What Are the 4 Main Types of Electrical Injuries?

Electrocution poses significant risks at construction sites, workplaces, and homes. When electrical current passes through the human body, it can cause devastating damage.

At The Ahearne Law Firm, our Hudson Valley construction accident lawyers have extensive experience representing victims of electrical accidents, helping them secure the compensation they deserve.

Common Electrical Injuries Explained

Electrical injuries rank among the most devastating accidents due to their extreme impact on the human body. When electric current passes through tissue, it can simultaneously destroy cells, disrupt nerve signaling, and cause cardiac arrest. The damage often extends far beyond visible wounds, making initial assessment challenging for medical professionals. Moreover, these injuries frequently lead to long-term complications, including muscle death, nerve damage, and psychological trauma.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), electrical injuries fall into four categories. These classifications help medical professionals provide appropriate treatment and guide safety protocols in workplaces and construction sites:

1. Fatal Electrocution Injuries

Fatal electrocution is the most severe result of an electrical accident, causing immediate death through cardiac arrest, respiratory failure, or severe nervous system disruption. Construction workers and electricians face this risk daily when working with high-voltage systems or in wet conditions.

OSHA statistics show that electrocution remains one of the "Fatal Four" leading causes of death in the construction industry, with power line contact being an especially lethal scenario:

• High-voltage exposure in industrial settings.
• Direct contact with power lines.
• Equipment malfunctions causing lethal current flow.
• Multiple system failures from electrical exposure.

2. Electric Shock

Electric shock occurs when an electrical current travels through the body, creating a range of potentially life-altering complications. Unlike electrocution, victims survive the initial contact but may face long-term health issues. The severity depends heavily on the current's path – shocks traveling through the heart or brain present the highest risk.

Construction workers often experience these injuries when using defective tools, damaged extension cords, or improperly grounded electrical appliances and may be entitled to significant compensation through personal injury claims for:

• Muscle contractions and nerve damage
• Internal tissue trauma
• Cardiac arrhythmias
• Respiratory system disruption
• Neurological complications

3. Electrical Burns

Electrical burns encompass several distinct injury mechanisms and often require specialized treatment approaches. These injuries frequently occur in industrial settings where high-voltage equipment operates. Unlike typical thermal burns, electrical burns can cause extensive internal damage that's not immediately visible on the skin's surface.

The treatment often requires long-term care and may involve multiple surgical interventions:

• Arc flash burns from high-temperature electrical arcs.
• Entry and exit point burns where current contacts skin.
• Deep tissue destruction along the current’s path.
• Secondary thermal burns from ignited clothing.

4. Secondary Injuries

The force of electrical contact often causes devastating secondary trauma. When workers contact live electrical sources, the resulting muscle contractions can be violent enough to throw them considerable distances. Additionally, the disorientation from electrical shock can lead to dangerous falls, especially on construction sites.

These secondary injuries often compound the complexity of treatment and recovery:

• Falls from heights after the shock.
• Impact injuries from being thrown by an electrical force.
• Muscle contractions causing joint or bone injuries.
• Traumatic injuries from collapsed structures.

Factors Affecting Electrical Injury Severity

The severity of electric shock injuries varies significantly based on several critical factors that determine patient outcomes. Medical professionals consider these elements when assessing injury extent and planning treatment approaches:

• Voltage level and current strength determine tissue damage severity: higher voltages penetrate deeper, while stronger currents cause more extensive cellular destruction.
• Duration of electrical contact impacts injury depth: prolonged exposure allows electricity to cause more widespread internal damage.
• Path of electrical current through the body affects which organs face risk: current through the heart or brain is particularly dangerous.
• Tissue resistance levels differ across body parts: dry skin provides better protection than wet skin, while internal tissues vary in conductivity.
• Environmental conditions such as moisture and grounding influence how electrical current flows through the body.
• Response time to medical treatment impacts recovery: rapid intervention prevents complications and reduces permanent damage.

Your Legal Options After an Electrical Accident

Electrical injury victims have several legal pathways to pursue compensation. Understanding your rights and potential claims helps ensure you receive fair compensation for your injuries. Hiring dedicated legal counsel is the first step in making sure you’re treated fairly by your employer and the insurance company.

Workplace Accident Claims

When electrical injuries occur on construction sites or in workplace settings, victims often have multiple avenues for compensation. Workers' compensation provides some initial coverage for medical expenses and lost wages, but third-party claims against at-fault parties can significantly add to the full compensation injured workers can receive.

These parties may include contractors who installed faulty electrical systems, equipment manufacturers providing defective tools, property owners failing to maintain safe premises, other subcontractors on the job site, or general contractors violating safety regulations.

Beyond standard workplace claims, documented violations of OSHA safety standards often strengthen these cases by demonstrating clear negligence and disregard for worker safety protocols. The presence of multiple responsible parties and safety code violations creates opportunities for comprehensive compensation beyond typical workers' compensation benefits, including money for pain and suffering and loss of life’s pleasures.

Construction Site Accident Claims

Construction sites present unique hazards and legal considerations in electrical injury cases. These environments often involve temporary electrical power setups, multiple contractors working simultaneously, and rapidly changing conditions that increase electrical accident risks. Common issues include improper lockout/tagout procedures, unmarked live wires, missing safety equipment, damaged extension cords, and inadequate worker training.

Product Liability Cases

Defective electrical equipment often leads to serious injuries through design flaws, manufacturing defects, or inadequate safety features. When manufacturers create and sell unsafe products in the marketplace, they bear responsibility for resulting injuries. These construction tools and machines can have defective and dangerous product designs causing electrical failures, manufacturing defects in wiring components, and insufficient safety warnings.

Premises Liability Claims

Property owners and managers bear responsibility for maintaining safe electrical systems in their buildings. This duty includes regular inspections, timely repairs of known hazards, and ensuring all electrical work meets current safety codes. Common violations include delayed repairs of identified electrical hazards, outdated wiring systems, and hiring unqualified contractors for electrical work.

Property owners can be held responsible for injuries when they fail to maintain safe premises. These cases often involve thorough documentation of maintenance records, inspection histories, and prior knowledge of electrical hazards that must be repaired.

Wrongful Death Claims

Fatal electrical accidents devastate families emotionally and financially. Surviving family members can pursue wrongful death lawsuits to address both the immediate and long-term impacts of their loss. These claims cover concrete financial losses like medical expenses, funeral costs, and lost future earnings.

Additionally, wrongful death cases address more personal losses, such as the absence of parental guidance, loss of companionship, and emotional suffering experienced by surviving family members.

Damages You Can Recover After an Electrical Injury

Victims of electrical accidents may be entitled to several types of compensation. Here are the damages you can potentially recover:

• Medical expenses, including the cost of future treatment
• Lost wages and future decreased earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Permanent disability
• Disfigurement
• Emotional distress

Our knowledgeable and skilled lawyers have decades of successfully handling electrical injury cases and winning full compensation for our clients.