Maison Law advocates on behalf of workers injured in electrocution accidents in Fresno. 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 through workers’ compensation. If there are additional legal avenues for compensation, our firm will make sure you receive them. Contact Maison Law today for a free consultation and case evaluation.
How Can a Fresno Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Help?
With overhead electric power lines at most job sites, workers may not be aware of the inherent danger lurking where they work every day. If something goes wrong, some unfortunate workers may pay a terrible price. If you’ve been injured by electrocution on the job, it is vital you consult with a Fresno Workers’ Compensation Lawyer. Your electrical injury may just be a workers’ compensation case. An attorney can help you manage your workers’ compensation claim and make sure you get all the benefits you’re entitled to. Depending on the severity of your injuries, these benefits can 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.
- Supplemental job displacement: if you are unable to return to your employment after your treating physician has released you, 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.
- Travel Costs: travel to and from medical treatment such as doctor’s visits, surgery appointments, and rehabilitation can be partially or fully covered under workers’ compensation.
- 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.
However, if a third party such as an employer, manufacturer, contractor, or electric utility company caused your work-related injury, an attorney can help you pursue a personal injury lawsuit against the liable party for compensation of damages. An example of this would be an independent contractor who carelessly installed electrical wiring at your place of work, causing you to get severely electrocuted when you flipped a light switch on.
Jobs with the Most Electrocution Injuries
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.
The Risk of Electrocution for Fresno Workers
It’s easy to forget how much we rely on electricity on a day-to-day basis. Nearly every job in America relies on it. So, it’s easy for workers in all trades to forget how easily electricity can cause serious health issues or death if safety precautions are not followed. According to the National Institute of Health, there are approximately 1,000 deaths every year due to electrical injuries and 30,000 non-fatal shock injuries.
The majority of these injuries, however, occur in the workplace, especially in the construction industry. According to Labor Market Info, construction is one of the leading industries in Fresno, putting many of the city’s workers at risk of electrocution injuries every time they go to work. The reason for such a high electrocution rate amongst construction workers is due to the amount of power tools and electrical appliances used in their trade.
What are the Symptoms of an Electrocution Injury?
Believe it or not, electrocution injuries are not always obvious. You may feel a jolt, but other health issues may arise as our bodies are not meant to have foreign electrical currents running through them. In certain cases, an electrical shock can throw off the rhythm of our hearts, resulting in serious health issues. Symptoms of electrocution include:
- Unconsciousness
- Numbness or tingling
- Muscle spasms
- Weak or irregular pulse or no pulse
- Burns at the point where the electricity entered the body
- Vision or hearing problems
- Seizures
- Chest pain
- Abdominal pain
Causes of Electrocution Injury in the Workplace
The majority of electrocution injuries in the workplace are a result of failing to follow safety procedures. Standards of OSHA Safety for electrical work fall under the California Law of Regulations 1910.335. This law states that proper safety equipment must be worn when working with electricity and all equipment must be maintained, inspected, and tested to ensure safety. While it is the duty of the employees to work safely, it is the responsibility of the employer to ensure that the job site is a safe place to work in electrical environments. 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.
FAQ
Q: What benefits am I entitled to through workers’ compensation?
A: Medical care, temporary disability benefits, permanent disability benefits, supplemental job displacement benefits, and death benefits.
Q: What is the required time frame to report an injury?
A: Under California Law, you must report a workplace injury to your employer within 30 days of the incident occurring. If you fail to do so, your claim for workers’ compensation benefits may be barred. A skilled Workers’ Compensation Lawyer can advise you on your rights and help you file the proper forms within the appropriate deadlines.
Q: Is there supposed to be a poster about workers’ compensation posted in my workplace?
A: Yes. Your employer must post the notice to employees poster. This poster will provide you with information on workers’ compensation coverage and where to get medical care for injuries. Failure to post this notice is a misdemeanor with a penalty of up to $7,000 per violation.
Q: What if I am injured on the job and my employer is uninsured?
A: If you have a work-related injury or illness and your employer is uninsured, then your employer is responsible for paying all bills related to your injury or illness. Failing to have workers’ compensation coverage is a misdemeanor, punishable by either a fine of up to $10,000 or imprisonment for up to a year.
Contact a Fresno Electrocution Injury Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been mistreated, neglected, or inadequately compensated by worker’s compensation after suffering an electrocution injury, the attorneys at Maison Law will pursue the full extent of the damages you are owed. For legal counsel concerning your workers’ compensation claim, contact Maison Law today for a free consultation and case evaluation. There are no upfront charges for our legal assistance and you won’t pay a cent unless we win your case.
