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    Electricians install and repair wiring, electrical fixtures, industrial machinery and lighting systems in houses and businesses. They identify problems and repair or replace broken equipment such as faulty wiring, electrical circuits, breaker boxes, motors and control systems. Working with electrical current, electricians and electrical installers are exposed to serious workplace injury risks, including electric shock, electrical burns, falls, and electrocution.

    If you have been injured while employed as an electrician or electrician’s apprentice in South Carolina, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Most businesses in South Carolina are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance to pay for medical care, rehabilitation and lost wages partially for employees harmed on the job.

    When filing a workers’ comp claim for electrician injuries, it’s best to consult with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney. If you’ve been hurt in an on-the-job accident or have become ill due to workplace conditions, the attorneys at Joye Law Firm are ready to assist you.

    For more than 50 years, we’ve assisted injured workers who are struggling after a serious injury accident and who are having difficulty obtaining workers’ compensation benefits. Our knowledgeable workers’ compensation attorneys will do everything in our power to help you access all the workers’ compensation benefits available by law.

    Contact us today at (888) 324-3100 to schedule a free case evaluation. We have offices located in Charleston, Columbia, Myrtle Beach and Clinton, SC and handle cases throughout South Carolina.

    Common Injuries of Electricians in South Carolina

    Working with electricity poses a risk. Contact with a live wire can cause electrical current to move through the body. On-the-job injuries for electricians include shocks, electrical burns, broken bones and more. Electricians and electrical helpers are frequently exposed to hazards. Even the most experienced electricians who take safety precautions may sustain one or more work-related injuries during their career.

    These are the most common electrician injuries we see:

    • Electrical Burns: Electricians may suffer burns due to direct contact with electrical current or from exposure to arc blasts. Arc blast explosions can create temperatures as high as 36,000 degrees, causing severe or even fatal burns within seconds. Even with treatment, burns can lead to secondary complications, such as infection or scarring. The severity of the injury depends on the amount of electrical current and the duration of exposure. If an electrician is exposed to too much electrical current, they can suffer fatal injuries due to electrocution. If your loved one was electrocuted on the job, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation death benefits including payment of funeral and burial expenses.
    • Fractures and Broken Bones: Electricians often work on elevated platforms, such as on top of buildings, on ladders, and other locations where they need to work on wiring or electrical fixtures. A misstep can cause an electrician to fall and sustain serious injuries, such as broken bones. A fall-related injury may be secondary to a shock. For instance, if a worker is exposed to an electrical current, the jolt may cause the electrician to fall.
    • Lacerations and Shrapnel Injuries: Electricians may suffer from lacerations and shrapnel-type injuries as well as shock injuries during an arc blast or electrical explosion. These injuries can be severe or fatal.
    • Hearing Loss and Tinnitus: If an electrical explosion occurs and a worker is in close proximity, the noise of the blast can cause serious injury. Workers exposed to arc blasts and electrical explosions may suffer from hearing loss or tinnitus, which is a constant ringing in the ears.
    • Electric Shock: Electricians often sustain electric shock injuries to their hands, since they use hand tools and power tools to work with wiring and electrical fixtures. Electric shock injuries may cause permanent damage, such as tingling sensations, and muscle weakness. Electric shocks sometimes cause a condition called compartment syndrome. This occurs when limbs swell due to muscle damage, which may compress vital arteries and lead to more serious health issues.
    • Severe Strains and Soft Tissue Damage: The majority of workplace injuries that electricians sustain involve shocks and burns. However, electricians are also at risk of harm caused by overexertion and repetitive movements. They often work in awkward positions and may sustain soft tissue injuries or repetitive stress injuries, requiring time off work or surgery and physical rehabilitation.
    • Mesothelioma: Electricians may be exposed to asbestos when working on older buildings that have asbestos-wrapped wiring or insulation containing asbestos. Exposure to asbestos can lead to serious respiratory diseases including mesothelioma, a form of cancer caused by inhaling fine asbestos particles. Mesothelioma may develop in the lining of the lungs or the abdomen. All types of mesothelioma require chemotherapy and sometimes surgery.

    Common Causes of Electrician Work Injuries

    Electrician work injuries can occur under many circumstances. Although most electricians take precautions, they may still suffer on-the-job injuries.

    Some of the most common electrician injuries involve:

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    Exposure to Live Electrical Currents
    Working with electricity means being exposed to risks on a daily basis. It only takes a brief exposure to energized wiring or currents to cause severe injury. Currents above 10 milliamps can paralyze muscles so that an electrician cannot release a tool or wire, resulting in a longer exposure to the shocking current.
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    Arc Blasts
    An arc blast is an electrical explosion that often occurs when an improper connection is made. A tremendous amount of energy is released during these explosions, generating extremely high temperatures. Arc blasts also produce a loud noise from the explosion.
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    Falls
    Many electrical jobs require workers to perform wiring in high locations. High voltage can cause muscle contractions and may cause an electrician to lose balance and fall. The electrician may suffer severe or fatal injuries when working at heights.
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    Trip-and-Fall Accidents
    Electricians are also at risk of fall-related injuries even on the ground. It’s common for work sites to be littered with dangers and bulky equipment. Even with safety precautions, workers can trip and sustain broken bones.
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    Overexertion and Repetitive Movements
    On an average work day, electricians might have to repetitively perform the same task. They also must hold the same position and operate power tools for long periods of time. Overexertion and repetitive movements can lead to workplace injuries.
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    Exposure to Asbestos
    The risk of asbestos exposure increases when electricians have to work on buildings that were constructed prior to the 1980s.

    Real Case Study: Joye Law Firm Secures Help for Electrician Injured on the Job

    Darryl was a busy electrician. He had an established career and a great reputation. He prided himself on his ability to take care of his family through his hard work. However, one day that ability was taken away from him.

    Despite a rigorous commitment to safety, what should have been a straightforward wiring job turned into a freak accident. Within seconds, electricity was racing through Darryl’s body, tossing him backward onto a concrete floor.

    Darryl was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. He would face a long recovery, including the need to surgically repair some of the damage that was caused. While Darryl was happy to be alive, the back of his mind was rattled with fears about his future prospects and his ability to take of his family. Would he ever return to the career he worked so hard to build?

    Oftentimes injured workers don’t want to “rock the boat” with their employers, fearing they may lose their jobs. So, they try to avoid the workers’ compensation process altogether, some believing their employer will “do the right thing.” However, doing so puts your life and future in someone else’s hands, including the insurance company’s. That’s because while many injured workers believe their employer is the one making decisions about their care and compensation, these decisions are actually made by their employer’s insurance company. Workers’ compensation insurance companies have the same goal as all other insurance companies and that’s to make a profit. They do so by collecting as many premiums as possible and paying out as little on claims as possible. That doesn’t bode well for the interests of the injured worker.

    Electric utility lineman working on power lines.Fearing for his future and his family, Darryl called the Joye Law Firm. He began working with Atty. Matt Jackson. Darryl felt reassured with Matt’s experience and the solid reputation of Joye Law Firm’s workers’ compensation team. Once unleashed, Matt fought tenaciously against the insurance company and their lawyers to make sure that Darryl could secure the future medical treatment he’d need and the financial compensation necessary to take care of his family. Matt and his team also worked hard to make sure that Darryl’s recovery and treatment wouldn’t damage his ability to receive Medicare benefits in the future. Protecting a client’s Medicare benefits is a serious, but often overlooked task when dealing with inexperienced workers’ compensation lawyers.

    Although he wishes the incident had never occurred, Darryl and his family were able to take comfort in knowing his medical and financial needs were secure thanks to the six-figure settlement Matt was able to negotiate on their behalf. Now, he doesn’t have to worry about how this freak accident could have caused physical and financial ruin and can instead focus on continuing his recovery and enjoying his family.

    After suffering an injury on the job, choosing whether to hire a law firm can be a difficult decision. Once you decide to make the move however, choosing the right attorney can prove just as difficult. If you’ve suffered a work injury caused by electricity, we urge you to seek out experienced counsel, even if it isn’t through our law firm.

    Do I Have to Sue My Employer to Receive Workers’ Comp for Electricians?

    Contact Joye Law Firm for electrocution lawsuitsNo. Workers’ compensation for electricians is not based on fault, so there is no need to prove anyone was at fault. Employees who sustain workplace injuries are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits regardless of who caused an accident. In South Carolina, you typically cannot sue your employer for a workplace accident.

    There are situations in which you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against a third party. For example, if you are an electrician employed by ACME Electric, and a factory contracts ACME Electric to replace faulty wiring and you suffer an injury while working at the factory, then you may have a legal claim against the factory owner if your injury was caused by the factory owner’s negligence. If you were harmed due to defective equipment at the factory, then you may be able to file a lawsuit against the manufacturer. Before considering legal action, you should have a knowledgeable workers’ compensation attorney evaluate your claim and who may be liable.

    Are Electrician Injuries Covered by Workers’ Compensation?

    Yes. Workers’ compensation is an insurance purchased by employers to protect injured workers. If an electrician is injured on the job, he or she can access workers’ comp benefits by reporting the injury and filing a workers’ comp claim.

    Workers’ comp for electricians in South Carolina covers:

    • Medical Care: This covers any medical costs – such as surgery and hospitalizations – related to your electrician work injuries.
    • Disability: Are your injuries so severe that you have to take time off work? You may receive disability benefits to replace a portion of your wages.
    • Rehabilitation: Some electrician work injuries require rehabilitation. Workers’ comp will cover these costs so you can return to work in the best condition possible after your accident.
    • Death Benefits: If your loved one died due to electrician work injuries, you may receive death benefits to cover the cost of funeral and burial expenses.

    How A Workers’ Compensation Attorney Can Help You

    The workers’ compensation appeals process can be complex if the employer or workers’ compensation insurance administrator disputes your claim. It’s easy to make a mistake if you are unfamiliar with the appeals process. It’s best to hire an attorney to handle your claim if you are having difficulty obtaining workers’ comp benefits after an on-the-job injury.

    When you choose the legal team at Joye Law Firm, we will:

    • Gather Evidence to Support Your Workers’ Compensation Claim: If you don’t report the injury properly, don’t provide evidence or you make a paperwork mistake, your claim may be denied. We will gather all relevant evidence and build the strongest claim possible on your behalf.
    • Maximize Your Benefits: When injured on the job, you deserve to be fully compensated for your losses. We’ll fight to recover the maximum allowable benefits so you can focus on recovering from your injuries.

    Check out the testimonials from former clients about the service they received from Joye Law Firm, then give us a call. To schedule a free consultation, contact us today at (888) 324-3100. We are proud to serve many locations throughout South Carolina, including Charleston, Columbia, Myrtle Beach and Clinton.

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