Philadelphia Workers’ Comp Lawyer for Electricians

Electrocution is one of OSHA’s “big four” injuries that they track as one of the most likely workplace injuries.  While technically “electrocution” implies that the victim was “executed” from the electricity, many injured electricians know that an electric shock injury can feel close to dying, and that their ongoing medical care costs and lost wages can make the entire situation even worse.

Whether you were injured by an actual electric injury or some other work-related injury, our attorneys fight to help electricians in Philadelphia get Workers’ Comp benefits to cover their needs.  In some cases, electricians might not be covered under Workers’ Comp rules, but those who are can be entitled to substantial coverage.

For help with your case, call the Workers’ Comp lawyers for electricians at Cardamone Law right away at (267) 651-7945.

Are Electricians Covered by Workers’ Comp in Philadelphia?

Determining whether or not you are covered under a Workers’ Comp policy can be a complicated matter.  Many employers are accused of engaging in what is called “misclassification,” where they exclude workers from coverage on the grounds that they are “independent contractors” even though they are legally required to cover them as “employees.”  Many electricians work independently, having done their time as trainees and apprentices, and now work for themselves.  If you do, you might not have an “employer” who pays your Workers’ Compensation insurance, and you might not be covered at all.  The same is true of subcontractors, though sometimes employees of contractors and subcontractors can be covered under someone’s Workers’ Comp insurance up the chain of employment.

All in all, this is always a fact-sensitive question, and it is best to have our Certified Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation lawyers investigate your case to make sure that there is Workers’ Compensation available to you.  We can then help you submit your notice with your employer, submit your claim, track your benefits, and appeal any denials or issues with your application.

Common Injuries for Electricians in Philadelphia

While it makes sense that electrocution or electrification injuries would be one of the most common injuries for electricians, most electricians take specific care not to get themselves shocked or electrocuted.  As such, while that is a common injury, there are also plenty of other common injuries that electricians face on the job:

Cuts and Lacerations

Reaching behind walls and handling cables, sheathing, and other materials can often mean facing injuries from sharp edges.  Sometimes these cuts and lacerations can be quite deep, requiring immediate medical attention and some time to recover from the injury before getting back to work.  Other times, they can even cause amputation, which can often lead to reattachment, but still potentially cause a permanent decrease in function in the affected finger or body part.

Falls

Electrical work often means climbing ladders and nestling into high places to wire lights, security cameras, or other electrical equipment.  A fall can seriously injure you, resulting in broken bones, back injuries, head injuries, internal injuries, and more.  Many falls could even lead to permanent paralysis.

Electrocution

It is impossible to leave electrocution out of the list of possible injuries for electricians.  Although electricians take steps like wearing gloves and always keeping themselves properly insulated – along with general safety tips like cutting the power while working and testing for current before touching anything – mistakes still happen.  In many cases, those mistakes are purely accidental, or else they stem from trying to hurry up and neglecting proper safety techniques.  In any case, Workers’ Comp should cover injuries regardless of how the accident happened as long as it was not caused by drunkenness on the job or intentional self-injury.

Arc-Flash and Arc Blast Injuries

Arc blasts and arc flashes can cause serious, substantial injuries.  Often, electricians facing a potential of arc blasts need to wear extra protective gear, and a potential of arc flash means wearing extra eye protection.  Even so, many are caught unaware or injured because of a lack of prior experience with the extremely dangerous potential for an arc blast/flash injury.  These injuries often involve burns as well as potential electrocution, shrapnel injuries, and direct injuries from the force of the explosion.

Repetitive Stress, Strains, Sprains, Tears, and More Soft Tissue Injuries

The general wear and tear on the body from reaching over your head or performing repetitive tasks can injure you over time.  Many electricians with years on the job might even have rotator cuff injuries in their shoulders or pain in their neck from always looking up.  These injuries might be enough to qualify as work-related injuries or conditions that should receive medical care coverage and lost wages, especially if they truly interfere with your ability to work.

Workers’ Comp Benefits for Injured Electricians in Philadelphia

The benefits you can get through Workers’ Compensation usually cover 2/3 of your lost earnings while you are unable to work.  Along with this, all care should be covered, including things like medical imaging, psychological care, and physical therapy.  In addition, you could be entitled to “specific loss” payments for loss of hearing, loss of function, or amputation of a body part.

If you are the loved one of an electrician who was killed on the job, then Workers’ Comp should pay your family benefits for funeral and burial expenses, it should cover end-of-life care costs, and it should pay ongoing wage replacement benefits to the family.

The amount paid for wage-loss benefits is usually capped at the statewide weekly average wage limit, and workers making significantly under this average might even be entitled to more than 2/3 compensation rate, up to a minimum of either 1/2 of the statewide average or 90% of your lost wages (whichever is lower).

In many cases, these benefits are collected into a lump-sum settlement, which our lawyers can help you calculate and negotiate.

Call Our Workers’ Comp Attorneys for Philadelphia Electricians Today

Call our Philadelphia Workers’ Comp lawyers at Cardamone Law today at (267) 651-7945 for a free review of your potential injury case.