Nagel Rice LLP, an esteemed personal injury firm with offices in Manhattan and Roseland, has spent the past 35 years vigorously protecting the rights of accident victims in New Jersey. We have won cumulatively more than a billion dollars in compensation for those who have suffered serious harm due to the negligence of others. One of the areas we focus on is electrocutions and construction accidents that occur on construction sites. If you have been injured in an electrical accident, contact us to discuss how we can help you obtain the damages you’re entitled to receive.
How Is Electrocution Defined?
The terms “electric shock” and “electrocutions” are often used interchangeably, but while the former may refer to severe injury, the latter refers to fatality. If you have suffered serious medical repercussions as a result of electric shock or have lost a family member to electrocution at a construction site, getting in touch with an attorney skilled in handling such cases can make a tremendous difference in your future.
Electrocutions and Other Electrical Accidents Are More Common Than You Think
Although we all come into contact with electrical equipment and appliances daily, construction workers are much more frequently exposed to electricity in ways that place them at risk of serious shocks or electrocution. According to OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration), electrocution is one of the leading causes of construction site fatalities, known as the Fatal Four, accounting for over 8 percent of construction worker deaths.
Specific Causes of Electrical Injuries and Electrocutions
All individuals who work with electrical utilities, machines, and power tools are at risk of electrical injury or electrocutions. Nonetheless, OSHA statistics show that most electrical injuries result from unsafe work practices, failure to properly train workers, and defective equipment. This is where the element of negligence comes in.
If you have suffered an electrical injury due to a misstep on your part or because of an unpreventable occurrence, you will be able to put in a no-fault workers’ compensation claim.
If the construction company on whose property you were injured has failed to follow mandated safety protocol, the situation is different. If yours is a case involving serious negligence on the part of your employer or a third party, Nagel Rice’s skilled accident attorneys are well-prepared to file a lawsuit on your behalf and fight aggressively to obtain the damages you deserve.
The following causes of electrocution at construction sites are all avoidable, meaning those in charge have failed to provide a safe environment for their employees and any visitors to their premises.
- Improper grounding of equipment or electrical circuitry
- Cranes striking or knocking down high-voltage lines
- Defective electrical tools/equipment
- Defective wiring
- Excavation equipment making contact with underground electrical lines
- High-voltage switch failures
- Improper contact with electrical outlets
- Improper installation of electrical components
- Ungrounded or exposed wiring
At Nagel Rice, our electrocution accident lawyers have a comprehensive understanding of the nature of electrical accidents and the failures that lead to them. We are, therefore, well-equipped to formulate successful courtroom strategies to protect your rights.
Common Types of Electrical Injuries that May Result in Electrocution
There are three basic types of electrical injuries, all of which can result in permanent damage:
- Electrical contact injuries may result in first-degree burns which, though painful, are not a basis for a personal injury claim. Electrical contact injuries, however, can also cause second or third-degree burns, in which case patients may suffer not only blistering but deep tissue and nerve damage.
- Secondary electrocution injuries are the result of blasts of electrical current that can throw victims several feet, causing bone fractures and brain or spinal cord injuries.
- Internal electrical injuries occur when an electrical current passes through the victim’s body, damaging internal blood vessels, nerves, muscles, or organs, possibly rendering them dysfunctional.
Any of these three types of electrical injury may lead to permanent disability or wrongful death.
Get in Touch with Our New Jersey Electrocution Attorneys as Soon as Possible
After an electrical accident on the job, it is, of course, critical to seek urgent medical attention, but it is also essential to seek legal counsel promptly. As soon as you contact us, we will begin recording the specific circumstances of your case so we can:
- Investigate the site of the accident
- Gather and examine police records and medical data
- Interview witnesses while their memories are fresh
- Check into any negligence on the part of the construction company
- Determine whether a third party (e.g. an equipment manufacturer) bears liability
- Negotiate with insurance companies and opposing attorneys
- Calculate the amount of compensation necessary to secure your future
No matter what your situation is, we will stand by you and fight tooth and nail to get you maximum damages. Also, because we know that you are suffering financially, as well as physically and emotionally, Nagel Rice will never charge you any attorneys’ fees until we obtain damages for you and your family.
Damages Our Attorneys Will Fight to Win
As our successful track record and national reputation can attest, Nagel Rice’s sharp personal injury team has a formidable presence both in and out of the courtroom. You can count on us to work tirelessly to provide you with damages to reimburse you for economic losses and compensate you for intangible forms of distress, including:
- Medical and rehabilitation expenses
- Lost income, present and future
- Long-term nursing care
- Alterations to your home to make it accessible
- Replacement services, such as cleaning and cooking
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability
- Permanent scarring or other disfigurements
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
If your family has suffered the anguish of losing a loved one to electrocution, we will do everything in our power to bring you justice by filing a wrongful death suit and seeing to it that you receive compensation for final medical costs, funeral costs, and loss of financial and emotional support.
Contact Our Experienced Electrocution Lawyers So We Can Fight for Your Future
At Nagel Rice, we are dedicated to protecting victims of electrical accidents who, through no fault of their own, may have to endure years of painful treatment, rehabilitation, or incapacity. We are also committed to fighting for the rights of family members who have lost a loved one to preventable electrocution. You will find us to be compassionate people as well as highly skilled professionals. We genuinely want to make your life easier and your future more secure. Contact our office today to schedule a free initial consultation.
Nagel Rice LLP helps its clients throughout New Jersey, including Roseland, Bergen County, Essex County, Middlesex County, Monmouth County, Morris County, Passaic County, and Sussex County. We also represent clients in New York throughout Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, Brooklyn, and the Bronx.