Working as a power lineman or utility worker in West Virginia comes with many job-related health and safety hazards. These are inherently dangerous jobs that can be even more perilous if someone is careless or reckless (negligent in legalese). If another person’s negligence caused your recent injury or a loved one’s death, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Robinette Legal Group, PLLC can help you exercise your legal rights.
Common Types of Power Lineman and Utilities Worker Accidents and Injuries
Linemen and utility workers frequently have to climb telephone poles and work at high elevations while performing difficult tasks – often tasks that are tedious and take a long time. They are also working around deadly energy sources, such as large amounts of electrical currents. Furthermore, they must perform their jobs out in the elements, such as wind, rain, snow, and ice.
The risks and hazards inherent to these jobs can lead to serious accidents and injuries, such as:
- Broken bones
- Electrocutions and electric shocks
- Exposure to hazardous substances or materials
- Falls
- Fires and explosions
- Head and brain trauma
- Rollover accidents
- Severe burns
- Skin injuries
- Soft-tissue and muscle injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Struck-by objects or debris
- Vehicle and equipment accidents
On-the-job injuries for power linemen and utility workers can cost thousands of dollars in lifetime medical expenses. If an accident causes severe or catastrophic injuries, the worker can suffer permanent disability, with related costs such as physical therapy, rehabilitation, home and vehicle modifications, medical devices, live-in care, and lost capacity to earn.
Are You Eligible for Financial Compensation?
If you get injured while working as a power lineman or utility worker, you may be eligible for financial compensation. Although no amount of money can take back your injuries or the loss of a loved one, it can help you and your family move forward with greater financial peace of mind. There are a few different legal options available to injured employees in West Virginia:
- Deliberate intent claim. West Virginia has a law that allows workers to file lawsuits against their employers if the employer deliberately ignored a known workplace hazard.
- Third-party lawsuit. You may be able to file a lawsuit against someone other than your employer for negligence, such as a coworker, contractor, property owner, or the government.
- Product liability claim. If a defective tool, machine, or piece of equipment caused your workplace accident, you may have grounds to file a product liability lawsuit against the designer, manufacturer, or distributor of the defective product.
- Workers’ compensation. West Virginia’s workers’ compensation system provides no-fault insurance benefits to workers who are injured while performing occupational duties. Although you cannot file a lawsuit against your employer after you obtain workers’ comp, you can still file a third-party suit.
- Wrongful death lawsuit. If a loved one passed away in a workplace accident, your family may be entitled to financial compensation through a wrongful death claim in Morgantown. You may also be eligible for workers’ compensation death benefits.
Discuss which legal action is right for you with an attorney. You may be eligible for compensation through multiple outlets. The lawyers at Robinette Legal Group, PLLC can create a strong legal strategy for your specific needs and goals.
Contact an Experienced Workplace Accident Attorney in Morgantown Today
Energy and utility companies have a legal responsibility to keep their workers and the public safe. When they carelessly fail to fulfill this duty, the attorneys at Robinette Legal Group, PLLC can immediately go to work to determine fault for an injury or death and put together a claim to financial damages on behalf of victims.
If you or a loved one is the victim of a power lineman or utility worker injury, contact us today at (304) 594-1800 or through our online form for a free consultation in Morgantown, West Virginia.
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