According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International, electrical injuries are one of the top causes of construction industry deaths. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to keep working environments safe, but electrical accidents still happen much too often.
McCready Law’s workers’ compensation attorneys understand the financial and emotional hardships that accident victims deal with. A Chicago workplace electrocution lawyer could give you legal insight, help you seek benefits under the law, and help protect your rights. Contact us now for your free consultation.
After a workplace electrocution accident, the immediate priority is to ensure safety and seek medical attention. The electrical power source should be turned off if it is safe to do so. No one should touch the victim until the electricity has been shut off to prevent further harm. Even if the affected person appears unharmed, they should seek immediate medical care, as internal injuries from electric shock are not always visible.
After calling 911 or going to the emergency room, the employee must report the incident to the employer. The state’s workers’ compensation law requires that an injured employee notify their employer in writing within 45 days of a job-related injury. This formal notification is a critical step in preserving the right to file a workers’ compensation claim. The injured person should document as much as they can about the incident, including any witnesses and the specific conditions that led to the electrocution, and consult a Chicago attorney with experience in these types of cases.
In Illinois, workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, providing benefits for medical care and lost wages regardless of fault. Generally, in exchange for these benefits, an employee cannot file a personal injury lawsuit against their employer. This is known as the exclusive remedy provision, and the process goes through the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission.
Specific exceptions to the exclusive remedy rule could allow a lawsuit in addition to the workers’ compensation claim. For instance, someone may file a personal injury lawsuit against a negligent third party, such as a manufacturer of defective electrical equipment or a separate contractor on a multi-employer worksite. A Chicago attorney could assess the possibility of a third-party lawsuit in a workplace electrocution incident.
The injured party can also pursue a lawsuit if the employer intentionally caused an injury. Intentional acts of negligence could include a supervisor knowingly sending someone to work on live wiring without proper safety precautions. Evidence of OSHA violations can help prove negligence in a third-party lawsuit.
We are committed to helping people in Chicago who sustain electrical injuries at work. With offices downtown and in the southeast of the city, the firm has recovered over $250 million for clients. The team provides clients with professional, personalized attention, listens to them, and works collaboratively to achieve the best possible result for each case.
Contact a Chicago workplace electrocution lawyer today to schedule a free case review.
