Electrical Shock Injuries at Work in Illinois

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Most people don’t think about electricity until the lights go out, but thousands of Illinois workers are around live electrical sources every single day. And when something goes wrong, an electrical shock can cause serious, long-lasting injuries that interrupt your life, your health, and your ability to work. If you’ve suffered an electrical injury on the job, it’s important to understand your rights and how a workers’ compensation attorney can protect them.

Electrical injuries happen when a worker comes into contact with a live electrical current. That current travels through the body and can damage tissues, nerves, muscles, and vital organs. Some shocks are mild, scary but not harmful. However, many are severe shocks that can cause deep burns, nerve damage, heart rhythm problems, and even permanent disability. The effects aren’t always obvious at first. Workers sometimes feel fine immediately afterward, but develop symptoms hours or days later.

While construction workers are the first group most people think of, electrical injuries can happen in all kinds of workplaces across Illinois. Electricians, HVAC technicians, roofers, and utility workers deal with live wiring and power lines regularly. Warehouse and factory employees can be exposed through malfunctioning equipment, damaged cords, or faulty machinery. Even office workers and retail employees can be shocked by defective appliances, overloaded outlets, or maintenance issues in older buildings. Any job involving tools, machines, or electricity-powered equipment has some level of risk.

Electrical injuries run the spectrum. Some of the most common include:

• Burns, both internal and external
• Nerve damage, which can affect sensation, movement, and long-term function
• Cardiac issues, including arrhythmias or cardiac arrest
• Muscle and soft-tissue injuries, caused by involuntary contractions during the shock
• Brain injuries, especially if the worker loses consciousness or falls
• Secondary trauma, such as fractures from collapsing or being thrown backward

Because an electrical shock can affect multiple systems in the body at the same time, workers often need specialized medical care and extended recovery time.

After an electrical injury, workers’ compensation should cover your medical bills, lost wages, and eventually you should be entitled to a settlement. It is also important to investigate who was responsible for maintaining the electrical lines. If a third party gave the impression that the power was off or that you were not touching a live current, you may have a lawsuit against them as well as a workers comp claim. Those lawsuits can potentially be worth millions of dollars.