Live Wires at Construction Sites Can Kill 

 Posted on September 09, 2022 in Wrongful Death

Many American construction workers are injured or killed by electrical hazards at job sites every year, and a tragic percentage of these deaths take place in Illinois. In some years, as many as half of all construction site fatalities happen because a worker was electrocuted on a job site. 

When these wrongful deaths result from negligence, the deceased party’s loved ones are entitled to compensation from the responsible party. If an employer’s negligent actions caused or contributed to the worker’s death, workers’ compensation provides benefits to surviving family members. But when a third party is responsible for the worker’s death, surviving family members may need to file a personal injury lawsuit to recover the damages to which they are entitled. 

Who is Responsible For Electrocution Injuries and Deaths on a Construction Site? 

Tragically, employers and contractors often flout OSHA regulations in ways that result in serious worker injuries and deaths. Although workers’ compensation usually protects an employer from being sued, it does not shield third parties on construction sites from legal responsibility for damages caused by negligent behavior. An important part of filing a personal injury lawsuit is determining who was responsible for the conditions that led to the accident, which often requires an extensive investigation. 

Third parties that operate on construction sites that may be responsible for electrical injuries include, but are not limited to: 

• Government or private electricity companies that manage dangerously low or damaged overhead powerlines (as many as one in three electrocution fatalities are caused by overhead powerlines every year)

• Third-party contractors that work with damaged electrical equipment, such as exposed wires, frayed cords, and improperly connected extension cords

• Third-party contractors who install improper wiring, overloaded circuits, and improperly grounded equipment 

• Third-party contractors who operate electrical equipment in rain, snow, or other wet conditions 

• Third-party contractors who do not use or misapply fire-retardant materials

• Private companies that manufacture defective tools, wires, and other electrical equipment  

If one or more of these circumstances caused or contributed to a construction site fatality, meet with a personal injury attorney right away, especially before accepting a settlement offer or discussing your loved one’s accident with an insurance company. 

Call a Cook County Construction Site Injury Lawyer

When a loved one suffers a serious or fatal injury because electric equipment at a construction site was improperly set up or safely arranged, the damage inflicted upon surviving family members can be incalculable. To find out whether you can hold a third-party accountable for the wrongful death of a family member at an Illinois construction site, contact a Joliet construction site wrongful death attorney with Schwartz Injury Law. Our attorneys are prepared to fight for your right to recover compensation from the party responsible for your terrible loss. Call us at 708-226-9000 to schedule a free consultation today. 

Source: 

https://getdsservices.com/electrical-hazards-keeping-workers-safe-from-live-wires/