Electrical Burns in Construction Accidents: Legal Options for Injured Workers

The Danger of Electrical Burns on Construction Sites

Construction workers in Chicago face serious risks every day. Among the most dangerous hazards is electricity. Contact with live wires, faulty equipment, or improperly grounded systems can send thousands of volts through a worker’s body, causing devastating electrical burns that damage tissue from the inside out.

Electrocution is one of OSHA’s “Fatal Four” leading causes of construction worker deaths. Workers who survive electrical contact often face long, painful recoveries and permanent disabilities. If you or a loved one suffered electrical burns on a construction site in Chicago, you have legal options.

How Electrical Burns Happen on Construction Sites

Contact with Overhead Power Lines

Cranes, scaffolding, ladders, and other tall equipment can contact overhead power lines. Even getting close to a high-voltage line without touching it can cause an arc flash. These incidents often cause severe burns and are frequently fatal.

Exposed or Damaged Wiring

Construction sites often have temporary electrical systems. Damaged extension cords, exposed wires, and improper connections create constant electrical hazards.

Defective Tools and Equipment

Power tools with faulty insulation, damaged cords, or internal wiring defects can shock workers. Defective generators and transformers also pose significant risks.

Working in Wet Conditions

Water conducts electricity. Working with electrical equipment in wet or damp conditions dramatically increases the risk of electrocution and burns.

Failure to De-energize Systems

When workers perform maintenance or repairs on electrical systems that have not been properly shut off and locked out, the results can be catastrophic.

Underground Utility Strikes

Digging without properly locating underground electrical lines can result in contact with high-voltage cables buried beneath the surface.

What Makes Electrical Burns Different

Electrical burns are fundamentally different from thermal or chemical burns. When electricity passes through the body, it follows the path of least resistance through blood vessels, nerves, and muscles. This causes:

• Internal tissue damage: The worst damage may be invisible on the surface. Muscles, nerves, and organs can be severely damaged while the skin shows only small entry and exit wounds.
• Cardiac complications: Electricity can disrupt the heart’s rhythm, causing arrhythmias or cardiac arrest.
• Compartment syndrome: Swelling of damaged muscles can compress blood vessels and nerves, requiring emergency surgery.
• Kidney damage: Damaged muscle tissue releases proteins that can overwhelm the kidneys.
• Neurological damage: Electrical current can damage the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves.

Because of this internal damage, electrical burns often require more extensive and longer treatment than burns of similar external appearance.

Workers’ Compensation for Electrical Burns

Illinois requires most employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance. If you suffered electrical burns on a construction site, you can file a workers’ comp claim regardless of fault. Benefits include:

• All reasonable medical treatment, including hospitalization, surgery, and rehabilitation
• Temporary total disability (TTD) payments while you recover
• Permanent partial disability (PPD) if you have lasting impairment
• Permanent total disability (PTD) if you can never work again
• Vocational rehabilitation services
• Death benefits for families of workers killed by electrocution

For more details about the workers’ comp process, visit our workers’ compensation page.

Third-Party Lawsuits: Getting Full Compensation

Workers’ compensation does not cover pain and suffering. It also pays only a portion of your lost wages. But on construction sites, there are almost always third parties beyond your direct employer who share responsibility for safety. You may be able to file a third-party lawsuit against:

General Contractors

Under Illinois law, general contractors have a duty to maintain a reasonably safe worksite. If the GC failed to identify electrical hazards, enforce safety protocols, or coordinate between subcontractors, they can be held liable.

Property Owners

The owner of the property where you were working may be liable if they controlled the worksite or knew about electrical hazards and failed to address them.

Utility Companies

If a utility company failed to properly mark, de-energize, or maintain power lines near the construction site, they may share liability.

Equipment Manufacturers

If a defective tool, generator, or piece of equipment caused the electrical burn, the manufacturer can be held liable under Illinois product liability law.

Other Subcontractors

If another subcontractor’s work created the electrical hazard that injured you, such as improper wiring or failure to de-energize a system, they can be sued.

OSHA Violations as Evidence

OSHA has specific standards for electrical safety on construction sites (29 CFR 1926 Subpart K). These cover:

• Minimum clearance distances from power lines
• Ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) requirements
• Lockout/tagout procedures
• Proper grounding of electrical systems
• Use of insulated tools and equipment
• Training requirements for workers near electrical hazards

If OSHA investigates the incident and finds violations, those findings can be powerful evidence in your injury claim. An OSHA citation does not automatically prove liability, but it goes a long way toward showing the defendant was negligent.

Compensation Available in Third-Party Lawsuits

A successful third-party lawsuit can provide compensation for:

• Full medical expenses: Past, present, and future, including specialized burn treatment and reconstructive surgery
• Complete lost wages: Not just the partial amount workers’ comp pays
• Pain and suffering: Physical pain from the burns, surgeries, and rehabilitation
• Emotional distress: PTSD, anxiety, depression, and trauma from the incident
• Scarring and disfigurement: Permanent changes to appearance
• Loss of normal life: Inability to enjoy activities and relationships as before
• Wrongful death damages: If a worker dies from electrocution or electrical burns

For cases involving fatal electrical injuries, families may also pursue a wrongful death claim.

Steps to Take After an Electrical Burn on a Construction Site

1. Get emergency medical treatment. Electrical burns require immediate hospital care, even if external injuries look minor. Internal damage may be severe.
2. Report the injury. Notify your employer immediately and make sure an incident report is filed.
3. Do not disturb the scene. If possible, leave the area where the incident occurred intact for investigation.
4. Document everything. Photograph the scene, any equipment involved, and your injuries. Get names of witnesses.
5. File a workers’ comp claim. Do this promptly. Notify your employer in writing within 45 days.
6. Contact an attorney before giving statements. Insurance adjusters for the general contractor or property owner may try to minimize what happened. Talk to a lawyer first.

Get Legal Help for Your Electrical Burn Injury

Electrical burn cases on construction sites involve complex issues of liability, OSHA regulations, and both workers’ comp and third-party claims. You need an attorney who understands all of these areas and can fight for every dollar you deserve.

Phillips Law Offices has represented injured construction workers in Chicago for decades. We know how to investigate these cases, identify all responsible parties, and pursue maximum compensation.

Call Phillips Law Offices at (312) 346-4262 or contact us online for a free consultation.