Maison Law advocates on behalf of workers injured in electrocution accidents in Salinas. 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.
We understand how essential receiving fair compensation and quality medical treatment is after an electrocution injury. These types of injuries are severe and can require many years, or a lifetime of treatment, to fully recover from. If you’re concerned about the type of care and compensation you’re receiving, then we’d love to discuss your situation with you.
Contact Maison Law today for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.
How Maison Law Helps Salinas Workers Suffering From Electrocution Injuries
Electrical injuries at work can have catastrophic consequences for the injured individual and their families. In California, if you are injured on the job, you will receive two-thirds of your pretax gross wage from workers’ compensation. This amount is set by law and is the maximum amount you can receive. While workers’ compensation is designed to help you, it does not always cover all of your medical needs and the new financial burdens you and your family may face. This is especially true for electrocution injuries, which can carry lifelong physical and neurological symptoms.
That’s why, at Maison Law, our attorneys will not only ensure your financial losses, such as medical bills, lost wages, as well as pain and suffering, are covered by workers’ compensation, but we’ll file a personal injury lawsuit against the party responsible for causing your injury. Whether your injury was caused by a careless property owner in Salinas or a power and utility plant, like Salinas Power Valley Station, that you work for, we’ll take the proper steps to make sure they’re held accountable for the following damages:
- Present and future medical expenses
- Loss of income, as well as the reduction in your earning capacity you’ve suffered due to your electrocution accident
- Cost of living with your injury, such as making your home disability accessible, purchasing a wheelchair or crutches, hiring a nurse or housekeeper
- Damage done to your property during the accident
- Pain and suffering caused by your injuries
- Stress and anxiety due to the nature of your accident
Filing an Electrocution Injuries Workers’ Compensation Claim in Salinas
If you suffered electrocution injuries in Salinas, it is vital to report the incident to your employer the moment you become aware of your injury. If your employer does not learn about your injury within 30 days of it occurring, you could potentially be denied workers’ compensation. Here are the recommended steps for filing a workers’ compensation claim:
- Request a Workers’ Compensation Claim Form (DWC 1) from your employer. They’re required to give you one or send it via mail within one working day after your injury is reported.
- Fill out the form listed above to request benefits from the workers’ compensation program at your workplace. California law requires employers to provide their employees with workers’ compensation benefits for work-related injuries. When filling out your DWC 1 form, describe your illness or injury in great detail and fill out only the employee section of the form.
- Give the form back to your employer as soon as possible. Any delay in filing your workers’ compensation claim may have a negative impact on your claim.
Employer Safety Responsibility Under OSHA Law
In California, you have the right to request an OSHA inspection without the fear of employer discrimination. You can request that inspection here. Your employer is responsible for providing a safe working environment, meaning they are tasked with adhering to all the regulations that govern the company’s trade. Under OSHA law, your employer is responsible for the following:
- Providing a safe working environment, meaning they are tasked with adhering to all the regulations that govern the company’s work. An example would be a construction site. The owner would have the duty to follow all safety regulations relating to construction.
- Provide daily inspections on equipment and sections of the workplace that are prone to hazardous conditions to make sure they adhere to OSHA standards.
- Provide all employees with safety information. The employer should hang OSHA posters, labels, and other safety signs so that all employees have access to the information.
- Your employer needs to provide training so that employees can handle the daily tasks and are knowledgeable about how to deal with hazardous situations.
Common Electrocution Injuries in Salinas Workers’ Compensation Claims
Electrocution happens when high-voltage electricity comes in direct contact with a person, causing an electric current to pass through their body. An electric current within the body can cause severe tissue damage, or interfere with the electrical signals that control the heart. In worse cases, a person’s muscles will tense up and make it difficult to let go of the electrical source, resulting in horrific bodily harm. Some of the most common electrocution injuries suffered at work include:
- Severe burns and shocks
- Internal organ damage or failure
- Limb amputation
- Heart failure
- Damage to the nervous system or muscle tissue
- Brain damage
- Paralysis
- Coma
Common Causes of Salinas Electrocution Injuries
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 one of our attorneys at Maison Law. Contact us today for a free case review and we’ll take the time to answer any and all legal questions you may have.
Jobs with the Most Electrocution Injuries in Salinas
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.
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: Can my employer take part of my check to pay for workers’ compensation?
A: No. Workers’ compensation insurance is part of the cost of doing business in California. An employer cannot ask you to help pay for the insurance premium.
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 Maison Law | Salinas Electrocution Injuries Workers’ Compensation Lawyers
If you or a loved one has been mistreated, neglected, or inadequately compensated by workers’ compensation after suffering an electrocution injury, the attorneys at Maison Law can help. While you recover from your injuries, our firm can manage your workers compensation claim as well as begin to conduct an investigation into any discrepancies your workers’ compensation claim may face.
Our firm specializes in protecting injured workers in Salinas, and we’re prepared to help you get your life back after an unfortunate work-related injury. Contact us today for a confidential, no-cost consultation.
