I got electrocuted at work. Who’s responsible?
Construction Accident - April 21, 2022
If you were electrocuted at work while performing your job duties, you may be entitled to compensation. The best way to obtain full compensation is to work with a skilled construction accident attorney from Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates. We’ve helped hundreds of construction and other workers in the Chicagoland area, and we can help you.
Read on to learn who may be responsible for your electrocution injury and how your attorney can help you recover.
Potentially liable parties
Contractor or subcontractor
When you’re on a construction job, there are often a number of companies working toward the completion of the project. All parties involved in the project are responsible for maintaining safe operations.
When other contractors or subcontractors on the job are negligent and contribute to your injuries, they could be liable for damages.
Building or property owner
The project site must be kept safe for the workers who are employed there. When a building or property owner is negligent in the maintenance of a property, or in warning against risks associated with it, they could be liable for injuries that are caused.
Product manufacturer
The manufacturers of products must ensure that their products are safe for the use they are intended for and that any obvious risks are given adequate warning.
When manufacturers fail to warn about a known or inherent danger or design a defective product that causes injury, they can be held liable for associated damages.
City or county government
When your employer is working on land owned by the government and injury occurs, there are some circumstances in which the city or county government may be liable for damages.
Certain workers are at higher risk of electrocution
According to data obtained from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 152 workers died in 2021 from overexposure to electricity. In 2017, 136 workers died from the same cause.
Here are specific industry-related job roles that are at a heightened risk of electrocution.
- Crane operators – Crane operators work with electrical wires and are at greater risk of fall injuries and electrocutions.
- Electricians – Electricians are in regular and direct contact with electricity.
- Excavators – When digging into the ground on construction sites, electrical wires are encountered and can lead to injury.
- Roofers – Roofing is often a final task on the job that often requires power tools and may require the installation of electrical wires.
Just because you are at a higher risk for electrocution does not mean you should bear all of the responsibility for your injury. Employers, municipalities, equipment manufacturers, and more could have put you at greater risk.
Electrocuted on the job? Give us a call.
If you’ve been injured on the job in Illinois, the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission provides rules and regulations on the process for collecting your damages.
Under workers’ compensation, you are guaranteed coverage for the medical bills associated with your injuries as well as a portion of your lost earnings, even if you were the cause of the accident that injured you.
In exchange for this, you cannot sue your employer for the same accident. However, when one of the third parties above contributed to your injuries, additional damages could be available.
The experienced Chicago construction accident attorneys at Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates know how to advocate for your best interests. We want to ensure that you and your family are not left covering bills associated with your injuries.
For your risk-free, cost-free initial case review, reach out to us to schedule a consultation or call (800) 985-1819 to discuss your options.
