Electrocution is one of the most serious hazards on a construction site, often causing severe burns, permanent disabilities, or fatal injuries. If another party’s negligence contributed to the accident, you may have the right to pursue compensation through a personal injury claim, even if workers’ compensation benefits are available.
Construction projects involve multiple contractors, temporary electrical systems, and constantly changing conditions. When proper safety measures are ignored, preventable electrical accidents can happen.
How Do Electrocution Injuries Happen on Construction Sites?
Electricity is present throughout nearly every phase of construction. Common causes of electrocution injuries include:
- Contact with overhead or underground power lines
- Exposed or damaged electrical wiring
- Improperly grounded equipment
- Defective power tools or extension cords
- Unsafe temporary electrical systems
- Failure to de-energize equipment before maintenance
Many of these incidents could have been prevented through proper planning, equipment maintenance, and compliance with workplace safety standards.
What Injuries Can Result From Construction Site Electrocution?
Electrical injuries often extend beyond visible burns. Depending on the severity of the shock, victims may suffer:
- Severe burns
- Cardiac arrest or heart rhythm problems
- Nerve damage
- Brain injuries caused by oxygen deprivation
- Muscle and tissue damage
- Broken bones from falls
- Amputations
- Wrongful death
Many people require extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, and time away from work, while others experience permanent limitations.
Who May Be Liable for a Construction Site Electrocution?
Construction sites often involve multiple companies, meaning more than one party may be responsible for unsafe conditions.
Potentially liable parties include:
- General contractors
- Subcontractors
- Property owners
- Electrical contractors
- Equipment manufacturers
- Utility companies
Determining liability requires investigating how the accident occurred and whether someone failed to meet their legal responsibilities.
Can You File a Personal Injury Claim if You Receive Workers’ Compensation?
In many cases, yes.
Workers’ compensation generally prevents lawsuits against your employer, but it does not always prevent claims against negligent third parties. Depending on the circumstances, you may have a separate personal injury claim against another contractor, a property owner, an equipment manufacturer, or another responsible party.
Unlike workers’ compensation, a personal injury claim may allow you to recover damages for pain and suffering, along with losses that workers’ compensation does not cover.
What Compensation May Be Available?
If someone else’s negligence caused your injuries, you may be able to recover compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical care
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Rehabilitation costs
If an electrocution results in a fatality, surviving family members may also have grounds to pursue a wrongful death claim.
What Should You Do After a Construction Site Electrocution?
Your health comes first. After receiving medical treatment, you can help protect your claim by:
- Reporting the accident to your employer
- Following your treatment plan
- Preserving photographs of the accident scene and your injuries
- Keeping records of medical expenses and missed work
- Speaking with a personal injury attorney before accepting an insurance settlement
Construction companies and insurers often begin investigating immediately, making it important to preserve evidence as early as possible.
Your Options After a Construction Site Electrocution
A serious electrical injury can leave you facing mounting medical bills, lost income, and an uncertain future. We can investigate how the accident happened, identify every potentially responsible party, and pursue the compensation available under California law.
If you or a loved one suffered an electrocution injury on a construction site, contact Casper, Meadows, Schwartz & Cook to discuss your legal options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone who is not a construction worker file an electrocution injury claim?
Yes. Visitors, delivery drivers, pedestrians, and others injured by unsafe electrical conditions at or near a construction site may have the right to pursue a personal injury claim.
Are construction electrocution claims subject to filing deadlines?
Yes. California law limits the time you have to file a personal injury lawsuit, so it is important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible.
What if I was partially responsible for the accident?
California follows a comparative negligence system. You may still recover compensation, although your recovery may be reduced based on your percentage of fault.