Were you injured in an electrical accident in Boston, Massachusetts? It’s critical to proceed with an experienced and knowledgeable electrical injury lawyer, such as Parker Scheer LLP.
See Electrical Injury Settlements in Massachusetts
Construction workers encounter many hazards on a daily basis including electrocution risks. Electrical accidents can occur in a large variety of ways. For example, a construction worker may suffer an electrical injury when he mistakenly encounters a live wire while attempting to complete his routine work at a construction site. Similarly, a construction worker may suffer an electrocution injury while working in an area where he was thought the electricity was shut off, but it is still on. In any of these circumstances the injuries to the construction worker are often extremely serious and at times end up being fatal.
There are many safety regulations related to the electrical work that is performed at specific construction areas. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set these in the United States. OSHA’s electrical safety standards for the construction industry are laid out in 29 CFR 1926, Subpart K. Any violation of these safety standards may result in a claim of negligence by the employee against the injured worker’s employer, contractor, subcontractor and/or property owner. However, despite the federal safety regulations that are in place, electrocution has been found to be the second leading cause of fatalities at a construction site. The top four causes of death at a construction site are as follows: (1) falls; (2) electrocution; (3) worker struck by objects; and (4) worker caught in-between. If these top four causes of construction worker deaths were to be completely eliminated, there would be hundreds of lives saved per year.
Electrocution injuries can have a long-lasting effect on the injured worker. In severe cases, the physical injuries from the electrical accident can be permanently disabling. As a result of the electrical accident, the worker may have suffered a heart attack, serious burns, or nerve damage. Because of this, oftentimes the construction worker who was involved with these injuries will need extensive medical treatment, and unfortunately surgeries in some cases. Additionally, not only will the worker experience emotional and physical suffering and pain, but he will also deal with the stress of not knowing if he will be able to return to a job in the construction field. With the chance of him not being able to return, he has the potential to be without employment. Because of this, if you have been injured, it is important to get an experienced construction site accident lawyer.
Injured in a Massachusetts Electrocution accident construction site? Contact Our Electrical Accident Injury Lawyers.
If you or someone you know has suffered from a critical injury from an electrocution experience or has lost their life as a result of electrocution or an electrical accident, our electrical injury attorneys at Parker Scheer are ready to provide you with top-notch service and care. Contact us to obtain a case review that is completely confidential, and receive a response within just hours. If you live outside of the Massachusetts area, we can give you a referral for a personal injury lawyer.
Electrical Injury Settlement in Massachusetts
CASE SUMMARY:
The plaintiff, a 36 year-old union carpenter, suffered an electrocution injury while working on a commercial rehabilitation project. He was injured when his nail gun came in contact with a live electrical junction box carrying 480 volts.
Plaintiff contended that prior to beginning work on the day of the accident, he inquired about the status of the electric wires in the work area. He testified that an employee of the electrical subcontractor assured him none of the wires were energized and that he never would have begun working in the area without knowing this.
Immediately before the accident, the plaintiff was installing metal top track atop a one-man hydraulic lift and was working in a corner of the room.
Unbeknownst to the plaintiff, there was an energized electric junction box high along the wall where he was working, and he contacted the box while reaching to shoot a nail.
Three eyewitnesses confirmed that the wires in the room were live at the time of the accident. One, an employee of the electrical subcontractor, admitted to the plaintiff that the wires should have been de-energized at the time of the accident, but that a co-employee had powered them in order to work in another section of the project and neglected to shut them down before the carpenters began.
Plaintiff contended that both the general contractor and electrical subcontractor were in violation of OSHA regulations for allowing the carpenters to work in an area of the site where lines were energized.
The Plaintiff suffered debilitating post-concussive headaches for more than three and one-years post-accident. In addition, the plaintiff suffered a variety of post-traumatic disorder commonly associated with electrocution injury that resulted in mild cognitive deficits.
The defendants’ contended that both the plaintiff and his employer bore some level of responsibility for the accident, and owed a duty of care to their employees as to whether the wires were in fact de-energized. The defendants emphasized that the plaintiff returned to work within five weeks of the accident.
The case settled after one full day of mediation.
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If you have suffered an injury due to construction-related negligence, contact us for a free confidential case review and receive a response within hours, or call (617) 886-0500 . If you need a lawyer outside of Massachusetts, contact us for a referral.
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