Electrocution is the third most common cause of worker death in the U.S. construction industry, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Construction workers are not the only ones at risk of electrocution on the job. Contact with power lines, faulty wiring, and dangerous electrical equipment can cause significant worker injuries in many different workplaces.
If you have serious electrical shock injuries or you lost a loved one to a fatal electrocution in the Dallas area, the industrial machinery accident attorneys at the Law Firm of Aaron A. Herbert, P.C. can help. We have experience with electrocution cases and can lead you through the legal process. You may be eligible for compensation from an employer, product manufacturer, or another party.
The Benefits of Hiring a Lawyer
Taking on an electrocution claim by yourself could be a mistake – especially for a life-changing or fatal incident. Unfortunately, insurance companies do not want to maximize your recovery. They want the opposite. Hiring a lawyer helps you make sure you do not say yes to a lowball settlement offer. Workers’ compensation, for instance, may seem like the simplest solution, but it may not result in adequate recovery. Work with an attorney if you want to feel confident in your course of action.
Did You Lose a Loved One?
Sadly, electrocution is often fatal. Many workers cannot survive significant levels of electric current passing through the body. In 2017, 71 construction workers in the U.S. lost their lives from electrocution. This number only represents killed workers in construction – not other dangerous industries. If you lost a loved one in a workplace electrocution, you have rights. The surviving spouse, children, or parents may file a wrongful death claim within two years of the date of death. Our wrongful death lawyers can help you with your claim in the Dallas area.
Causes of Workplace Electrocutions
Electrocutions can occur at work when someone’s negligence creates an unreasonably dangerous situation for workers. Industrial machinery can cause electric shocks, for example, if it has faulty wiring or if the worker is standing in water. A crane could cause electrocution if it contacts a live power line. Many scenarios could lead to an electric shock or electrocution, but most share one common factor: negligence.
It is an employer’s legal duty to reasonably ensure the safety of workers on a worksite. In a manufacturing facility, for example, an employer must adequately train workers to recognize the risks of electric shock, and how to avoid them. An employer must also provide any necessary protective gear according to OSHA standards. This may include rubber-insulated gloves, arc flash protection, and flame-resistant clothing. An employer’s neglect to fulfill these duties could put workers in a dangerous position.
A defective product may also cause electrocution. Faulty wiring and defective electrical components in industrial machinery could present electricity-related hazards. A worker operating defective machinery could suffer electrical shocks, electrical burns, arc-flash burns, arc-blasts, heat exposure, explosion injuries, concussion, or falls. It is a manufacturer’s duty to minimize the hazards of a piece of equipment through safe designs and manufacturing processes. Failure to do so could expose the manufacturer to liability.
We Can Provide Relief
Electrocutions can cause severe and life-threatening personal injuries. It is critical for employers to provide electrically safe work environments and conditions. This takes obeying related OSHA regulations, routinely inspecting a workplace for electrical hazards, scheduling timely repairs, training workers on safety best practices, and providing all necessary protective equipment to prevent injuries.
If you believe an employer’s negligence caused your or a loved one’s recent electrocution accident, contact us right away. We can also help if defective industrial machinery caused the electric shock. Our personal injury and accident attorneys can immediately go to work on your case, beginning with a free consultation.