Highland Lawyer Advocates for Victims of Electrocutions and Related Injuries

Firm represents workers and families in Dutchess County and the surrounding areas

At work and in our personal lives, we take safe electricity for granted. However, one lapse related to electrical safety at a construction site, factory or other facility could put someone in the hospital or even end their life. My law firm, Peter M. Cordovano, P.C. in Highland, pursues justice for New Yorkers who have experienced a job-related electrical accident and for people who have lost a loved one in an electrocution. Across Dutchess and Ulster Counties, as well as other locations in the state, my firm has achieved strong results for victims of electrical injuries and other accidents since 1987. 

Types and causes of electric shocks

When an electrical current moves through someone’s body with enough strength to pass through their tissue, that is considered electric shock. In medical terms, electrocution is limited to incidents where the victim does not survive. There are several direct causes of serious electric injuries, including exposed live wires, faulty equipment, wed conditions and unsafe electric installations. There are also many different settings where people are frequently victims of electric shock, such as:

• Construction sites — Electrocutions are included within the “Fatal Four,” which is OSHA’s collective name for the types of construction accidents that most commonly result in worker deaths. 
• Factories and other industrial settings — Manufacturing plants and other large facilities might have a maze of electrical lines to keep operations moving. If a line isn’t properly grounded or maintained, a serious accident can occur. 
• Outdoor power lines — Electrical towers crisscross the country, connecting people to power sources, but situations where lines are exposed or require repair put workers and others at risk. 
• Households — Residents and contractors need to be careful when working with electricity in homes, particularly older structures.

Wherever the electrical accident took place, you can rely on my firm to provide the representation you need to obtain the compensation you deserve. 

Common injuries resulting from contact with an electric current

A jolt from an electrical current passing through the body can inflict serious harm in several ways. Contact with the skin often causes a severe burn, and the shock might also damage muscles, nerves and body tissue. Victims sometimes go into cardiac arrest because the electricity overwhelms the heart’s function. There might also be injuries related to secondary effects of the electrical charge. For example, a person who is stunned by an electric shock might fall after losing control of their body. While some of these conditions heal with medical treatment, others result in a permanent loss of function or require long-term care. In the worst instances, victims do not survive electrocution. 

Electrical safety regulations and best practices

Some guidelines on electrical safety are very familiar. You don’t have to be an expert to know that equipment should be kept away from water and that damaged lines require immediate replacement. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, along with state and local authorities, provide more detailed rules for construction contractors and businesses whose workers could be injured in an electrical accident. Ground-fault protection is required, which might include circuit interrupters and double insulated tools. When handling electrical accident claims, I examine the facts to see if the incident is attributable to noncompliance with safety standards. 

Workers’ compensation and personal injury claims in electric shock cases

Employees who get hurt on the job are entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits that provide full coverage for medical costs and replacement of two-thirds of lost wages up to a maximum set by the state. Workers’ comp also provides permanent disability payments to those who cannot work at their prior capacities due to their injuries. Death benefits are paid in cases involving fatal electrocutions. Negligence associated with an electric shock might also establish liability of a third party, such as a manufacturer or an unrelated contractor on a construction site. This can enable a victim to obtain additional compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. 

Get a free consultation if you suffered an electrical injury on the job

Peter M. Cordovano, P.C. in Highland works to obtain payment for New York State residents who were electrocuted in the course of their employment. I can review your potential case in a free consultation. Please call 845-640-3846 or contact me online for an appointment.