Electrocution Injuries and Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Almost all workers are exposed to the dangers of electric shock and electrocution in the workplace, although construction workers, and electrical and cable professionals are at the most risk of electrocution injury.

Approximately 1,000 people in the United States are killed annually as the result of electrocution. Power line accidents account for almost 1/3 of all fatal electrocutions. Electrocution burns are the most common electrical related injury, and approximately 3,000 people suffer electrical burns each year in the United States.

Depending on the power, the path, and the duration of the electrical shock, a worker can suffer a variety of injuries as a result of an electrical accident:

Cardiovascular: An electric shock can stop the heart or cause fibrillation of the heart rhythm, both of which are lethal if not treated immediately, and permanent damage to the heart may also occur.

Respiratory: If electrical current passes through the chest, it can cause respiratory arrest. Respiratory arrest can also occur if the respiration-controlling area of the brain is affected by the electrical shock.

Neurological: The spinal cord or brain can be damaged if the electrical current passes through the brain or spinal cord. Victims of electrocution often suffer secondary brain injuries or spinal cord injuries if they fall from a height after being electrocuted.

Musculoskeletal: If the electrical shock causes prolonged muscle contraction, it can cause muscle damage in the effected body part. Body parts in contact with the power source or the ground, or touched by an arch flash are often severely and deeply burned.

Other injuries: Some injuries caused by electrical shock are not always immediately apparent, such as hearing or vision damage. Some individuals may also suffer from mental symptoms following an electrical injury, such as depression, memory loss or confusion.

Electrocution injuries can be severe and complex. You may require extensive medical treatment. You may miss significant time off work, or you may be disabled from returning to work.

If you’ve suffered an electrocution injury as a result of your work activities, you may be eligible for Minnesota workers’ compensation benefits. These benefits help cover your expenses after an on-the-job injury, and can include medical expense benefits, wage loss benefits, permanency benefits, and/or vocational rehabilitation benefits. After a severe electrocution injury, an experienced Minnesota workers’ compensation attorney can assist you get the benefits you’re entitled to, and help protect your rights.

For a free, no-obligation case consultation, call Meuser & Associate at 877-746-5680, or click here to send us an email. 

 

Treatment for Burn Injuries

Severe burn injuries caused by car accidents or workplace accidents, often require hospitalization. Burn injuries are treated with a variety of types of treatment. For example, treatment may include: 

• Topical treatments with antibiotics. Patients with severe burn injuries are susceptible to viral and bacterial infections. Topical antibiotic medications may be applied to the skin to speed the healing process, to minimize scarring, and to prevent infection. 
• Bandages. Serious burns typically need to be bandaged to prevent infection, and to allow the wound to remain clear of fluids and pus. Bandages also help reduce pain and keep the skin and body part immobilized during healing.
• Pressure garments. Pressure garments are often worn on a burned area during the healing process to help prevent excessive scarring. 
• Elevating burned areas. Elevation helps minimize swelling of the affected limb. In severe burns, fluid often accumulates in the wounded area, causing swelling. Swelling can complicate a burn injury because the affected area can develop high levels of pressure and blood flow problems. 
• Surgical cuts or escharectomies. This procedure helps reduce excess pressure under the skin in a burned limb. 
• Skin grafts. This procedure involves transplanting a piece of skin from one area of the body to another. 
• Synthetic skin grafts. If a large portion of a victim’s skin is burned, synthetic skin may be used instead of the victim’s own skin. 
• Physical therapy. During healing, scar tissue is formed. To help keep the newly formed skin flexible for normal movement, burn victims may participate in rehabilitation and physical therapy. If the burn extends through the skin into the muscle tissue, more intensive physical therapy may assist in a patient’s recovery. 
• Dermabrasion. This is a surgical procedure to improve or minimize the appearance of scars, restore function and correct disfigurements as a result of a burn. 

If you’ve suffered burns as a result of a motor vehicle accident, in Minnesota, your auto insurance company is obligated to pay for up to $20,000.00 for your medical expenses. These are known as personal injury protection benefits. In addition to claims for your past and future medical expenses, you may be able to make a claim for past and future wage loss and past and future pain and suffering as part of a civil liability claim against the at-fault driver.

If you suffered burn injuries as the result of a workplace accident, you may be eligible for Minnesota workers’ compensation benefits, including medical expense benefits, wage loss benefits, permanent partial disability benefits, and rehabilitation benefits.

If you’ve suffered a burn injury as the result of a car accident or workplace injury, a Minnesota personal injury lawyer or workers’ compensation lawyer can help you through the process of making sure you get the benefits you’re entitled to. For a free, no-obligation consultation, contact Meuser & Associate at 877-746-5680 or click here to send us an email.