Electrical injuries account for roughly 1,000 deaths in the United States every year. Another 30,000 people suffer non-fatal electric injuries. Far too many of these incidents happen at work. Electrocution accidents are the fourth-leading cause of job-related deaths in the U.S., according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI).
In Georgia, workers’ compensation is possible for people who sustain electrocution injuries. Workers’ comp benefits will pay for medical expenses and a portion of the employee’s lost wages while they heal. Workers may also be able to file a personal injury claim against the negligent third party if someone else is responsible for the incident. An Albany electrocution accident lawyer can determine what options are available if you sustained an electrical injury at work.
Reach out to the Law Offices of William F. Underwood, III, P.C. today. Even though workers’ compensation benefits should be paid to qualified employees automatically, insurance companies often hesitate to pay the full benefits that workers deserve. And if you can file a third-party electrocution lawsuit, you could be entitled to additional compensation beyond your workers’ comp benefits. An experienced attorney will pursue money from every possible source for you.
Our personal injury attorneys can help you from case open to case closed. Call or contact us today for a free consultation with an electrocution accident lawyer.
What is an Electrical Injury?
An electrical injury occurs when a person comes in contact with an electrical current. Around 30 to 50 electrocution injuries occur in freak accidents like lightning strikes per year. But most electrical accidents are preventable and occur at work or in homes.
Electric injuries can damage the human body both externally and internally. Individuals can suffer life-threatening organ damage even if they have what appears like minor electrocution burns at the accident scene. Even a low-voltage electrical injury can prove fatal, so getting medical attention immediately is crucial.
Types of Electric Shock Injuries
Electrocution injuries can happen in two ways. The first injury could stem from the electric shock itself. But workers can also suffer secondary injuries after the shock (e.g., losing consciousness and falling off a platform onto the ground).
The most common electrocution injuries include:
- Thermal burns
- Electrocution brain injury
- Cardiac arrest or arrhythmia
- Respiratory arrest
- Collapsed lungs (pneumothorax)
- Muscle, nerve, and tissue damage
- Blunt force trauma
- Spinal cord injury
- Broken bones
- Seizures
- Loss of consciousness
- Coma
- Pain
- General feelings of discomfort
The severity of an electrical injury depends on the type of current, its voltage and resistance, and how long the person was exposed to the electric current.
Causes of Electrical Injuries
According to the NCBI, at least half of work-related electrocution injuries are due to contact with power lines. About 25 percent occur after contact with power machinery and tools.
The leading causes of electrocution injuries include:
- Indirect or direct contact with power lines
- Touching ungrounded wires or equipment
- Using tools with worn insulation or exposed wires
- Lack of proper safety gear
- Temporary wiring
- Improperly installed or defective electrical equipment, like electrical cords
Electricians, engineers, construction workers, miners, and employees involved in building and grounds maintenance are most likely to come in contact with electrical hazards.
Treatment for Electrical Injuries
Visit an emergency department immediately after an electrocution accident. Though the incident may only leave you with superficial burns ― or even no burn ― the current can wreak havoc on your internal organs.
The treatment you receive will depend on the type of electrical injury you sustained (e.g., high voltage vs. low voltage), how long you were exposed to the electrical energy, and what area of the body was impacted.
Most electrical shock injuries start in the hand, foot, or head. Unsurprisingly, any electrocution injury to the head could result in widespread damage to the nervous system.
Immediate treatment could involve:
- Heart monitoring
- Clearing the airway, if oral or facial burns threaten breathing
- Evaluating neurological function, especially in cases of suspected traumatic brain injury
- Treating burns
- Setting broken bones
- Ruling out internal injuries to muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints
- Stabilizing the neck and spine if the electrical injury led to a fall
- Lab tests
In the wake of an electrocution injury, workers may also need treatment for depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and other emotional and behavioral challenges.
Georgia Personal Injury Statute of Limitations
The statute of limitations refers to the amount of time a person has to file a claim for compensation after an accident.
With a workplace accident, two statutes of limitations may apply.
- Workers’ compensation statute of limitations: You only have one year to file a workers’ compensation claim in Georgia or one year from the last date of authorized medical treatment or two years from your last receipt of income benefits. Fail to file a claim by the deadline, and you could lose your right to benefits. The advantage of workers’ comp benefits is that they are available no matter who is at fault for the accident and are payable quickly. It is also the only way to receive compensation from an employer after a workplace accident. Under Georgia law, injured workers cannot sue employers who offer workers’ comp benefits to their employees.
- Personal injury statute of limitations: In some cases, employees could have a claim against an outside party if their negligence contributed to a workplace accident. For example, imagine you were an electrical subcontractor on a construction site, and the primary contractor failed to clean up puddles on the site. You might be able to hold them liable if you sustained an electrocution injury. A personal injury lawsuit can provide additional compensation that isn’t possible through a workers’ comp claim, such as pain and suffering. However, there may be a statute or statutes of limitation applicable to a possible personal injury claim, and failure to bring an action within the requisite time frame could forever bar any recovery.
Identifying whether a third party’s negligence led to an electrocution accident requires a thorough investigation. A lawyer with experience handling cases involving electrical accidents in Albany can gather evidence while you recover.
Damages You Can Recover in an Electrocution Lawsuit
A successful workers’ compensation claim can provide workers with benefits covering:
- Reasonable and necessary medical bills
- Partial income replacement
- Disability benefits
- Death benefits to surviving dependents
Workers who can file third-party electrocution accident lawsuits could also receive compensation for:
- Additional medical costs
- Lost wages
- Lost earning potential
- Pain and suffering
- Wrongful death
Contact An Electrocution Accident Attorney Today
If you suffered an electric shock injury at work, workers’ compensation benefits can be a vital asset while you recover. But if you’re struggling to get the benefits you deserve, the Law Offices of William F. Underwood, III, P.C. can provide legal advice to give your claim the best possible chances of success.
Our electrocution accident lawyers are skilled negotiators who don’t back down from a challenge. Call or contact us online today for a free case evaluation.
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