical accidents, including heart attacks, paralysis, neurological disorders, and seizures.
Victims of electrical accidents and their families can also face an unnecessary financial burden. Injured workers may suffer lost wages because they could be forced to miss an extended period of time at work. Additionally, injured workers may be required to undergo multiple medical procedures for their electricity related injuries, resulting in expensive medical bills that may not be covered by insurance.
If a construction worker has suffered any of the hardships mentioned above after an electrocution accident, they may be entitled to compensation for damages. Injured construction workers should seek the counsels of an experienced construction accident attorney. Our construction accident attorneys understand the hardships victims and their families face after an electrocution accident. We will pursue the maximum amount of compensation for all our clients in the hopes that it will help to make the road to recovery easier.
What Can You Be Compensated For?
If a construction worker has been injured in an electrical accident they may be entitled to compensation in a number of areas. Possible compensation includes, though it is not limited to:
- Lost Wages: Debilitating injuries are often the result of electrical accidents. These injuries may cause construction workers to undergo many surgeries and rigorous rehabilitation. As a result, injured workers may be away from work for long periods of time. Construction workers may find some financial relief with workers compensation, but it will not pay an injured workers’ full salary. Injured construction workers may be able to recoup lost wages that resulted from their injury in a negligence lawsuit.
- Medical Bills: Construction workers who have suffered injury due to an electrical accident may be forced to undergo extensive surgeries, doctor’s visits, and rehabilitation. Insurance may not cover all the medical bills for these treatments. Victims who face mounting medical bills after an electrocution accident may be able to obtain compensation for these losses, possibly receiving compensation for both past and future medical bills that relate to their injury.
- Pain and Suffering: Electrical accident victims may also be eligible to receive compensation for their long-term pain and suffering that resulted from their injuries. This would include, but is not limited to, constant physical pain and emotional damage.
- Loss of Union Benefits: A construction worker may lose their union benefits if a construction worker suffers an onsite injury and is forced out of work. If this is the case, the injured worker may be able to recoup their benefits if they file a lawsuit against the party responsible for their injury.
- Wrongful Death: The family of a construction worker who has died as a result of an electrical accident may file a wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible party. The family may, through a wrongful death lawsuit, be able to recover compensation for the funeral costs, lost wages, and loss of consortium.
Learn About Your Legal Rights and Options
Vicarious liability is placed on property owners and general contractors by Labor law Section 241(6) when they violate one of the specific safety rules laid out in Rule 23 of the Industrial Code and an injury occurs during the construction or demolition of a building, or while excavation work is being done. Under this rule the general contractor and property owner may be liable for the injury, even if another individual committed the violation.
Construction workers who have been injured in an electrical accident should seek the counsel of one of Greenberg and Greenberg’s skill personal injury lawyers. The construction accidents lawyers at our firm have been aiding victims of electrical accidents obtain favorable verdicts or settlements for more than 70 years.
The Hudson electrocution accident attorneys at Greenberg and Greenberg handle cases throughout New York State, including Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, and Albany County. Our legal team has earned a reputation for dedicated service to our clients injured in New York personal injury accidents. Please contact us today to receive a FREE case evaluation by dialing locally to 518-828-3336 or call toll free at 877-469-9300.