Electrocution is a serious and often fatal type of injury that happens when an electric current passes through the body. Construction workers, power line workers, and many other employees around the state can all be victims of electrocution. In particular, electrocution accidents are the third-leading cause of death among construction workers, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Types of injuries from electrocution include thermal burns, internal damage to tissues and organs, and electric shock. How serious an electrocution injury is depends on several factors, including the voltage, how long the person was in contact with the electricity, whether it was an alternating or direct current and the path the current took through the body.

Some common causes of electrocution injuries include:

– contact with powerlines
– inadequate or faulty safety gear
– failure to shut down power lines
– improperly grounded wires or electrical systems
– unsafe or overloaded extension cords and electrical sources

Typical symptoms of an electric shock include:

– cardiac arrest
– unconsciousness
– difficulties in breathing or no breathing at all
– burns, particularly at the place where the electricity entered and left the body

If you were electrocuted on the job in Illinois, whether due to a failure of safety equipment or the negligence of a third party, you have the right to recover compensation for your injuries. At Krol, Bongiorno & Given, we fight for fair and full payment for injured workers in Illinois. For immediate help with a work injury case, call (312) 726-5567 for a free consultation or contact us online.

Krol, Bongiorno & Given provides legal services to residents in the Chicago metropolitan area, including Cook County, DeKalb County, DuPage County, Grundy County, Kankakee County, Kane County, Kendall County, McHenry County, and Will County.