Construction Accidents

Electrical Injury Lawyers: Construction Accidents

The presence of electricity is one of the elements that makes a construction site such a dangerous place. In an OSHA study of 3,496 construction fatalities, electrical shock ranked fourth behind workers falling, being struck by objects and being caught in or between heavy items.

The majority of electrical shock accidents in that study involved construction vehicles or heavy equipment contacting overhead power lines and contacting with sources of high voltage.

The firm obtained $29 million in compensation for a lineman who was injured in a power line accident. While working from a bucket truck stringing fiber-optic cable, he backed into a 7,200-volt power line. Our client suffered bilateral amputation of both arms, burns over 45 percent of his body, and became paraplegic.

According to OSHA, electrical injuries on construction sites typically involve one or more of the following:

• Unsafe electrical equipment and installations can include faulty insulations, improper grounding, loose connections, defective parts, ground faults in equipment, unguarded live parts and underrated equipment.
• Unsafe conditions in the environment can also contribute to accidents. Work sites containing flammable vapors, liquids or gases present a risk for fire and explosion. Wet or damp conditions affect electrical safety.
• Unsafe acts such as failure to deenergize electric equipment before working on or near it or using tools or equipment too close to an energized part or power source.

The Complexities of Construction Injury Claims

An employee covered by workers' compensation cannot sue his or her employer for damages sustained in a construction accident. However, if someone other than the employer caused the worker's injury, the employee can sue this third party. The so-called third party claims allow the injured person to recover compensation for pain and suffering, which are not covered by workers' compensation.

At Rouda, Feder Tietjen & Zanobini, our experienced construction accident attorneys will analyze the specific circumstances of your case, identify all possible sources of liability and clearly explain your legal options.

If you have suffered an electrical injury on the job, please contact Rouda, Feder Tietjen & Zanobini to arrange a free consultation. Located in San Francisco, our lawyers represent clients throughout California and nationwide.

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