Electrocution accidents commonly occur when an individual is exposed to a high voltage electrical source, but can also be caused by a low voltage electrical source.
Some electrocution accidents occur as a result of downed power lines, electrical equipment malfunctions, power line contact, faulty wiring, and defective and dangerous products.
Statistically, the most likely place for an electrocution accident to occur is on a construction job site.
Construction Site Electrocution Accidents
According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) 2017 report:
54% of all fatal electrical injuries occurred in the construction industry.
Contact with / Exposure to electric current is the sixth most common type of workplace fatality.
There were 2,210 nonfatal electrical injuries in 2017.
Younger workers are more likely to experience electrical injuries:
- Workers 16 to 17 years of age experienced electrical fatalities at 5.4 times the average for all age groups
- 18 to 19 age group – 2.4 times
As an employer, you are required to provide a safe workplace for your employees.
If a construction site electrocution accident occurs because the construction site is unsafe, then the employer may be held liable for any costs incurred as a result of the injury.
Construction site electrocution accidents commonly occur as a result of:
- Exposed electrical wiring
- Improper electrical wiring markings during excavation
- Improper training for machinery or job tasks
- Faulty electrical wiring and/or errors in the electrical wiring installation process
- Defective and dangerous construction equipment
Whether it be the actual job site, the equipment provided, or the training given or required for employees, it is up to the construction site employer to ensure that the construction workers are safe from the threat of an electrocution injury.
If the employer fails to meet safety expectations, provides an unsafe worksite or equipment, or does not confirm that employees are properly trained or certified for the job at hand, then the employer has failed to meet his or her duty of care to the employees.
If the employer fails to meet the duty of care to employees, any electrocution injury that an employee suffers on the construction site, which is in some way related to this breach of duty of care, is likely the fault of the employer and the employer can be held liable.
Workplace Electrocution Accidents
The same is true for all workplaces.
If the employer provides an unsafe work environment that results in a workplace electrocution accident, the employer may be held liable for any costs involved with the accident.
In every industry, there are specific laws and regulations which mandate workplace safety.
If you suffered a workplace electrocution injury and want to determine whether your employer failed to meet workplace safety expectations, contact an experienced electrocution accident lawyer to help you define your employer’s duty of care to you, the employee.
It is important to remember that workplace electrocution injuries range from minor to severe.
Even if you believe that you suffered only a minor injury, you may have also suffered a more serious long-term injury that is not obvious to you at first.
Workplace electrocution accidents can sometimes result in nerve damage, heart damage, brain damage, or other serious internal injuries that are not immediately recognizable.
Therefore, you should always seek medical attention right away after suffering a workplace electrocution injury.
If you suffer a workplace electric shock injury, you may qualify for worker’s compensation to cover the costs of your injury and your time away from work.
Private Property Electrocution Accident
Similar to an employer’s responsibility to provide a safe work environment, private property owners and businesses are expected to provide a safe environment for all visitors, guests, and customers.
If an electrocution accident resulting from an unsafe environment occurs on private property, then the property owner or operator may be held liable for any injuries that occur.
These types of electrocution accidents fall under premises liability, and you should consult an electrocution accident lawyer to discuss whether an electrocution accident on private property qualifies as grounds for a potential electrocution accident lawsuit.
Defective and Dangerous Product Electrocution Accident
Electrocution accidents also commonly occur both in the workplace and outside of the workplace as a result of a defective and dangerous consumer product.
When electrical products such as electrical tools, kitchen appliances, bathroom products, etc. are defective, they can sometimes pose an electric shock risk to users.
When a manufacturer designs a defective product or fails to warn customers of a potential danger associated with their product, and that product causes the user(s) to suffer an electrocution injury, the manufacturer can be held responsible for the injury.
The most common electrical shock injuries occur as a result of defective and dangerous large home appliances, followed by smaller home appliances.
In most defective and dangerous product electrocution accidents, the manufacturer or seller of the product is held liable for the accident.
However, if the defective and dangerous product was provided by an employer, the employer may also be held liable for putting the employee(s) at risk.
If a loved one has died as a result of a defective and dangerous product electrocution accident, you can file a wrongful death lawsuit on their behalf.
