Power Line Accidents

A devastating type of injury construction workers face are power line accidents. Sometimes these involve not only shock, but also a fall from heights, among other harms. Workers may be killed as a result of serious injuries onsite. If you were injured or a loved one was died due to a power line accident, you should discuss what happened with the strategic Syracuse construction accident lawyers of DeFrancisco & Falgiatano. The best results may depend on securing representation from counsel who understands the nuances of these cases and regularly goes to trial. We have more than 30 years of experience.

Electrical accidents in Upstate New York may involve exposed wires, equipment failures such as defective generators, electrocution from lockout failures, a lack of safety signs, falls, and failure to install ground fault protection. Power line accidents happen for a variety of reasons, but they can have an extremely adverse set of consequences, including fatal consequences.

These accidents can be the result of mistakes made by contractors or utility workers, code violations, or negligence. For instance, if a utility worker leaves a fuse open and workers are unaware of it, they could be electrocuted by the live wire. There are instances in which code violations are not noticed in connection with the construction of a junction box and as a result a line becomes accessible even on the ground. Sometimes safety precautions to protect workers are not taken by contractors. For instance, if you were operating a mobile crane that contacts a live wire, the power will move not only through the crane but also your body, resulting in electrocution.

If you were injured or a loved one was killed in a construction accident, you may not be limited to workers’ compensation. There are special laws in place in New York to protect contractors in a range of situations where they are injured: Labor Law 200, Labor Law 240, and Labor Law 241(6). Our attorneys may be able to help you recover damages.

At a construction site, power line accidents can result in harm to power line workers, utility workers, electricians, welders, plumbers, carpenters, and heavy machinery operators. Under Labor Law 200, a construction worker can recover damages if owners or contractors failed to use reasonable and adequate care to protect them from power line accidents by properly arranging and equipping the construction site.

Labor Law 240, the Scaffolding Law may allow our attorneys to recover damages on your behalf if you sustained injuries from gravity-related injuries. For instance, we may be able to recover damages if you were shocked in connection with a power line accident and fell off a ladder and broke bones.

Under Section 241(6) of the Labor Law, if your injury is the result of a violation of Part 23 of the New York Industrial Code, which sets forth detailed safety regulations for construction sites, including ones related to power lines, you may be able to recover damages in a lawsuit. For instance, under Section 23-1.13, all power lines and power facilities around a construction site are considered energized until qualified representatives of their owners have given assurance that they are otherwise. An owner and general contractor on many different kinds of sites can be held responsible if proper protection was not given under that rule; for instance, if a qualified representative did not check but gave assurances, they could be held accountable.

The nature and severity of your injuries will determine the extent of your damages. Injuries from a power line accident could involve your cardiovascular, central nervous, respiratory, integumentary, and musculoskeletal system. Sometimes workers are left with permanent disabilities and disfiguring burns, along with nerve damage. You may not be able to work again, just when you most need to make money to cover medical bills. Damages that may be recovered in a suit include medical bills, lost wages, out-of-pocket expenses, replacement services, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment.

If you were injured or a loved one died in a power line accident at a Syracuse construction site, you should call our seasoned Syracuse trial lawyers to obtain the best results in your case. DeFrancisco & Falgiatano represents workers and their families in Herkimer, Lowville, Watertown, Canandaigua, Rochester, Wampsville, Auburn, Oswego, Lyons, Ithaca, Cooperstown, Binghamton, Oneida, Utica, and Elmira. Complete our online form or call us at 833-200-2000 for a free consultation.