Electrocution

Electrocution Accident Attorney in New York

Record-Breaking Results for New York Construction Workers Injured by Electrical Hazards

Electrical injuries on construction and industrial sites are among the most severe and most preventable. When an electrocution happens because a property owner, contractor, or equipment manufacturer failed to maintain a safe site, injured workers and their families have legal options that go well beyond what employers are required to provide. Godosky & Gentile represents workers and families throughout New York City and New York State in third-party personal injury and wrongful death claims arising from electrocution accidents. We don’t handle workers’ compensation claims. Our focus is on the civil cases that hold negligent parties accountable.

Consultations are free, available 24 hours a day, and we work on a contingency fee basis. You pay no attorney fees unless we obtain a verdict or settlement on your behalf. Hablamos español.

If you or a family member has been injured in a worksite electrical accident, call us now at (212) 742-9706 for a free consultation. We’re available around the clock.

Why Workers & Families Trust Godosky & Gentile With Electrocution Claims

Our firm has represented New Yorkers in serious personal injury cases since 1995. The team includes a former judge and seasoned trial lawyers with more than a century of combined legal experience. Anthony P. Gentile brings over 50 years of personal injury litigation experience to every case we accept.

A Record Built on High-Stakes Results

Our record reflects that depth. We secured a $15 million verdict for a building superintendent who suffered second- and third-degree burns in a catastrophic explosion. We obtained a $10 million settlement for a 24-year-old union steamfitter whose construction accident caused severe back injury, compound fractures, a punctured lung, and head trauma requiring multiple surgeries. Our firm also holds a Guinness Book of World Records recognition for the highest personal injury recovery of its time, a $65 million verdict that demonstrates our capacity to litigate consequential cases in New York courts.

Peer Trust & Professional Recognition

Attorneys and judges across New York trust Godosky & Gentile for their own legal representation. That confidence isn’t built on volume. It’s built on results in high-stakes litigation. Our team holds Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent ratings, and members have been recognized as Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America. We accept a selective caseload so each matter receives the individualized preparation it demands, and we approach every case as if it will go to trial.

Common Causes of Electrocution Accidents on New York Construction Sites

Most worksite electrocutions aren’t accidents in the sense of pure misfortune. They’re the result of identifiable safety failures by contractors, property owners, manufacturers, or utilities. Understanding those failures is the foundation of a third-party liability claim.

Frequent causes include:

Overhead power line contact during crane operations, scaffolding installation, or roofing work, where workers are brought into proximity with energized lines
Failure to de-energize electrical sources before work begins, including inadequate lockout/tagout procedures that leave live current in equipment workers are expected to handle
Exposed or unmarked wiring on temporary electrical installations common at active construction sites
Defective tools and equipment, including damaged extension cords, malfunctioning power tools, and rental machinery with concealed faults introduced by manufacturers or rental companies
Improper grounding that allows current to travel through a worker’s body rather than safely to earth
Water exposure where electrical equipment operates in wet or flooded conditions without adequate protection
OSHA electrical safety violations by general contractors or property owners who fail to maintain compliant site conditions
Violations of Industrial Code Rule 23, Section 23-1.13, the New York State regulation that specifically governs electrical hazards on construction sites

New York Labor Law Protections in Electrocution Accident Cases

New York’s Labor Law provides specific protections for construction workers injured by electrical hazards. These statutes impose duties on property owners and general contractors that exist independently of what any employer requires, and they can be the basis for a third-party claim even when the injured worker played some role in what happened.

Labor Law Section 241(6) requires property owners and contractors to comply with the Industrial Code, including Section 23-1.13 governing electrical hazards. A violation of that provision supports a negligence claim, though unlike the Scaffold Law, comparative negligence is a valid defense, meaning a jury can apportion fault to the injured worker and reduce the damages award accordingly. Labor Law Section 200 codifies the general duty to maintain a reasonably safe work environment. It applies when a defendant had supervisory control over the site or the work and knew or should have known about the electrical hazard. Labor Law Section 240(1), commonly called the Scaffold Law, may apply when an electrocution involved work at height, such as contact with overhead wires from a ladder, scaffold, crane, or elevated platform.

Utilities carry an independent duty to properly install and maintain electrical lines. A power company that failed to maintain safe lines or refused to shut down power upon request can face a separate claim. Our construction accident practice encompasses the full range of these claims, and we investigate every party whose negligence may have contributed to the injury.

Damages Recoverable in a New York Electrocution Injury Claim

A third-party civil claim can recover categories of compensation unavailable through employer-based benefits, including amounts not subject to the caps that limit wage replacement. Recoverable damages in New York electrocution cases can include:

Medical expenses: emergency care, hospitalization, burn treatment, cardiac monitoring, neurological care, and long-term rehabilitation
Full lost wages and loss of future earning capacity
Pain and suffering, including both acute and chronic pain from electrical burns and nerve damage
Emotional distress and psychological harm, including PTSD and anxiety
Permanent disability, disfigurement from burns or amputation, and costs of home modification or long-term care
Wrongful death damages for surviving family members, including loss of financial support, lost parental guidance and services, and related costs

Electrocution Injuries & Their Long-Term Consequences

Electrical injuries are deceptive. A worker who walks away from a shock may develop serious complications days or weeks later as tissue breaks down or neurological effects emerge. Immediate medical evaluation is critical even when initial symptoms appear minor, both for your health and for building a complete injury record in any subsequent claim.

Thermal Burns
Severe burns at electrical entry and exit wound sites often require skin grafts and reconstructive surgery. Arc flash events produce intense radiant heat that burns exposed skin instantly, independent of direct current contact.

Cardiac & Neurological Damage
Electrical current disrupts the heart’s rhythm and can cause arrhythmia or cardiac arrest at the moment of contact. Long-term cardiovascular complications may develop even after a worker appears to recover. Neurological effects include seizures, paralysis, chronic neuropathy, memory problems, and personality changes.

Hearing & Vision Loss
Arc flash events produce explosive sound and intense light that can cause permanent hearing damage and vision impairment.

Soft Tissue & Structural Damage
Current traveling through the body destroys muscle and soft tissue, potentially causing compartment syndrome, the need for amputation, or permanent disability.

Psychological Harm
Survivors of electrical injuries frequently experience PTSD, depression, and anxiety. These are compensable injuries, not secondary concerns, and they factor into the full value of a third-party claim.

Why Choose Godosky & Gentile?

Comprehensive Legal Support
From initial consultation to final resolution, delivering top-tier representation with skill, diligence, and a results-driven approach.
Recognized Expertise
Respected trial attorneys with a reputation for winning complex cases through precision, strategy, and an unwavering pursuit of justice.
Client-Centered Advocacy
Fiercely committed to securing justice and maximum compensation—because every client deserves a powerful voice in the legal system.
Decades of Proven Results
A legacy of success in high-stakes personal injury and catastrophic accident cases, built on relentless advocacy and exceptional legal strategy.

Steps to Take After a New York Electrocution Accident

The actions taken in the hours and days after an electrocution can determine whether critical evidence survives and whether a claim proceeds on strong footing. Construction sites change quickly. Equipment gets removed, conditions get corrected, and witnesses scatter.

Seek immediate medical attention, even if injuries appear minor. Request cardiac monitoring and a neurological evaluation. Some electrical injuries don’t fully present until days after contact.
Report the accident to the site supervisor and complete an incident report that accurately describes what happened and where.
Document the scene: photograph equipment, exposed wiring, absent warning signs, and your visible injuries. Collect contact information from witnesses.
Preserve any equipment or tools involved, including serial numbers and any visible defects, before they are removed from the site or repaired.
Don’t give a recorded statement to any insurance company or sign any documents before speaking with an attorney.
Know the deadlines: New York personal injury claims generally carry a three-year statute of limitations from the date of injury. Wrongful death claims must be filed within two years. Claims against government entities require a Notice of Claim within 90 days.

Speak With a New York Electrocution Accident Lawyer Today

The legal window to preserve evidence and protect your rights can close faster than most people expect. Godosky & Gentile offers free consultations around the clock, and you owe no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.

Call Godosky & Gentile now at (212) 742-9706 to speak with an electrocution accident attorney about your New York claim.

Third-Party Liability & Wrongful Death Claims in New York Electrocution Cases

Because employer lawsuits are generally barred by the workers’ compensation system, the path to seeking damages often runs through third-party civil claims. These cases target property owners, general contractors, subcontractors, equipment manufacturers, maintenance companies, and utilities whose negligence created or failed to correct an electrical hazard. Multiple parties can share liability on the same site, and a thorough investigation identifies every responsible party and every available source of compensation.

Product Liability Claims

When a defective tool, electrical component, or piece of machinery contributed to the electrocution, manufacturers, distributors, and sellers may all face liability. These claims run parallel to site-based negligence claims and can expand the available recovery.

Wrongful Death From Electrocution

When a worksite electrocution is fatal, surviving family members may bring a wrongful death claim under New York law. The deadline is generally two years from the date of death under New York EPTL 5-4.1. Under current New York law, recoverable damages are limited to pecuniary losses, including loss of financial support, lost parental guidance and services, and funeral and related costs. Godosky & Gentile represents families in these claims with the same preparation and commitment we bring to every serious personal injury case we accept.

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