What to Know After an Electrical Injury

Electricity powers nearly every part of modern life, but it also presents serious risks when safety precautions are ignored. Electrical accidents can happen in homes, workplaces, and construction sites—and when they do, the injuries are often severe or life-threatening.

In many cases, these incidents are preventable and may be caused by negligence. If you or a loved one has been injured, speaking with an electrocution accident lawyer in NYC can help you understand your rights and options.

At the Law Office of Jeffrey K. Kestenbaum, we represent victims of electrical injuries and work to hold negligent parties accountable.

How Electrocution Accidents Happen

Electrical injuries often occur when individuals come into contact with exposed wiring, faulty equipment, or unsafe power sources. These accidents can happen in both residential and work environments.

Common causes include:

• Exposed or damaged electrical wiring
• Improper grounding of electrical systems
• Defective tools or equipment
• Contact with overhead or underground power lines
• Unsafe construction site conditions

Construction workers and contractors—such as roofers, electricians, and utility workers—are especially at risk due to frequent exposure to electrical hazards.

Common Electrocution Injuries

When electricity passes through the body, it can cause serious internal and external damage. Even low-voltage shocks can result in long-term complications.

Common injuries include:

• Severe burns to the skin and underlying tissue
• Nerve and neurological damage
• Cardiac issues, including irregular heartbeat or cardiac arrest
• Organ damage
• Cognitive impairment

High-voltage exposure significantly increases the risk of fatal injuries, including ventricular fibrillation and heart failure.

Why You Should Contact an Electrocution Accident Lawyer

Your Legal Options After an Electrical Injury

Depending on how the accident occurred, you may have multiple legal options available.

These may include:

• Workers’ compensation claims for on-the-job injuries
• Personal injury lawsuits against negligent third parties
• Premises liability claims for unsafe property conditions

Each case is unique, and the type of claim will depend on the circumstances surrounding your injury.

Why Choose Our Electrocution Accident Lawyers

At the Law Office of Jeffrey K. Kestenbaum, we have extensive experience handling construction accident and electrical injury cases throughout New York City.

We understand the dangers of unsafe construction sites, the complexity of multi-party liability claims, and the tactics insurance companies use to limit payouts.

Our team works closely with experts to evaluate your case and build a strong claim on your behalf. We are committed to protecting your rights and pursuing the compensation you deserve.

Speak With an Electrocution Accident Lawyer NYC Today

If you or a loved one has suffered an electrical injury, taking prompt legal action can make a significant difference in your case.

Contact the Law Office of Jeffrey K. Kestenbaum for a free case review. We are available 24/7 to discuss your situation and help you understand your next steps.

Call 718-237-5586 or contact us online to get started.

How Slips, Trips, Falls, and Fatalities Happen on NYC Construction Sites

Work in the construction industry is inherently risky, no matter where the job site is. But in New York City, construction workers face towering skyscrapers, heavy traffic, and harsh weather year-round.  

Many construction site hazards exist in New York, leading to slips, trips, and falls that result in catastrophic injuries and even fatalities. At the Law Office of Jeffrey K. Kestenbaum, we’re here to help you understand why these incidents occur and how you can legally protect yourself or a loved one after a construction accident.  

The Dangers of Construction Sites in NYC 

Slips, trips, and falls are the most common causes of construction site injuries and deaths in New York City. The leading causes of fatal construction accidents often involve scaffolding, ladders, and roofs.  

However, construction site hazards don’t just occur at high elevations. Even ground-level slips and trips can result in severe injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, fractures, internal injuries, and death.   

Types of Hazards in Construction Sites  

NYC construction accidents often involve familiar physical hazards, such as wet or slippery walking surfaces from rain, ice, concrete slurry, spills, or debris. Construction materials scattered in walkways can cause even the most experienced construction worker to lose their footing.  

Falls from heights are particularly deadly for workers, especially when there are construction site hazards like platforms without proper guardrails or safety nets. Federal OSHA standards also require protections such as harnesses and fall-arrest systems to keep workers safe on elevated surfaces.  

Construction site safety hazards also arise from cluttered, obstructed work areas filled with loose cords, tools, hoses, and leftover materials. Poor lighting and visibility in interior areas and during nighttime shifts can increase the risk of trips and falls.  

Other issues to be mindful of at construction sites include defective and improperly used equipment. Due to NYC’s varied climate, rain, ice, snow, and wind can make construction surfaces slick and treacherous, increasing the likelihood of incidents.  

When Construction Site Hazards Lead to Fatalities  

When unsafe job site conditions aren’t corrected, the consequences can be tragic. Unfortunately, many construction workers die due to falls from height, being struck by falling objects, and serious trip and slip accidents.  

At times, one or more individuals, a company, or another entity is responsible for failing to follow safety protocols, not ensuring required protections, or disregarding regulations. If a construction worker’s death is a result of this negligence, the family of the deceased may pursue a wrongful death claim for financial and emotional hardship.  

Taking Action After a Construction Site Accident  

Fortunately, numerous legal protections are in place to protect injured construction workers and their families in New York. If you or a loved one has suffered an injury or been killed because of these types of hazards in construction sites, you may be entitled to compensation beyond workers’ compensation benefits.  

It is essential to seek immediate medical attention for construction site injuries and to document all injuries and treatments to protect your legal rights. Reporting the incident to a site supervisor and documenting the hazard conditions with photos and witness accounts is also crucial.  

The Law Office of Jeffrey K. Kestenbaum is here to help you navigate the legal process, identify all liable parties, and pursue maximum compensation. We represent people injured and killed in construction accidents in Brooklyn and throughout NYC.  

We recognize that construction work builds and maintains our incredible city – and that no one should have to suffer a devastating injury or death because of preventable construction site hazards.  

To learn more about your rights and to tell us your story, please contact us today at 718-237-5586 for a free consultation.  

Scaffolding is necessary at many construction sites to enable workers to reach high locations, provide a working platform, and offer a place to store materials. However, scaffolding is also a major source of accidents at construction sites and often results in devastating injuries to workers who were just trying to do their jobs.

Here is some information about scaffolding accidents and how to know if you should pursue a wrongful death case on behalf of a loved one who was involved in this type of tragedy.

Causes of Scaffolding Accidents

Scaffold accidents, injuries, and deaths are often caused when the scaffolding supports break because they are defective or assembled improperly. Construction workers and even other people just walking by can trip over scaffolding. Ordinary citizens may have an accident claim due to scaffolding due to a landlord’s negligence, for example.

Slips and trips often occur when the scaffolding is slippery due to weather, where it lacks guardrails, or when workers have not properly been trained for the job they are doing. Winter weather makes scaffolding even more dangerous than it usually is for workers and pedestrians. If a person or company places scaffolding too close to a power line, electrocution can occur. Workers who are careless, overloaded scaffolds, falling objects, and using damaged scaffolding for a project can all lead to serious injuries and even death.

Common Injuries and Scaffolding Accidents

Because scaffolding is placed at high levels and often around dangerous materials and wiring, very serious injuries can occur. Unfortunately, death scaffold cases are far too common here in New York. Some of the most common injuries due to scaffolding accidents include spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries. Many people break bones due to scaffolding accidents, suffer from severe cuts and scrapes, and paralysis is possible in severe situations.

Many of these injuries can be prevented with the proper training of construction workers and ensuring that workers have the appropriate safety gear. Businesses that use scaffolding must inspect it regularly for defects, replace worn-out materials, and take the time to construct it properly according to OSHA standards.

Wrongful Death Cases for Scaffolding Accidents

Dozens of people die each year because of scaffolding-related accidents, which prompts the question of whether a wrongful death case can and should be pursued. A wrongful death case may be appropriate if a person dies in a scaffolding accident due to the fault of another person. If you believe that someone’s negligence was to blame for such a death, it is important to speak to a knowledgeable wrongful death attorney right away.

Various parties may be entitled to make a wrongful death claim, such as a surviving spouse, children, separated spouse in some situations, life partners, financial dependents, putative spouses and even distant family members. Compensation from a wrongful death case can help with the many expenses associated with the passing of a loved one, including lost wages and benefits, medical expenses, pain and suffering, funeral expenses, and household services.

Get Help with Your Injury or Death Scaffold Case

In addition to pursuing a wrongful death case because of a scaffolding incident, you may also be able to pursue a personal injury claim and a workers’ compensation claim. The Law Office of Jeffrey K. Kestenbaum can help you with your scaffolding-related case, regardless of whether you were the victim, a loved one was the victim, or if the accident resulted in injuries or death. Based on the circumstances of your case, it may be possible to bring a civil claim against one or more parties for failing to prevent a scaffolding injury or causing it through negligent actions.

Call us anytime 24/7 at 718-237-5586 to speak with an attorney about your scaffolding matter. You can also contact us online to learn more about how we can help you be successful in recovering the maximum monetary award and settlement for an injured person.