An electrical injury at work can cause burns, nerve damage, heart problems, or injuries from a fall. Some workers need surgery or months away from the job. When questions arise about how the accident happened and who was responsible, our Queens electrocution injury lawyers investigate to determine whether someone outside the worker’s employer may be liable.
For employees hurt on the job, workers’ compensation may cover medical care and part of their lost wages. A Queens work injury lawyer from our firm can also determine whether you have a separate claim against a property owner, contractor, equipment company, or another third party.
At Chaikin Trial Group Personal Injury Lawyers, we bring 50 years of combined experience to injury cases and have recovered more than $100 million for clients. We prepare every case as though it will go to trial and will give you direct access to your attorney. Call us today to discuss your situation during a free consultation.
How Our Queens Electrocution Injury Lawyers Will Build Your Case
Electrical accident cases can become complicated quickly. The source of the current may be gone by the time an investigation begins. Contractors may disagree about who controlled the work, and an insurance company may argue that a worker’s injuries are less serious than they claim.
A Queens personal injury lawyer from Chaikin Trial Group Personal Injury Lawyers will investigate before useful evidence disappears.
Our work may involve:
- Identifying the source of the electrical current.
- Reviewing job site photographs and video.
- Speaking with witnesses and coworkers.
- Examining safety records, work orders, and contracts.
- Determining who controlled the work area.
- Reviewing the equipment involved.
- Identifying the companies and insurance policies connected to the accident.
- Documenting your injuries, lost income, and future needs.
- Negotiating with insurers for a fair settlement.
- Filing a lawsuit and preparing your case for trial when necessary.
We’ll deal directly with the insurance companies throughout the claim. If an insurer disputes fault, downplays your injuries, or offers less than the case warrants, we’ll use the evidence to support the damages we are seeking.
If negotiations do not lead to a fair settlement, we can present your case in court and ask a jury to determine the outcome.
Case Today (212) 977-2020
Electrical Injuries on Job Sites in Queens, New York
Electrical accidents can happen during construction, demolition, renovation, repair, maintenance, and utility work. Workers may come into contact with exposed wire, energized equipment, electrical panels, or power lines.
Other hazards include defective tools, damaged cords, poor grounding, failure to shut off power, and missing safety equipment. An electrical shock can also cause a worker to fall from a ladder, scaffold, or other elevated work area, resulting in additional injuries.
New York Labor Law May Apply to Construction Electrical Accidents
Construction workers have specific protections under New York law. Depending on how an electrical accident occurred and the work being performed, New York Labor Law may provide extra protections.
- Labor Law § 240 protects certain construction workers from fall-related hazards. It may apply when an electrical shock causes a worker to fall from a ladder, scaffold, or other elevated work area. Whether it applies depends on how the accident happened and the safety equipment provided.
- Labor Law § 241 sets safety rules for certain construction, demolition, and excavation work. If a contractor or property owner fails to follow certain safety rules and a worker is hurt, § 241(6) may apply.
Chaikin Trial Group Personal Injury Lawyers handles Labor Law §§ 240 and 241 cases. Our principal attorney, Ian Chaikin, grew up around construction and understands how job sites operate and the laws that protect workers.
Who May Be Responsible for a Queens Workplace Electrocution?
Workers’ compensation is generally the first source of benefits for an employee hurt on the job. It generally pays for medical care and replaces part of the worker’s lost wages. In most cases, workers’ compensation also prevents an employee from bringing a negligence lawsuit against their employer.
A worker may also have a third-party legal claim when someone besides their employer contributed to the accident. Depending on what happened, potentially liable parties may include:
- A property owner
- A general contractor
- A subcontractor
- An electrical contractor
- A company responsible for maintaining the property or electrical system
- A manufacturer of defective electrical equipment or tools
- Another company working at the job site
More than one insurance policy may apply when an accident involves several businesses. We will review contracts, insurance policies, job responsibilities, and other records to determine which parties may be responsible and what coverage may be available.
Undocumented Workers May Have Legal Options
Immigration status does not necessarily prevent a worker from having legal rights after a workplace electrical accident. Our undocumented construction worker injury lawyer in Queens will review the accident and explain what options may be available.
If you are undocumented in NYC, call us today to discuss your legal options during a free consultation.
Electrical Accidents Can Cause Serious Injuries
An electrical injury is not always limited to a visible burn. Electrical current can travel through the body and damage nerves, muscle, tissue, and internal organs. The force of the shock can also cause a worker to fall or strike nearby equipment.
Electrical accidents may also cause:
- Abnormal heart rhythms or cardiac arrest
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness
- Memory or concentration problems
- Hearing or vision problems
- Broken bones
- Dislocated joints
- Permanent scarring or disfigurement
- Reduced use of an arm, hand, leg, or other body part
- Long-term pain or physical limitations
Some workers recover and return to their jobs. Others may no longer be able to perform construction, electrical, maintenance, or other physical work.
Recoverable Damages After a Queens Electrocution Injury
A third-party personal injury lawsuit may allow an injured worker to seek damages that are not available through workers’ compensation. What you may recover depends on your injuries and how they affect your work, health, and daily life.
Damages in a third-party claim may include:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical care
- Lost wages
- Reduced future earning ability
- Rehabilitation and therapy
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Permanent physical limitations
- Other accident-related financial losses
Your Queens electrical injury lawyer will pay particular attention to losses that may continue for years. We can use medical records, employment information, expert opinions, and other evidence to document future treatment, reduced earning ability, and the effect a permanent injury has on your daily life.
Damages in Fatal Electrical Accident Cases
If you lost a loved one in a workplace electrical accident, we are deeply sorry for your loss. There may also be questions about what caused the accident and whether a property owner, contractor, or another party was responsible.
In addition to wrongful death workers’ compensation benefits, New York law allows the personal representative of an estate to bring a wrongful death action if a third party’s wrongful conduct caused a death. Our Queens wrongful death lawyer will investigate the job site accident, identify potentially responsible parties, and pursue the claims available through the estate.
Chaikin Trial Group Personal Injury Lawyers will handle the insurance companies and legal process with care for what your family is going through.
Insurance Companies May Challenge the Extent of Your Losses
An insurance company may accept that an accident occurred and still dispute what the claim is worth. An adjuster may question your medical treatment, ability to return to work, or need for care in the future.
Electrical injuries can make these disputes harder because nerve damage, heart problems, chronic pain, and other effects may not be visible.
Chaikin Trial Group Personal Injury Lawyers uses medical evidence, wage records, and other evidence to document your losses and challenge attempts to undervalue your claim.
Deadlines for Filing an Electrocution Injury Lawsuit in New York
You generally have three years to file a personal injury lawsuit under NY CPLR § 214(5). Some cases have different deadlines, including those involving a government entity.
If a loved one died from an electrical accident, NY EPTL § 5-4.1 generally gives the personal representative of the estate two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Our Queens worksite electrocution lawyer will review what happened, determine the deadline that applies, and make sure your case is filed on time.
Let Our Queens Electrocution Injury Lawyer Handle the Legal Fight
A serious electrical injury can affect your health, your ability to work, and your household income for months or years. You deserve to know who may be responsible and what legal options are available.
At Chaikin Trial Group Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ll fight for you and keep you informed about what is happening with your case. We treat our clients like family, and our entire team is Spanish-bilingual. We will come to you if your injuries prevent you from getting to our office.
We handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, so you do not pay an attorney’s fee unless we recover damages for you. Come in as a client, leave as a friend. Call today for a free consultation.
