Electrocution Accident Lawyers
Indiana would not be what it is today without the men and women of the construction industry. But though construction workers have given so much to the state and will continue to play a pivotal role in its development, the reality is that construction is one of the most dangerous professions in the private employment sector, responsible for 15 percent of Indiana’s on-the-job deaths in 2022.
Construction fatalities are frequently the result of electrocution, which contributes to 8.5 percent of total building site casualties, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Because contemporary construction demands so much ongoing electrical work and routinely deploys high-voltage machinery, the odds of electrocution are at their greatest on construction sites, where even the survivors of electrocution accidents could face physical and financial devastation.
While compensation may be available if you have been electrocuted in a construction accident, full recovery can be elusive, particularly when squaring off against obstinate insurance companies who will stop at nothing to limit their exposure. To increase your chances of success, get in touch with the Indiana construction accident attorneys at Hensley Legal Group, who have been tirelessly advocating for the innocent victims of negligence since 1998.
Please call or text us at (317) 472-3333, chat with us online, or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation with a dedicated Indiana electrocution accident lawyer at your earliest convenience.
Why Do Electrocution Accidents Happen?
Every electrocution accident is unique, though there are certain elements that repeatedly accompany construction site electrocutions.
Electrocution accidents primarily happen because of:
- Direct contact – The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) ranks direct contact with electricity as the top factor in electrocution accidents, linked to nearly 60 percent of electrocutions on construction sites. Touching a so-called “live wire” without making use of the correct defensive gear can leave you completely exposed to the electric current pulsing within it.
- Electrical arcs – While handling a live wire provides the most immediate means of contact with electric current, electrical systems with connections that are either not fully joined or have been damaged can release airborne electricity in the form of “electrical arcs,” which could put anyone who encounters them in jeopardy.
- Faulty equipment – Even when workers wear appropriate protective gear and exercise care in their dealings with electricity, they could be vulnerable to electrocution anyway if their electrical equipment malfunctions without warning.
Our Indiana electrocution accident attorneys are ready to analyze the facts leading up to your electrocution and determine the next steps to take if you are contemplating a case for your injuries.
Common Types of Electrical Injuries
And make no mistake: the injuries incurred in an electrocution accident can be extreme. Some of the most common types of construction-related electrical injuries include:
- Shocks – Even when they are not lethal, electric shocks can wreak grievous bodily harm, including damage to the organs, tissues, nerves, and blood vessels.
- Burns – When the skin is not adequately shielded from electrical sparks, arcs, or flares, the burn injuries sustained can be as painful as those caused by open flames. Moreover, depending on the flow of electricity through the skin, electrical burns can be significantly larger than the initial point of contact.
- Falls – Sometimes the worst injuries in an electrocution accident are not from shocks or burns but from the falls after the electrocutions themselves. Workers can abruptly lose consciousness when they are electrocuted and experience blunt force trauma if they fall over. Should these electrocutions take place when workers are very high off the ground, such as on a pole, aerial lift, or scaffold, the subsequent falls can inflict serious or even disabling injuries.
Because these injuries are not mutually exclusive, an electrocution accident can necessitate extensive and wide-ranging medical interventions, which may entail skin grafts, surgeries, fixation of bones, and therapy. This grueling course of treatment could go on for months or even years to come, often at a price tag that few families could afford without seasoned Indiana electrocution accident lawyers in their corner.
How to Prevent Electrocution Accidents
Given how punishing electrical injuries can be, it is crucial to avoid them if at all possible. To that end, the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH) has issued a number of recommendations to prevent electrocution accidents. Construction employers are encouraged to:
- Remain in compliance with all OSHA and NFPA electrical safety standards and educate workers about the “Focus Four Hazards” associated with the majority of fatal construction events (specifically “Fall,” “Caught-In or Between,” “Struck-By,” and “Electrocution” hazards).
- Thoroughly plan for any temporary power systems put together on construction and renovation sites, utilizing ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) when the situation calls for it.
- Be aware of the location of both underground and overhead power lines so that accidental contact can be averted, then maintain a distance of ten feet or more from these power lines or request that the relevant utility companies de-energize them.
- Make sure that all electrical equipment is grounded properly or double insulated.
- Implement lock-out/tag-out procedures so that electrical circuits will be de-energized before any equipment is serviced.
- Check power and extension cords for wear and tear and inspect tools before using them, removing any broken equipment from rotation.
- Disconnect the plugs of machines and power tools ahead of inspecting or repairing them.
- Keep metal objects out of close proximity with live electrical circuits or parts.
By observing these simple rules, you can hopefully steer clear of an electrocution accident.
How Our Indiana Electrocution Accident Attorneys Can Make a Difference
Safety is of the utmost importance, though an electrocution accident may still occur no matter how many precautions you take, and the injuries can be catastrophic, burying you under a mountain of medical bills while robbing you of your ability to earn a living. Very quickly, you could have trouble merely making ends meet, much less securing the funds to stave off ruin.
You need attorneys with the compassion to support you through your struggles and the skill to overcome them. In short, you need the Indiana electrocution accident attorneys at Hensley Legal Group, who will never let the intimidation tactics of multi-billion-dollar insurers stand between their clients and justice.
If you decide to hire Hensley, we will launch an exhaustive investigation into your electrocution accident and everyone who may be culpable for it, a list that might include the property owner and/or project developer, the general contractor overseeing construction, and any contractors and subcontractors working on the project.
Each of these parties may have varying legal and contractual duties for which they may have varying levels of liability as well. However, our Indiana electrocution accident lawyers possess the deep familiarity with all state and local construction laws and industry best practices required to uncover actionable breaches of duty if they exist.
Maximize the Value of Your Electrocution Accident Case
Once we have assembled an airtight case against every defendant, we will endeavor to negotiate a settlement that reflects the entirety of your losses, including:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Mental and emotional anguish
- Diminished quality of life
- Mobility limitations
- Loss of consortium
- Punitive and wrongful death damages (if applicable)
And if we do not receive an offer that is worthy of your claim, we are not afraid to go to trial for a verdict that is, unlike some of our competitors, who seldom, if ever, venture into a courtroom.
No two electrocution accident cases are exactly the same, but we will always strive to maximize the value of yours.
You Won’t Pay Anything Unless We Win
If you are concerned about spending more money at this difficult time, you should know that our firm works on a contingency basis, so you won’t have to pay us anything unless our Indiana electrocution accident attorneys win your case.
Hensley is willing to assume all of the risks involved in making you whole again.
Our Indiana Electrocution Accident Lawyers Will Be Here to Help
Hensley Legal Group has been fighting for the everyday people of Indiana for more than 25 years. If you are reeling from the effects of an electrical shock, our Indiana electrocution accident lawyers will be here to help you explore your legal options.
You can arrange a complimentary case review with one of our accomplished Indiana electrocution accident attorneys by calling or texting us at (317) 472-3333, chatting with us online, or filling out our contact form now.
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