The workplace is home to thousands of electrocutions and other electrical accidents each year. The Bureau of Labor & Statistics states that electrocution is the fifth leading cause of workplace related deaths. Every year, over 500 workers will die by electrocution on the jobsite. Employees working in industries that place them in close proximity to electrical sources are at the greatest risk for electrocution and electrical burns.
Employees who experience an electrical accident at a Mississippi job site will generally be entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits. Mississippi requires most employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance, which will cover all work related accidents. Further, Mississippi employees who utilize the workers’ compensation system will be protected from any retaliatory action resulting from the filing of their claim.
Electrocuted on the Job: Who is Most at Risk for Electrical Accidents and Injuries?
Employees who work in the fields list below are at the highest risk for electrocution and other electrical accidents:
- Electricians
- Construction workers
- Utility workers
- Manufacturing workers
The number one source of electrical fatalities is overhead power lines, so anyone working in a field that requires contact with power lines is at a heightened risk for electrocution.
Electrocution, Electric Shock, and Burns
Employees often suffer from electric shock due to wear and tear on machines or wiring, ungrounded power supplies, and contract with underground electrical cords or overhead power lines.
Some of the most common electric shock injuries include:
- Burns
- Brain damage
- Nerve damage
- Tissue, nerve, or muscle damage
- Organ damage
- Neurological damage
- Internal bleeding
- Heart attack
- Respiratory and cardiac arrest
- Wrongful death by electrocution
Burns are often associated with fire, but they have other causes. Electrical explosions, accidents, defective products, chemical exposure, and workplace accidents can also inflict burns. Electrical burns are often severe and can lead to:
- Tissue and nerve damage
- Infection
- Disfigurement or scarring
- Loss of sight, hearing, smell, or taste
- Inhalation injuries
Liability for Electric Shock Accidents
Mississippi employees injured in an electrical accident will generally incur significant medical expenses, require a lengthy recovery period, and be unable to maintain work obligations. Employees will also experience pain and suffering, along with sometimes severe emotional or psychological affects. Regardless of fault for the accident, Mississippi employees injured in electrical accidents are able to pursue benefits through workers’ compensation insurance. In addition, any family who losses a loved one due to an electric accident in the workplace can obtain death benefits through the workers’ compensation system.
The workers’ compensation process can be confusing and often the employee will not immediately obtain the full benefits to which they are entitled. All injured Mississippi employees, especially those who have sustained serious electrical accident related injuries, should contact an attorney early on to ensure they receive the benefits they need to fully cover medical and missed time from work expenses.
Barrett Law PLLC: Protecting Mississippi Workers
For over 75 years, across three generations, the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Attorneys at Barrett Law, PLLC have provided skilled, zealous, and intelligent representation for Mississippi employees injured in work-related accidents across the state. Our workers’ compensation attorneys have the knowledge, experience, and resources to obtain the results you desire. Barrett Law, PLLC operates on a contingency fee basis and the first consultation is always free. If your workers’ compensation claim has been denied or if you are confused about the workers’ compensation process, the attorneys at Barrett Law, PLLC can help. Call today at 1 (800) 707-9577 to schedule your free consultation.