Electricity plays a crucial role in our day-to-day lives. Unfortunately, because its use is so prevalent, we often forget that it can also be dangerous, especially for those who are required to work with it on a regular basis. The injuries sustained in electrocution accidents can be severe, ranging from burns and nerve damage to brain trauma and heart attacks, all of which can prove deadly, so if you were injured in an electrocution accident while on the job, you should speak with an experienced lawyer about your legal rights to compensation.
Causes of Electrocution Accidents
Most electrocution-related accidents involve one of a few different types of electrical sources, including power lines, energized equipment, and damaged equipment. Generally, people can be electrocuted by these sources in one of two ways, namely through:
- Direct contact with the electrical source itself, or an intermediary object; or
- Indirect contact.
Of the two, direct contact through an intermediary object is the most common source of electrocution injuries, as it usually occurs when someone touches energized equipment, such as power lines, fuses, circuits, and switches. Because construction workers tend to come into contact with these objects on a regular basis, they have proven to be especially at risk of injury by electrocution. For instance, many construction workers come into close contact with high voltage power lines through the use of metal ladders, cranes, and scaffolding. In fact, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), estimates that electrocution accidents are the third highest cause of death for employees in the construction industry in the U.S. Besides contact with power lines, construction workers are also at risk of electrocution through a failure to use proper grounding protection and to take other precautionary measures.
Electrocution Injuries
Electrocution results in the generation of extreme heat where electrical currents enter and exit a person’s body, which means that electrocution accident injuries typically involve both internal and external burns. These are not the only consequences of electrocution, however, which can also cause damage to a person’s cardiovascular, central nervous, and musculoskeletal systems, resulting in:
- Heart failure;
- Amputation;
- Nerve damage;
- The destruction of blood vessels, tissue, and muscles; and
- Traumatic brain injury.
All of these injuries require immediate hospitalization and treatment, which could include atrial fibrillation, surgery, and skin grafts. Even after obtaining treatment, electrocution victims often suffer from long-term disability, such as scarring, paralysis, and seizures, which can make working difficult, if not impossible. Attempting to cover the cost of this level of treatment can easily drive a victim into debt. Fortunately, in Florida, injured employees who are hurt on the job can recover reimbursement for these losses.
Consult with a Dedicated Fort Lauderdale Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
To learn more about recovering compensation after sustaining an electrocution-related injury while at work, please call one of the experienced Fort Lauderdale workers’ compensation electrocution accident attorneys at The Law Offices of David M. Benenfeld, P.A. at 954-677-0155 today.
