When Electrical Accidents Strike Boston Worksites
If you've suffered an electrocution or electrical injury at work, you may be entitled to millions in compensation beyond workers' compensation benefits.
Electrocution causes 8% of all construction deaths and ranks among OSHA's "Fatal Four" workplace hazards. Attorney John J. Sheehan has represented Boston-area workers injured by electrical accidents for over 30 years, understanding both the devastating medical consequences and complex legal issues these cases present.
Unlike workers' compensation claims, electrocution injury lawsuits against negligent third parties can recover:
- Full lost wages (not just 60% workers' comp provides)
- Pain and suffering compensation
- Medical expenses for life
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Compensation for permanent disability and disfigurement
- Loss of Consortium for your spouse
CRITICAL: Your immigration status does not affect your legal rights. Massachusetts law protects all workers injured by electrical accidents, including undocumented workers.
Types of Workplace Electrocution Accidents We Handle
Attorney John J. Sheehan represents workers injured in all types of electrical accidents throughout Boston construction sites, manufacturing facilities, and workplaces:
- Crane and Boom Contact - Construction equipment contacting overhead electrical lines.
- Ladder and Scaffolding Contact - Metal equipment reaching energized power lines.
- Building Construction Near Lines - Work on tall structures near electrical transmission.
- Tree Trimming Accidents - Landscaping and utility work around power lines.
- Power Tool Malfunctions - Faulty wiring, broken ground connections, damaged cords.
- Electrical Panel Explosions - Arc flash incidents from overloaded or poorly maintained panels.
- Extension Cord Failures - Damaged insulation, improper connections, overloaded circuits.
- Generator and Transformer Accidents - Equipment failures causing electrocution.
- Missing GFCI Protection - Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter failures or absence.
- Broken Ground Connections - Removed ground prongs, discontinuous grounding paths.
- Wet Condition Electrocutions - Electrical equipment used in damp environments.
- Inadequate Lockout/Tagout - Working on energized systems without proper safety procedures.
- High-Voltage Arc Flash - Temperatures reaching 35,000°F, causing severe burns.
- Electrical Panel Incidents - Explosions during maintenance or inspection.
- Transformer Failures - Equipment malfunctions causing electrical fires and explosions.
- Switch Gear Accidents - High-voltage equipment failures.
- Temporary Electrical Systems - Improper job site wiring and connections.
- Underground Utility Strikes - Excavation accidents hitting buried electrical lines.
- Demolition Electrical Contact - Hidden or unmarked electrical systems in renovation.
- Multi-Trade Electrical Conflicts - Different contractors creating electrical hazards.
Electrocution Injury? Get Maximum Compensation.
Get your free consultation with Boston's bilingual electrocution injury attorney
Your Rights Regardless of Immigration Status
URGENT: If you've been injured by electrocution at work, you have full legal rights under Massachusetts law regardless of your immigration status.
What Massachusetts Law Guarantees:
- Workers' Compensation Protection - Since 2003, Massachusetts has guaranteed workers' comp benefits to all workers regardless of immigration status.
- Personal Injury Lawsuit Rights - You can sue negligent electrical contractors, equipment manufacturers, utility companies, and property owners, as your immigration status is irrelevant.
- Complete Confidentiality - The Law Office of John J. Sheehan never shares client information with immigration authorities.
- Retaliation Protection - Massachusetts law prohibits employers from threatening immigration reports for filing injury claims.
- Equal Court Access - Immigration status cannot be used as evidence against you in court.
Many electrocution victims fear deportation for seeking legal help. Attorney John J. Sheehan has helped countless workers — documented and undocumented — recover millions in compensation without immigration consequences. Your safety and your family's future matter most.
Consulte con Attorney John J. Sheehan en español confidencialmente: 781-476-7559
Understanding the Severity of Electrical Injuries
Electrocution causes injuries far more devastating than external burns suggest. Attorney John J. Sheehan understands the complete medical picture to fight for full compensation:
Immediate Life-Threatening Injuries
- Cardiac Arrest - Ventricular fibrillation requiring immediate CPR and defibrillation.
- Severe Burns - Deep tissue damage extending far beyond visible surface burns.
- Respiratory Failure - Electrical current paralyzing breathing muscles.
- Neurological Damage - Brain injury, seizures, loss of consciousness.
- Kidney Failure - From muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis) caused by electrical current.
Long-Term Medical Consequences
- Chronic Pain Syndromes - Permanent nerve damage causing lifelong pain.
- Memory and Cognitive Problems - Difficulty concentrating, processing information, remembering.
- PTSD and Depression - Up to 80% of electrical injury survivors develop psychological trauma.
- Delayed Onset Cataracts - Eye damage appearing months or years after injury.
- Peripheral Neuropathy - Permanent nerve damage affecting sensation and movement.
Why Electrical Cases Are Worth Millions
Unlike cuts or broken bones, electrical injuries cause permanent, invisible damage that requires lifelong medical care. Compensation must cover:
- Immediate trauma care (often $500,000+ for severe cases)
- Plastic surgery and reconstruction (multiple procedures over the years)
- Neurological treatment (permanent cognitive and memory issues)
- Psychiatric care (PTSD, depression, anxiety treatment)
- Lost earning capacity (inability to return to skilled work)
- Family impact (spouse and children's lives forever changed)
OSHA Electrical Violations and Your Legal Rights
OSHA's electrical safety standards create legal duties that strengthen your electrocution injury case:
Most Common OSHA Electrical Violations
- 29 CFR 1926.405 - Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) requirements.
- 29 CFR 1926.416 - General electrical safety requirements for construction.
- 29 CFR 1926.417 - Lockout and tagging of electrical circuits during maintenance.
- 29 CFR 1910.303 - Electrical system design and installation requirements.
- 29 CFR 1910.335 - Personal protective equipment for electrical work.
Recent Massachusetts OSHA Electrical Violations
- Eversource Energy (2023): $156,000 fine for willful electrical safety violations after a fatal Beacon Hill arc flash.
- Bay State Construction: $89,000 fine for exposing workers to electrical hazards without GFCI protection.
- Multiple Boston Contractors: Hundreds of thousands in fines for electrical grounding failures.
OSHA violations are powerful evidence of negligence in your electrocution injury lawsuit. Attorney John J. Sheehan uses these violations to prove third parties breached their legal duty to provide safe working conditions.
Compensation Available in Massachusetts Electrocution Cases
Attorney John J. Sheehan fights for complete damages reflecting the lifetime impact of electrical injuries:
Economic Damages (Full Financial Recovery)
- All Medical Expenses - Emergency treatment, burn unit care, reconstructive surgery, and neurological treatment.
- 100% of Lost Wages - Full salary replacement, not workers' comp's 60% limitation.
- Future Earning Capacity - Career impact from permanent disabilities and cognitive damage.
- Vocational Rehabilitation - Retraining for work you can physically and mentally perform.
- Family Care Costs - Help with daily activities you can no longer perform independently.
Non-Economic Damages (Not Available Through Workers' Comp)
- Pain and Suffering - Compensation for severe burns, chronic pain, and multiple surgeries.
- Emotional Distress - PTSD, depression, anxiety following traumatic electrocution.
- Loss of Life Enjoyment - Hobbies, sports, activities you can no longer participate in.
- Permanent Disfigurement - Scarring and physical changes from electrical burns.
- Loss of Consortium - Impact on relationships with spouse and family.















