The lawyers at Golitko & Daly have helped countless injured workers in the greater Indianapolis, IN area. Workplace accidents can be costly, especially for people who work in construction and industrial fields. The risk of electrical accidents causing burns and serious injury to internal organs may be high.
Our legal team would like to focus on the dangers of electrocution and electrical accidents. We’ll share some sobering numbers and note some potential injuries that result from electrocution.
Statistics on Electrocution Accidents
According to statistics from the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), there were 136 workplace electrical fatalities in 2017; this accounted for 5.7 percent of all workplace electrical injuries. The ESFI found that 54 percent of all electrical fatalities occurred among people in the construction industry.
Age played a factor in many electrical accidents. Workers age 18 to 19 were 2.3 times more likely to experience a fatal electrical injury than workers who were older.
Causes of Electrocution Accidents
Common causes of electrocution and electrical accidents include:
- Unsafe work conditions
- Lack of safety equipment or protocols
- Defective equipment or machinery
- Faulty wiring
- Coming into contact with power lines
- Inexperienced workers around electrical wiring
It’s of the utmost importance that employees working near or around electrical wiring or devices be mindful of themselves and their co-workers to ensure their safety. Our Indianapolis attorneys realize how a little bit of common sense safety can go a long way toward protecting you from harm.
Electrical Injuries to Internal Organs
When electricity courses through the body, it can have a seriously damaging effect on you internal organs, particularly the brain and the heart. There’s a risk of heart arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, seizures, and even brain damage from a major electric shock.
Nerve Damage from Electrical Injuries
In addition to affecting your internal organs, electrical injuries have also been known to affect the nerves and the central nervous system. A serious electrical shock could lead to limited use of a limb or multiple limbs, and perhaps the loss of sensation in part of the body.
Electrical Burn Injuries
Electrocutions could result in burn injuries. Electrical burns can often be more difficult to diagnose than surface burns since the damage may be to deeper tissues rather than the visible outermost layers of the skin.
A Potentially Long Road to Recovery
The effects of an electrocution injury can be long-lasting. The road to recovery could involve years of medical treatments and physical therapy. Given the costs involved, it’s important to consider looking into workers’ compensation benefits and legal options following your accident.
Workers’ Compensation and Electrical Injuries
You ought to be eligible to collect workers’ compensation benefits following an electrical injury. These benefits will help cover lost wages and your medical bills. If you are denied workers’ compensation benefits, our lawyers can help you with the appeals process so you can receive the benefits that are due to you.
Seeking Legal Damages After Electrocution
If unsafe work conditions or negligence played a factor in your electrocution accident, you may be able to hold your employer or a negligent party liable for the incident. In these cases, our Indianapolis law firm will help you seek damages from the responsible person or party to cover material losses related to wages and medical expenses as well as the pain and suffering you’ve endured.
Contact a Skilled Work Injury Lawyer
To learn more about your legal options following an electrical injury sustained while on the job, contact our team of work injury attorneys. The team at Golitko & Daly can be reached by phone at (317) 566-9600.