In a report from WPTV, a 22-year-old landscaper died on January 4 when the tree saw he was using to trim trees touched a nearby power line, which instantly caused his death due to electrocution. A second worker, whose ladder was leaning against the tree at the time of the fatal accident, also suffered shock, but he is recovering in a nearby hospital and is expected to survive.
Two coworkers of the victim said that they were very shaken by the incident. One coworker told WPTV, “I tried to help him but there’s nothing to do and I’m just… We called 911 and they cut [the] electric line off.”
The workers stated that they are told to stay at least 12 feet away from the power lines while trimming trees. However, authorities who responded to the scene believe the victim was holding a metal pole at the time of the accident that was attached to the tree saw, and this fatal mistake grounded him and allowed the voltage to travel through the electrical wire. This killed him instantly.
Fire officials of Seminole County, along with the power company, are continuing to investigate the fatal electrocution accident to uncover further details.
I Suffered Injuries in a Workplace Accident. Do I Have Legal Rights to Pursue Compensation?
When you suffer serious injuries or a loved one dies while on the job, the worker or his or her surviving family members may be entitled to seek workers compensation benefits as well as other damages from those responsible. Parties that may be at fault in situations like these include the worker’s employer, fellow coworkers in addition to negligent third parties.
The injury attorneys of Colson Hicks Eidson have experience protecting the rights of individuals affected by negligence, defective products as well as those dealing with workers compensation claims. This includes our work on behalf of several cruise ship employees who suffered serious injuries because of the careless actions of Celebrity Cruises.
If you were performing your job and believe you sustained injuries due to the actions or inactions of another, speak with our injury lawyers today and tell us your story. You can also comment on this blog post or visit our Facebook page to get in touch with us.
Did You Know: The Electrical Safety Foundation International found that each year about 60 electrocutions are associated with consumer products.
Colson Hicks Eidson – Injury Attorneys