Can I Recover Compensation for Getting Electrocuted at Work?

Although we use electricity every day in many forms, sources of electricity can result in serious and even fatal injury. Electrocution often causes several types of injuries, such as burns, brain damage, cardiac arrest, arrhythmia, seizures, loss of consciousness, and breathing difficulties.

If you sustained an injury caused by electrocution at work, you may be entitled to either workers’ compensation benefits or a personal injury award, or even both (depending on the circumstances of the case).

The following are the types of claims you can make to recover financial compensation from an electrocution injury:

• Workers’ compensation – If you are on the job and get electrocuted, you can file a workers’ compensation claim against your employer. As soon as the accident occurs—and if your body is able enough—you must report the incident to your employer or manager, seek immediate medical treatment, and start the claims process to obtain benefits which cover medical bills and lost earnings while you are not able to work.
• Personal injury – If the electrocution injury was caused by a third party such as the public utility company who maintains the power lines, or if your employer was grossly negligent, you can file a personal injury lawsuit against that company—in addition to obtaining workers’ compensation benefits. Personal injury awards also include noneconomic damages such as emotional distress, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment in life.
• Product liability – If the electrocution injury occurred due to a malfunctioning piece of equipment or machinery that workers often use, you can file a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer of the device. In most cases, the victims only need to prove that the product was defective, instead of proving if the manufacturer was negligent.
• Premises liability – If the owner of the property or contractor fails to take proper precautions to protect workers from potential hazards, an injured worker can file a premises liability lawsuit against the negligent party.

At Rosenberg & Rosenberg, P.A., our Fort Lauderdale workers’ compensation attorneys can evaluate your case, determine your available legal options, and help you obtain the compensation necessary to make the best recovery possible from injury. Not only are we committed to recovering monetary damages on your behalf, but also ensure that this type of accident doesn’t happen to anyone else.

For more information about construction accidents in Florida, contact us and schedule a free consultation today.