New York Electrocution Injury Lawyer

One specific set of construction accidents are so deadly that they are referred to as “the fatal 4.” Electrocution is the third-leading cause of private-sector employee fatalities. Electrical shock accounted for many severe injuries and at least 86 worker deaths in 2018.

Electrocution injuries can be catastrophic. Even when they don’t result in death, electric shock accidents can cause long-term disabilities and intense suffering. Medical expenses may cripple family finances. Meanwhile, meeting the deadlines and producing the correct documents to file a New York workers’ compensation or medical insurance claim may seem like enormous tasks to someone recovering from electrical injuries. Getting proper compensation for your injuries, though, does not have to interrupt your recovery. 

After experiencing an electric shock, it may be a relief to learn your rights from an experienced New York personal injury law firm. Talking with Hill & Moin electrical injury lawyers is like welcoming a lawyer into your family, because we care about what is best for you. At our NYC firm, a compassionate electrical injury attorney will listen to your story and determine how best to handle your electrocution injury claim. 

Contact us today for professional guidance for every step of your pursuit of fair compensation for lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering. 

How Electrical Current Accidents Happen

There may be hazards at a New York construction site that increase the risk of electric shock injuries. Some potential sources of electrical current exposure include:

• Contact with electrical wires or metal appliance parts
• Arc flashes or accidental contact with high-voltage power lines
• Improper maintenance of wires 
• Improper installation of temporary wiring
• Standing water near an electrical outlet
• Accidental contact of a metal ladder, machine, or rail with an electricity source
• Defective tools or equipment
• Lack of safety gear or training 

Electricity may pose danger outside of the construction industry as well. Of the 30,000 non-fatal shock accidents that happen per year, 20 percent affect youth. Most of these incidents occur in homes where children come into contact with residential electrical hazards, such as:

• Damaged or malfunctioning large appliances, especially refrigerators, oven ranges, air conditioner units, washers, and dryers
• Defective small appliances (e.g. audio-visual equipment, computers, blow dryers, irons, and other electronic devices)
• Improperly installed or out-of-date wiring (i.e. knob and tube) 
• Incorrectly used or overburdened extension cords
• Lack of ground-fault circuit interrupter wiring 

Why You Should Seek Medical Attention After a High-Voltage Electrical Shock 

Accidental electrocution can cause serious injuries and death. The extent of the injuries depends on the amount of voltage, the length of the exposure time, the pathway the current takes in the body, and the individual’s ability to disengage from the electrical source while being shocked.

Electrical injuries fall into 4 main categories below.

Flash injuries

An arc flash, or flashover, refers to light and heat from an electrical explosion or discharge. Victims may not be electrocuted, but blast sounds can rupture eardrums, resulting in temporary or permanent hearing loss. The bright flash of light often causes vision issues. 

According to one engineer, an arc flash can reach 35,000 degrees Fahrenheit, a temperature hotter than the surface of the sun. Arc flashes can burn through clothing and skin, knock workers off-balance, and even propel a person across a room. Other items in the vicinity may melt or break off into deadly projectiles. 

Flame injuries

When an arc flash sets nearby objects on fire, the flames may burn skin and clothing. Besides burns, victims may be affected by smoke inhalation.

Lightning injuries

When a person is struck by lightning, usually high-voltage electrical energy enters the body in one short burst. The extreme heat and bright light can damage his or her eyes. The electrical current might burn body tissues, induce cardiac arrest, or cause temporary paralysis. Brain damage may occur. 

If thrown or hit by an object, the victim may experience secondary injuries. For instance, concussions, broken bones, and internal bleeding are not uncommon. 

True injuries

In true electrical injuries, an individual becomes part of an electrical circuit as energy enters and exits the body. Potential long-term consequences of true electrocution or other electrical injuries are:

• • Cataracts
  • Depression
  • Fatigue
  • Fever or night sweats
  • Headaches
  • Memory and attention issues
  • Muscle spasms
  • Nerve damage, usually evidenced by numbness or weakness
  • Reduced range of motion
  • Pain 
  • Poor balance and coordination
  • Post-traumatic stress
  • Seizures
  • Temporary losses of consciousness
  • Tinnitus

Seek professional medical assistance immediately to assess and treat your injuries. Then sign up for a free consultation with personal injury attorneys to find out how to use these medical records to support your workers’ compensation or medical insurance claims.

How Understanding New York Workers’ Compensation Insurance May Ease Your Worries

Anyone who works with electrical currents is at risk of suffering an electric shock. You may blame yourself, thinking that carelessness may have played a role in your accident. Knowing New York labor laws may ease your mind.

Virtually every type of employee is covered, from part-timers to undocumented workers, regardless of why the accident occurred. New York workers’ compensation insurance establishes a “no-fault exchange of protections between employers and workers.” So even if the accident happened because of a mistake you made, this insurance may still protect you. 

Compensation law ensures medical coverage and compensation for lost wages in the event of an on-the-job injury. When medical bills start to arrive in the mail, you begin to panic. Do not pay for anything related to the electric shock accident. A personal injury lawyer can help you get these charges covered by your insurer.

Keep your receipts for other relevant expenses too. For example, you may need to travel for doctor’s appointments, fill prescription drug orders, or buy adaptive devices and equipment recommended by a healthcare provider. 

What To Do If a Loved One Dies From an Electrical Shock Injury

Losing a loved one in an electrocution accident is a tragedy. You may be wondering how to cope with the loss. If the electric shock victim provided for your family financially, your family’s future might seem uncertain. 

At Hill & Moin LLP, we understand your financial and legal concerns. If you turn to an electrocution injury lawyer at this difficult time, you can leave your worries in experienced hands while you begin healing emotionally. 

Death benefits

When shock injuries occur at a workplace, New York workers’ compensation insurance may relieve the burden of medical and funeral bills. In some cases, surviving family members can apply for cash benefits or a lump sum death benefits. The amount you receive may be based on the injured worker’s average weekly wage from the previous year. Under the guidance of a legal professional, you can confidently accept settlements from insurers knowing that what you are being offered is fair.

If your loved one’s electrocution accident was not work-related, you might be due compensation from his or her insurance provider. Or, if negligence or violation of a New York statute played a role, you may be eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit. 

Wrongful death damages

Unless you have experience assessing such situations, it can be challenging to identify the factors that lead up to a fatal accident. Even if you do not suspect negligence, take advantage of a free personal injury consultation by calling (212) 688-6000.

An electrocution injury attorney can determine who is responsible for the fatal incident and the types of damages they should pay:

• Medical expenses
• Burial costs
• Future earning potential

The representative of the deceased person’s estate may be able to pursue these claims on behalf of surviving family members. Hill & Moin has recovered millions of dollars from negligent parties on behalf of families like yours. Why not find out if you qualify to file for financial damages? Request your free consultation today without obligation.

Why You Should Contact a Lawyer As Soon As Possible

In the last 4 decades, workplace safety and health regulations have reduced the likelihood of worker death in America. Still, electrocution threats pose a danger in homes and workplaces.

If an electric shock injury affected you, you don’t have to try to deal with everything alone. Getting in touch with a competent electrocution injury attorney can start the process of getting your life together again. 

New York personal injury laws allow the filing of electrocution claims for a limited period, but investigating a claim and gathering supporting evidence takes time. A personal injury lawyer can keep track of relevant deadlines and help you meet each one.

Once you have a case in process, the other party may try to reject or undervalue your claim. If an insurer, including New York workers’ comp, denies your request, you have the right to appeal. Yet, finding out the reason behind the rejection can be a pain. A knowledgeable electrical shock lawyer can help you identify what went wrong and fight to get you the compensation you deserve. 

Of course, involving an electrocution injury attorney as soon as you or a loved one suffers an electric shock is a wise course of action. Compassionate attorneys can help you file an insurance claim, recover your workers’ compensation benefits, or seek damages for a preventable death. 

Contact us to learn your Personal Injury Recovery SolutionsⓇ and to tell us about electrical shock injury so we can tell you how to get the most out of New York insurance and liability laws. Don’t wonder about your rights!