We often take for granted that the power lines we see every day are safe. But contact with overhead power lines is found to be the top cause of fatal electrocution injuries in the US. Construction workers and utility workers are the most at-risk for these accidents, though private individuals sometimes get hurt as well.
Many New Jersey power line accidents are preventable. Entities that work with electric lines – such as utility companies and construction firms – have a duty to ensure the safety of people around those facilities. When a person gets seriously injured or killed due to a power line accident, the liability can often be traced to a company’s negligence and safety violations. The victim or their family may then be entitled to compensation.
If you or a loved one suffered a serious electric shock injury due to a power line accident in New Jersey, call us at The Grossman Law Firm. We’ll help you find your best legal options and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Free Consultation: Call (732) 625-9494.
How Power Line Accidents Lead To Deadly Injuries
We often hear terrifying stories about people coming into contact with high-voltage live wires. However, there are various other events that can constitute a power line accident, such as:
- Workers handling objects or machinery that come into contact with power lines (cranes, scaffolding, ladders, etc.)
- Workers falling off a height after being shocked by an unsafe cable
- People doing maintenance work, such as trimming tree branches, repairing roofs, or cleaning gutters, unaware of exposed cables around them
- People on the ground getting hit by a falling wire
- People on the ground touching objects that are in contact with a downed wire (fences, posts, vehicles, water, wet objects, etc.)
- Downed power lines energizing a large area on the ground during a storm.
Many of these occurrences are not pure ‘accidents’ but the ultimate result of a negligent practice. It could be the inadequate safety protocols of a utility, construction, or repair company. It could be the lack of inspection and maintenance of electric facilities due to a company cutting corners. Sadly, there are power sites around the US with aging electrical parts and decaying power poles, yet are still operating.
Getting Compensation For Power Line Injuries And Deaths
If a worker sustained an electric shock injury while doing their job, one option to be compensated is by filing a worker’s compensation claim from their employer. Most employees in New Jersey are entitled to workers’ comp benefits, though there are some situations where this option is not available. For instance, contractors usually are not covered under a company’s workers’ comp insurance as they are not direct employees.
Even when workers’ compensation is available, injured individuals may consider other avenues to get recompensed. This is because workers’ comp is sometimes insufficient to cover the full extent of damages that the victim suffered. Electrocution injuries are particularly devastating, often with costly physical impact and major emotional distress.
In many cases, a personal injury lawsuit gives the injured person a way to be repaid for these damages when workers’ comp can’t cover them. A personal injury claim is also an option for non-workers such as private residents who are injured from a downed power line near their home.
In the event of a person’s death, the family may bring a wrongful death lawsuit to claim compensation. While the monetary reimbursement can never replace the life lost, it can help ease the family’s financial losses such as funeral expenses and loss of income.
Whether you are an electrical worker or a private individual, it is always wise to consult an attorney to see how you can obtain the maximum compensation you deserve.
Call The Grossman Law Firm
Our lawyers at the Grossman Law Firm are highly experienced in electric injuries and wrongful death cases in New Jersey. Our tenacious legal representation, even in the face of major companies, has led us to win millions of dollars’ worth of compensation for our clients. Consult with us for free. Call us at (732) 625-9494 today.
