Electrocution accidents are an unfortunately common occurrence both in commercial establishments and private residences. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration reports that electrocution accounts for roughly 20 percent of workplace injuries.
No one should suffer or lose their loved ones to electrocution because someone was negligent. If you or a loved one sustained an electrical injury at work, an Orange County electrocution injury lawyer at Silberman & Lam, LLP, could help you pursue a workers’ compensation claim. You can contact us today to speak to a dedicated workers’ compensation attorney.
The Difference Between Electric Shock and Electrocution
There is a legal distinction between electrocution and electric shock. Electrocution means death from an electrical accident, while electric shock refers to injuries or trauma from contact with electricity. It is important to make this clarification so that plaintiffs can determine what kind of electrocution injury compensation claim they can file with help from an Orange County attorney.
Electrical accidents happen when people make contact with one or more of the following:
- Arc flash
- Uninsulated live wires
- Faulty electrical outlets
- Erroneous electrical line maps
- Faulty machinery with bad wiring
- Downed power lines or fallen lines from overhead cables
- An electrically charged object, such as a metal railing with a live wire resting on it
These can lead to fires, toxic smoke, severe burn injuries, and fatalities. Apart from third-degree burns, victims who survive electric shocks may suffer from other catastrophic injuries such as organ damage or failure, paralysis, traumatic brain injuries, and even cardiac arrest.
Do You Need to Prove Liability in a Workplace Electrical Accident Claim?
When an electrical accident happens while at work, your employer should provide benefits through their workers’ compensation coverage. Workers’ compensation is generally a no-fault system, so employees usually do not need to prove another party’s negligence. Eligibility still depends on the statutory requirements and exclusions, even when an employee’s actions were unintentional.
However, in certain situations where you have been denied treatment or your employer’s insurance provider has not been cooperative in covering treatment costs, this can lead to treatment delays, mounting medical bills, and missed wages. This can be quite stressful for you, as you need all the rest you can get to recover fully.
A workers’ comp attorney in Orange County could review your electrical injury case and recommend viable options for resolving the issues that may have triggered those outcomes.
What Compensation Can an Injured Worker Recover?
Workers’ compensation benefits typically cover medical expenses and lost wages. How much you receive depends on the extent of your injuries and whether you suffered temporary or permanent disability.
If the worker died from a work-related electrocution, eligible dependents may receive death benefits, with basic awards depending on the number and type of dependents and additional payments for qualifying dependent minors. Reasonable burial expenses are reimbursed up to $10,000 for injuries on or after January 1, 2013. Death benefits are paid at the total temporary disability rate, subject to statutory limits and a $224 weekly minimum. An Orange County attorney could help you pursue workers’ compensation benefits after an electrical injury.
Contact an Electrocution Injury Attorney in Orange County
If your electrical accident and subsequent injuries occurred while you were at work, your employer should provide you with workers’ compensation benefits that cover reasonably necessary treatment and may include temporary disability benefits generally equal to two-thirds of lost wages when you cannot work during recovery, subject to statutory limits.
However, if your weekly wages are short paid or your employer’s insurance policy does not sufficiently pay your medical reimbursements, you need legal help. At Silberman & Lam, LLP, our Orange County electrocution injury lawyer may be able to help you explore your legal options, file workers’ comp claims, fight treatment denials by the insurance company, and work to collect the compensation you deserve. Call today to speak with an attorney.
