Technically, the word “electrocution” combines “electricity” and “execution,” so it means to be killed or die by electric shock. Even medical providers and lawyers regularly misuse the word and apply it to electric shock injuries where the patient survives, and this can result in confusion. I do not particularly like the word “shocked” in the context of electrical injuries so I tend to use more colorful and descriptive terms like “zapped” or “blasted” when describing them.
Electric shock injuries occur when the body comes in contact with an electrical current. Industrial workers are often at the highest risk of being electrocuted or zapped and construction workers are at particularly high risk due to their work environment and the nature of their work. Depending on how powerful an electric current is, a person may not survive.
If you were zapped at your construction jobsite in DC, you might not be able to work and generate income. Getting zapped can be a painful and emotionally harrowing experience, and as a survivor, you deserve compensation for your ordeal. No one should be subjected to the consequences of such a severe injury.
Call an accomplished workers’ compensation attorney today if you are interested in obtaining compensation for your injuries.
On construction sites, electric shocks often occur when a person is exposed to an electrical source with a high voltage. Individuals who come in frequent contact with powerlines or electrical equipment are more likely than others to sustain injuries, but unfortunately, accidental electrocution deaths are still common at DC worksites in the construction industry.
According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International, roughly 54 percent of all electrocution-related fatalities were sustained by construction workers in 2017. 136 construction workers lost their lives when they were electrocuted.
Electrocution, like falls or burns, is among one of the leading causes of workplace deaths across all industries.
Construction workers are most likely to be electrocuted when performing trenching or excavating work.
When an electrical current comes in contact with a person, the current enters the body in an attempt to exit through the ground or make contact with another electrical source. The higher the voltage, the more severe the shock will be. High voltage shocks can cause individuals to sustain serious burns and internal injuries.
In addition to internal organs and the skin, electric shocks can impact the following body systems as well:
In short, virtually every single bodily system can be impacted by electrical currents.
Treating electricity-related injuries can be expensive and painful for a survivor. If burned, the construction worker may need numerous treatments and skin grafts. Dead, burned tissue may also need to be removed. If damage occurs to the brain or spinal cord, a survivor can develop seizures, severe nerve damage, and even amnesia. Survivors may also need to take medicine for any potentially dangerous cardiovascular issues.
Fortunately, with the help of a DC lawyer, survivors may be able to file suit against the negligent party responsible for their electrocution.
Electricity can be a useful, but deadly force. The human body simply is not designed to handle high-voltage electricity, so many electric shock survivors are forced to contend with astronomical medical bills, painful medical procedures, and a loss of independence for the rest of their lives.
Reach out to a DC lawyer if you were zapped at work or if you are the family member of an electrocuted worker.
