Maison Law advocates on behalf of workers injured in electrocution accidents in San Jose. If you need adequate benefits and medical procedures for your electrocution injuries, the Workers’ Compensation Attorneys at Maison Law will ensure you receive all the medical treatment and compensation you are entitled to. If there are additional legal avenues for compensation, our firm will find them and ensure you receive them. For dedicated legal workers’ compensation counsel, contact Maison Law today for a free consultation and case evaluation.
Do I Need a Lawyer for an Electrocution Injury Workers’ Compensation Claim in San Jose?
Electrocution injuries are amongst the most painful and physically devastating for a person to endure. In more serious incidents, electrocution can result in permanent disability. Employees who suffer electrocution injuries on the job are entitled to workers’ compensation doesn’t always provide the necessary coverage, or they will deny the claim altogether. This can leave many employees with financial burdens, sustained injuries, and career uncertainty.
A San Jose Workers’ Compensation Lawyer can hold workers’ compensation responsible for all the benefits you are entitled to. An attorney will also file a lawsuit against workers’ compensation if your claim is:
- Denied: if your worker’s compensation claim is denied, an attorney can help you appeal the decision and represent you through negotiations.
- Inadequate: if you believe your workers’ compensation benefits do not cover all your medical bills, lost wages, or other expenses, an attorney can help you seek the full compensation.
- A permanent disability claim: in cases of permanent disability, disputes over the level of impairment or the amount of compensation can arise, requiring legal representation and guidance.
If your electrocution injury was caused by a careless act or defective equipment, then an attorney can also file a personal injury lawsuit to claim additional benefits on your behalf.
Common Causes of Electrocution in Workers’ Compensation Claims in San Jose
Whenever a worker is handling an exposed wire or works near an electrical source, there is always a risk of electrical injury if proper safety precautions are not adhered to. It is the responsibility of the employer to provide safety training and safety gear to employees working near exposed, electrical currents. Workers should be provided with the following Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
- Heavy rubber gloves
- Rubber boots
- Helmets
- Masks
- Flash suits
- Voltage rated tools
- Safety glasses
Even with these proper precautions, electrocution injuries can still occur. Typically, when these accidents happen on a job site, someone acts carelessly or recklessly. The most common causes of workplace electrocutions include:
- Defective or malfunctioning equipment
- Wires left exposed in unnatural places
- Metal objects left in contact with power lines or electrical sources
- Unprotected contact with industrial equipment like welding torches
- Overloaded power supplies and extension chords
- Flooding near live wires, outlets, or other electrical equipment
If you were electrocuted at work for any reason, you are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. In the state of California, even if you were at fault for your injuries, you can still collect workers’ compensation benefits. To better understand your right to compensation it is recommended to consult with an Electrocution Workers’ Compensation Lawyer.
Jobs with the Most Electrocution Injuries in San Jose
Different types of employment come with specific risks. For some jobs, the threat of electrocution is always present and safety precautions must be adhered to at all times. The most common industries where electrocutions occur include:
- Electrical line workers: this profession involves the handling of high-voltage power lines and exposure to live electrical currents is very high in order for these workers to perform their daily duties.
- Electricians: these professionals install, wire, and troubleshoot our electrical systems. Their work is in the direct line of electrical currents, making them vulnerable to electrical shocks and severe burns.
- Power plant workers: complex machinery and intricate electrical systems found in power plants make these workers susceptible to electrocution.
- Construction workers: construction workers make up 44% of all on-the-job electrocution fatalities in the United States, according to Electrical Safety Foundation International. This is due to how often they rely on electrical tools for their work, as well as their proximity to electrical systems when performing construction.
Electrocution Injury Workers’ Compensation Benefits
If you suffer an electrocution injury at work, your employer is required by law to provide you with workers’ compensation benefits under California Labor Code Section 3700. Benefits provided by workers’ compensation include:
- Lifetime medical care: severe injuries sustained at work can result in treatment for the rest of one’s life, or for the duration of the injury.
- Temporary disability: temporary disability benefits pay for two-thirds of the gross (pre-tax) wages you lose while you are recovering from a job injury. This is paid by filing a workers’ compensation claim through your employer.
- Permanent disability: awarded to injured workers who are permanently unable to perform the normal work or activities they were capable of doing prior to the date of the injury. Monetary amounts for permanent disability vary on a case-by-case basis. These are typically rewarded after one full year of temporary disability.
- Supplemental job displacement: if you are unable to return to your employment after you have been released by your treating physician, you may be entitled to receive a voucher that will be paid up to a school up to a certain amount, depending on your disability.
- Death benefits: in the result of a fatal accident at work, workers’ compensation pays qualifying dependents up to a maximum of $320,000 with up to $10,000 for burial expenses.
Contact a San Jose Electrocution Injury Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
It is recommended to speak to a lawyer as soon as you suffer an electrocution injury at work. Maison Law specializes in the complex legal process of workers’ compensation claims in San Jose and will protect your right to compensation through workers’ compensation and personal injury lawsuits if your injury was caused by someone else. For dedicated workers’ compensation representation in San Jose, contact Maison Law today for a free consultation and case evaluation. There are no upfront charges for our services and you will not have to pay a cent unless we win your case.
