Your employer must create a safe work site that allows you to do your job effectively. When you are working with dangerous chemicals, electricity, or any other hazards, your company should provide the right protection. This protection usually comes in the form of personal protective equipment, well-maintained equipment, and a safe worksite. If you are electrocuted while on the job, your employer will have to pay.

Common Causes of Electrocution in the Workplace

Some of the most common causes of electrocution in the workplace include:

• Damaged or overloaded circuits
• Live wires or exposed electrical sources
• Wet conditions
• Fraying or damaged electrical cords
• Improperly installed lines
• Defective equipment
• Downed power lines

Types of Electrical Injuries

The type of electrical injuries you suffer depends heavily on the voltage and electrical current that enters the body. A low-voltage shock can cause mild injury and pain, while a high voltage electrical shock can cause permanent or life-threatening damage. Severe shocks can cause ongoing muscle spasms that are strong enough to damage muscles and break bones. In addition, some people have reported spasms that dislocate joints.

Even a shock of just 50 volts can cause a strong enough current to block the signal between the brain and the heart. As a result, the heart and breathing can stop. Even if this is not enough to cause death, it can cause life-long irreversible injuries.

After an Electric Shock

If you have suffered an electric shock, the first thing to do is release whatever is causing the shock, if possible. Then, have someone call for emergency assistance and remain sitting. Do not move or try to leave the scene, even if you feel okay afterward. Allow emergency personnel to examine you completely if you have suffered a shock fully. You may be suffering from internal injuries that may not appear immediately.

It is important to establish a relationship with a medical team to treat you immediately after your incident and during your recovery. Continue to go to your appointments even if you start to feel better.

Make a Formal Report

After being treated for your injuries, you will need to make a formal report to your employer. Your company should have a process in place to report injuries, so be sure to follow the right steps after your accident. If there were witnesses to the accident, take statements from them to bolster your case. If your employer has not taken steps to protect you on the job, other workers may have also been injured, and taking their testimony can be valuable. Your employer should be held accountable and make the necessary changes to make the workplace safe.

You May be Entitled to Compensation

If your injury was due to employer negligence, you might have a legal claim. You may be suffering from physical injuries, lost time from work, mental anguish, and mounting medical bills. It can be years before you can go back to your normal activities. You will need money to help you on your road to recovery, and your employer should be held accountable if they did not provide a safe workplace.

The best legal advice you will get is to hire an attorney from your city or state whenever you suffer a personal injury – at your workplace or elsewhere. The negligence and personal injury laws do not differ extensively from state to state, but a local legal team will know exactly what to do in your case. For instance, if electrocution occurs in New York, get a New York attorney because you work there.

Everybody understands that a debilitating injury is a sensitive matter. Before you start filing claims, first shop for a specialized team of personal injury attorneys who have worked with other people who have been electrocuted at work and who can help you with your case. As we said, if you need a New York personal injury attorney, make sure you get someone you know will fight for your rights.

Most personal injury lawyers will offer you a free case review and consultation. In addition, the majority of law firms will get paid only after you get your settlement, so up-front money will not be an issue.

Author:

With a BA in communications and paralegal experience, Irma C. Dengler decided to combine her skills. In the past, when she was involved in proceedings of her own, she witnessed firsthand the weight of legal language. A convoluted terminology can easily disarm the average American. Therefore, she set off to empower her readers by making the law more accessible to them. Although she has covered all areas of civil and criminal law, insurance-related issues, and her area of specialty is personal injury cases.