SETTLEMENT : Painter electrocuted when he contacted high voltage power lines
Electrocution on Job Site
The plaintiff was a 20-year old painter working for an independent contractor at a job site when he came in contact with a high voltage line. The line was located in an enclosure at the back of a building owned by the defendant.
The plaintiff sustained partial amputation of three limbs after being electrocuted by the high voltage line. The plaintiff’s medical care for initial recovery cost $700,000 with an estimated $1,000,000 in total healthcare costs.
The enclosure was labeled with numerous warning signs and the telephone number of the Department of Water and power. The defendant claimed that the plaintiff’s employer should have simply called the Department of Water and Power and arranged for the power to be temporarily disconnected while the plaintiff was painting.
The plaintiff contended that regardless of negligence of the plaintiff’s employer, the defendant, as the owner of the building, was liable for failure to insist on proper safety precautions.
The case settled for $5,000,000 before trial.
According to the CDC, each year hundreds of workers lose their lives after electrocution on a job site, a majority of which are under the age of 35. While most workers know of risks of high voltage lines, large number aren’t aware of the risk of death from something as little as a broken light bulb. Improper training and lack of safety can lead to loss of life or catastrophic injuries, as they did in this case.
Electrical injuries can be electrocution, shock, burns (internal or external) and falls as a result of coming into contact with electricity. These hazards “represent a serious, widespread occupational danger; practically all members of the workforce are exposed to electrical energy during the performance of their daily duties.”
Our attorneys are experienced in handling these types of cases. If you have been injured or lost a loved one due to electrocution while working, please contact our personal injury firm for a free case evaluation.