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South Carolina Construction Accident Attorneys Protect your Interests when Job Related Electrical Accidents Occur
When it comes to establishing liability, you need a lawyer who knows how to find the facts
Electrical shocks can be extraordinarily injurious—and even deadly. Workers on construction job sites are often exposed to bare wiring, electric power tools improperly grounded, overhead wiring, and other electrocution hazards. Electrical accidents typically cause severe burns, but depending upon voltage and amperage may also cause unconsciousness, cardiac arrest, and death. Since a number of different contractors may be at work on a job site, one’s own employer may not always be responsible for an injury at work. If so, you may be able to bring a third party claim that could result in your receiving a settlement significantly larger than workers’ compensation would provide for your injury.
If you are injured, or a loved one injured or killed because of an electrical accident at work, you should consult with one of the experienced South Carolina construction accident attorneys at McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC, as soon as possible. Even if an injury or death is subject to workers’ compensation law, there are numerous ways in which a knowledgeable lawyer can help you and your family through the claims and appeals processes, giving everyone more time to heal and get on with the business of living.
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What are the chances of exposure to electrical hazards on a construction job?
In 2013, 4,585 workers were killed on the job in the United States; 828 of those people worked in construction. Electrocution accounted for 13 deaths, or two percent of that year’s total. It was also third among the top four causes of construction industry deaths. In 2013, two of the ten most common violations in the construction industry, according to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) were conduct regarding electrical and wiring standards and violations involving electrical designs.
How do electric shock accidents happen?
Most construction sites are high-voltage environments with generators operating continuously to supply power to operate hand tools, table saws, elevators, and lighting. According to OSHA, the most common causes of electrocutions on construction sites are:
- Contact with power lines or bare wires
- Lack of ground-fault protection
- Improper grounding of electrical equipment, or failure to use ground fault interrupt (GFI) sockets
- Failure to follow manufacturers’ instructions
- Improper use of extension and flexible cords
The severity of the injury suffered by a construction worker in an electrical accident depends on several factors, including the individual’s general health, the presence of moisture in the immediate environment, and the amperage of the current. A current of 10 milliamperes (mA) is capable of producing painful to severe shock. Depending on the length of exposure and environmental factors, exposure to currents between 100mA and 200 mA can cause unconsciousness; heart, brain, and respiratory system damage; and damage to other internal organs, and is likely to be fatal. Workers who survive electrocution may never be able to resume their previous lifestyles, and may also suffer long-term physical and cognitive problems.
Do not wait to contact an aggressive South Carolina construction accident attorney
The South Carolina construction accident lawyers at McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC, are committed to advocating for individuals and families whose lives are disrupted by electrical accidents on construction sites. Let us help you obtain justice and the compensation you deserve.
Contact McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC, today. Call 803-327-7800 and schedule a free case evaluation by an experienced South Carolina construction accident attorney, or fill out our contact form from any device. We proudly serve people throughout the state from offices in Columbia, Anderson, Rock Hill, Sumter, and Georgetown.