Workplace Electrical Burn Injuries

Countless professions require employees to put themselves in harm’s way for a paycheck. That’s why workers’ compensation exists: to make sure that Maryland employees have quick and easy access to medical care and other benefits in the event that they are injured at work. In exchange for these benefits, employees also lose the ability to bring a personal injury lawsuit against their employer to recover for the damages. For this reason, workers’ compensation benefits are particularly important for injuries like electrical burns, which can be painful, debilitating, and difficult to recover from. Employees who work in construction, electricians, cable workers, and those who work with electrical wires or equipment are all at risk for electrical burns. Electrical burns are far more serious than other kinds of burns. Unlike other burns which primarily cause damage to the skin, electrical burns burn from the inside out, causing damage to the flesh, muscle tissue, ligaments, and even bones.

Workers’ Compensation for Electrical Burns

If you have suffered an electrical burn at work while performing your job duties, you are likely entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits, provided that you are classified as an employee as opposed to an independent contractor. Workers’ compensation benefits provide medical care and full or partial wage replacement while you recover from your work-related injury. Unlike with personal injury lawsuits, negligence and liability are not relevant when it comes to determining eligibility for workers’ compensation coverage.

Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim for Electrical Burns

The first thing that you should do if you suffer an electrical burn at work is to notify your employer or supervisor and get medical attention as soon as possible. Because electrical burns occur from the inside out, the damage on the external skin may not always reflect how serious the injury actually is. This can sometimes cause people to mistakenly think that their injury must not be too serious. However, any time you come into contact with an electrical current poses major health risks, so it’s important to see a doctor. By reporting the injury to your supervisor or employer you initiate the workers’ compensation claim process. If you notify them verbally, make sure to follow up in writing (such as in an email) so that you have documentation. If your initial claim is denied, do not despair. It’s actually fairly common even for valid claims to initially be denied coverage. An experienced workers’ compensation attorney can help ensure that you get the coverage that you are entitled to.

Contact Berman, Sobin, Gross 

If you have suffered serious injury due to a workplace accident and are struggling to get the compensation and support that you are entitled to, the experienced Maryland workers’ compensation attorneys at Berman, Sobin, Gross are ready to help. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.

Source:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519514/