New York City Electrocution Accident Lawyers

The Alarming Reality of Electrical Accidents in New York

Electrical hazards claim far too many lives throughout the U.S., with the Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting 120 workplace electrocution fatalities in 2023 alone. These numbers don’t reflect the innumerable non-fatal electrical incidents that cause permanent disability, disfigurement, and chronic pain.

The risk is particularly high in New York City's busy construction industry. Dense urban infrastructure, aging electrical systems, and the hurried pace of development create a perfect storm of hazards for workers.

OSHA investigations reveal that most of these incidents stem from preventable safety violations, including inadequate training, lack of protective equipment, and improper lockout/tagout procedures.

What makes these statistics especially troubling is that electrocution injuries rarely affect just one person. Workers who witness traumatic electrical accidents often suffer psychological trauma, while the victims’ families face emotional and financial devastation when the primary breadwinners can no longer work.

Main Causes of Electrocution Accidents

The series of events that leads to an electrical accident typically begins with several preventable failures. Our electrocution accident lawyers consistently uncover the following common causes behind these incidents:

The preventability of most electrocution accidents is precisely what makes them so tragic. Almost every construction accident involving electricity reveals cut corners, ignored warnings, or neglected training — all to save time or money at workers' expense.

The Devastating Impact of Electrical Injuries

Electrical injuries differ dramatically from other workplace traumas, often doing damage far beyond the visible entry and exit wounds. The human body conducts electricity efficiently, making it possible for errant currents to devastate multiple organ systems simultaneously.

• Thermal Burns Electrical currents generate extreme heat, causing severe external and internal burns that may require skin grafts and reconstructive surgery.
• Cardiac Damage Electricity can disrupt the heart's normal rhythm, potentially triggering immediate cardiac arrest or introducing long-term cardiovascular complications.
• Neurological Impacts Current passing through the nervous system may cause seizures, paralysis, or chronic neuropathy, memory problems, or personality changes.
• Tissue Destruction The intense energy of an electrical shock can destroy soft tissues, leading to compartment syndrome, amputation, or permanent disability.
• Auditory/Visual Damage Both the bright flash (arc flash) and the loud sound of electrical accidents can permanently damage workers’ eyesight and hearing.
• Psychological Trauma Survivors often develop PTSD, anxiety, and depression following the intense pain and near-death experience of serious electrical shocks.

What makes electrocution injuries particularly pernicious is their delayed presentation.

Workers who initially appear "lucky" to have walked away unscathed may develop symptoms of serious injury days or weeks later as damaged tissues break down or neurological problems emerge. This possibility demands both immediate medical attention and ongoing monitoring after any electrical contact.

What to Do After an Electrocution Accident in New York

The moments after an electrical accident can prove critical in terms of both medical recovery and legal recourse. Here's what victims should focus on:

Recovering Compensation for Electrocution Injuries

Electrical injury cases typically involve multiple potential avenues for recovery, each of which presents distinct requirements and deadlines.

Workers' Compensation Claims

Workers' compensation provides immediate coverage for medical treatment and partial wage replacement for injured workers regardless of fault. In New York, you must file Form C-3 with the state’s Workers' Compensation Board within two years of the accident, though it’s best to report it immediately for maximum protection.

Workers' compensation offers guaranteed but limited benefits. While it can cover some portion of your medical bills and provide some income replacement, it won’t repay you for your full lost wages or pain and suffering. Exploring additional recovery options is therefore essential for seriously injured workers.

Third-Party Liability Claims

While workers' compensation bars lawsuits against employers in most cases, third-party claims can target other responsible parties, such as:

• Equipment manufacturers that made defective products
• Subcontractors whose negligence created electrical hazards
• Property owners who failed to address known risks
• Maintenance companies that performed inadequate repairs

Personal injury claims allow recovery for the full scope of damages, including pain and suffering, emotional distress, and future health complications. In New York, they must generally be filed within three years of the original accident.

Product Liability Actions

When defective equipment opens the door to electrocution injuries, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers may face strict liability claims. These cases focus on proving that a particular product was unreasonably dangerous rather than establishing negligence, often resulting in substantial compensation for the injury victim.

Damages Available in Electrocution Cases

Electrical injury cases often warrant significant compensation due to their life-altering consequences. Our lawyers pursue damages for every dimension of harm, including:

• Medical Expenses Complete coverage for emergency care, hospitalization, surgeries, rehabilitation, medications, and lifelong treatment needs.
• Lost Income Compensation for missed workdays, reduced earning capacity, lost promotions and benefits, and career opportunities lost due to your injuries.
• Physical Pain Recognition of both acute pain from burns and trauma and chronic pain from nerve damage, which may persist indefinitely.
• Emotional Suffering Payment reflecting psychological impacts, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders following electrical trauma.
• Permanent Disability Compensation addressing limitations in daily activities, self-care abilities, and independent living resulting from electrical injuries.
• Disfigurement Possible additional damages for visible scarring, amputation, or physical alterations affecting appearance and self-image.
• Family Impact Acknowledgement of how your injuries have affected your marriage, parenting abilities, and family relationships.
• Home Modifications Funding for necessary accessibility changes, special equipment, and home healthcare requirements.

The value of electrocution accident claims can vary considerably based on injury severity, long-term prognosis, pre-injury earning capacity, and impact on general quality of life. Our legal team can work with professionals like medical economists, life-care planners, and vocational specialists to accurately calculate both your current and future losses.

How Sakkas, Cahn & Weiss, LLP, Fights for Electrocution Victims

At Sakkas, Cahn & Weiss, LLP, we approach electrocution cases with a formidable blend of technical knowledge, investigative thoroughness, and courtroom ability.

While money can’t restore health or bring back loved ones, appropriate compensation can provide financial security, quality medical care, and recognition of the preventable harm inflicted by electrical safety failures.