Electrocution is one of the most serious injuries a construction worker can suffer — and one of the most preventable. If you or a family member was hurt or killed by an electrical hazard at a Queens job site, our attorneys can help you understand your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve. The Orlow Firm has represented injured construction workers throughout Flushing, Long Island City, Astoria, Jamaica, and all of Queens for over 40 years.
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What's in this video?
The Orlow Firm's attorneys discuss how they help construction workers injured in electrocution accidents pursue compensation beyond workers' compensation, including claims under New York Labor Law.
Electrical hazards are uniquely dangerous because you cannot see them coming. Unlike a falling object or an unstable scaffold, a live wire hidden inside a wall or an ungrounded generator offers no warning. In the time it takes for current to pass through the body, a worker can suffer fatal cardiac arrest, permanent nerve damage, or serious burns.
Federal safety regulators have identified electrocution as one of the construction industry's "Fatal Four" — the four hazard categories responsible for the most construction worker deaths in the United States each year. In New York City, where construction is constant and oversight varies widely from site to site, that danger is especially real.
Our analysis of OSHA Severe Injury Report data from January 2015 through July 2025 found that construction was the single most dangerous industry for Queens workers, accounting for 95 of the borough's 284 severe workplace injury reports — 33.5% of all incidents. Long Island City alone recorded 30 construction-specific severe injuries over that period, driven by the neighborhood's rapid development. Flushing, Astoria, and Jamaica each recorded notable numbers as well.
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Queens Severe Workplace Injuries by Industry (2015–July 2025) Source: Our analysis of OSHA Severe Injury Report data (284 total incidents)
- Construction: 95 incidents (33.5% of all severe injuries)
- Health Care: 19 incidents
- Transportation: 19 incidents
- Retail Trade: 16 incidents
- Information: 16 incidents
- All other industries combined: 135+ incidents
Construction accounts for 33.5% of all Queens severe workplace injuries — nearly 5 times more than any other single industry.
Data: OSHA Severe Injury Report records aggregated by The Orlow Firm from address-level data. OSHA does not publish pre-calculated borough breakdowns.
These are not abstract statistics. Each one represents a worker who was hospitalized, lost a limb, or lost their life — often because an owner or contractor failed to follow rules that New York law requires them to follow.
Four Types of Electrical Injuries a Queens Electrocution Lawyer Sees
New York courts and OSHA recognize four distinct categories of electrical injuries. Knowing which type applies to your situation matters for building a strong claim.
Electrical Burns
Electrical burns come in three forms. Thermal contact burns occur when a worker touches an energized surface; the skin and tissue beneath it can be severely damaged even from brief contact. Electrical burns occur when current passes through the body's own tissue, causing internal damage that may be far worse than what shows on the surface. Arc flash burns happen when a worker is near an electrical arc — the intense radiant heat can cause serious burns at a distance, without any direct contact with the source.
Electric Shock
Electric shock occurs when a worker's body completes an electrical circuit — current enters at one point and exits at another. The shock can trigger violent, involuntary muscle contractions strong enough to fracture bones. In many cases, the contraction throws the worker clear of the hazard but onto a hard surface, causing additional injuries from the impact.
Electrocution
Electrocution refers specifically to a fatal electrical injury. If a loved one was killed at a Queens construction site due to an electrical hazard, a wrongful death claim may be available in addition to workers' compensation death benefits.
Secondary Fall Injuries
One of the most important — and often missed — consequences of an electrical injury is the fall that follows. When a worker on a scaffold or ladder is shocked, the involuntary muscle reaction or loss of consciousness can cause them to fall from height. In those cases, New York Labor Law § 240(1) may apply in addition to § 241(6), which opens additional avenues for recovery.
Our firm has handled exactly this scenario. We recovered $2,474,000 for an undocumented worker who was electrocuted on a scaffold and fell, requiring back and knee surgeries. We recovered $700,000 for a union painter who was electrocuted and fell from a scaffold, suffering a shoulder injury. In both cases, knowing how New York's electrocution and elevation statutes work together was central to the result.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
New York Laws That Protect Workers — Why Hire a Queens Electrocution Lawyer?
New York has some of the strongest construction worker protections in the country. The specific laws that apply to electrical injury claims are different from standard personal injury cases — and that difference often matters a great deal for what you can recover.
What's in this video?
The Orlow Firm's attorneys explain the New York construction safety laws — including Labor Law §§ 240 and 241 — that protect workers injured on job sites throughout Queens.
Labor Law § 241(6) and Industrial Code 23-1.13
New York Labor Law § 241(6) requires all building owners and general contractors to comply with specific safety rules in New York's Industrial Code during construction, demolition, and excavation work. When a violation of those rules causes an injury, the owner and contractor are liable. It does not matter whether they were on-site or whether they directed the specific work.
For electrocution cases, the key Industrial Code provision is 12 NYCRR § 23-1.13, which sets out what employers must do to protect workers from electrical hazards. The requirements include:
- Determine the voltage of all power lines before any work begins
- Assume all power lines are energized until the utility owner confirms otherwise in writing
- Post warning signs and tell all workers where electrical hazards exist
- Keep at least ten feet of clearance from overhead high-voltage power lines, or coordinate with the utility owner before getting closer
- Make sure temporary wiring is supported by proper insulators and is weatherproof
- Remove any wiring with cracked or deteriorated insulation right away
- Properly ground all portable electrical generators
A violation of any one of these requirements can establish liability under Labor Law § 241(6). The violation itself is the basis for the claim — you do not need to prove the owner or contractor knew about the hazard.
Labor Law § 240(1) — When the Shock Causes a Fall
New York's scaffold law, Labor Law § 240(1), places strict liability on owners and general contractors when a worker suffers an elevation-related injury due to inadequate safety equipment. When an electrical shock causes a worker to fall from a scaffold, ladder, or elevated platform, both § 241(6) and § 240(1) may apply at the same time, which can result in additional recovery.
New York is the only state in the country that imposes this level of strict liability for construction injuries. In Cutaia v. Board of Managers (2022), the Court of Appeals considered a case where a worker fell after being electrocuted by exposed wiring and addressed whether both statutes could apply. The court found questions of fact remained, illustrating how these cases require careful analysis of the specific circumstances.
Labor Law § 200 — General Duty to Provide a Safe Workplace
Where the owner or contractor knew about the electrical hazard (or should have known), Labor Law § 200 may also apply. Unlike §§ 240 and 241, a § 200 claim requires proof of notice. But it can be pleaded alongside the other statutes to strengthen the overall case.
Workers' Compensation and Third-Party Claims
All workers in New York — including undocumented workers — are entitled to workers' compensation benefits regardless of fault. Workers' comp covers medical treatment and a portion of lost wages, but it does not compensate for pain and suffering, and its benefits are capped.
Filing a workers' compensation claim does not prevent you from also suing the property owner, general contractor, equipment manufacturer, or utility company. In many electrocution cases, the third-party recovery is several times larger than the workers' compensation benefit. Many injured workers do not know they can pursue both.
Common Causes of Construction Electrocution in Queens
Most construction site electrocutions are preventable. Most are caused by violations of rules that owners and contractors are legally required to follow.
Overhead power line contact — Cranes, boom lifts, and aerial equipment operating near Con Edison lines throughout Long Island City and Flushing must stay at least ten feet away. Contact with a live line — even through a piece of equipment — can be immediately fatal.
Improperly grounded equipment — Generators, portable tools, and HVAC units that are not properly grounded can energize the entire equipment casing. A worker who touches the casing while standing on a conductive surface completes the circuit.
Damaged or deteriorated temporary wiring — Construction sites use temporary wiring for lighting and power tools. When that wiring is damaged by foot traffic, weather, or heavy equipment and is not replaced, the risk of shock goes up sharply.
Faulty or defective power tools — Electrical tools with damaged insulation or faulty internal wiring can shock workers with no outward sign of damage. These cases may support a product liability claim against the manufacturer.
Missing GFCI protection — Ground-fault circuit interrupters are required under OSHA regulations for construction site electrical systems. When a GFCI is absent or has been bypassed, a fault in the circuit can deliver full current to a worker instead of tripping the breaker.
Underground electrical lines struck during excavation — Queens has aging underground electrical infrastructure, particularly in Flushing, Elmhurst, and Maspeth. Excavation work that contacts unmarked or improperly mapped underground lines is a recurring cause of serious injury.
Exposed electrical panels and junction boxes — Open panels on live circuits, without covers or lockout/tagout procedures, leave workers exposed to shock during routine tasks.
If any of these conditions existed at your job site, our attorneys will investigate and identify every party who may be responsible.
Who Is Liable When You're Electrocuted at a Queens Construction Site?
Many injured workers assume they are limited to workers' compensation because their employer controls the job site. New York's labor laws create a much wider scope of liability.
What's in this video?
The Orlow Firm's attorneys explain who can be held legally responsible for construction accidents in New York, including property owners, general contractors, and subcontractors.
Property owners carry strict liability under Labor Law §§ 240(1) and 241(6) for qualifying injuries, whether or not they were on-site or had knowledge of the hazard. The only exception is single- and two-family homeowners who did not direct or control the work.
General contractors are equally liable under the same statutes. Their obligation to enforce code compliance extends to every subcontractor on the project.
Electrical subcontractors may be independently liable for negligence if their faulty installation, exposed wiring, or failure to de-energize circuits caused the accident.
Equipment manufacturers may face product liability claims if a defective tool, generator, panel, or piece of electrical equipment contributed to the injury.
Utility companies may bear responsibility if overhead or underground lines were improperly marked, energized without notice, or left energized when the work required them to be shut down.
Scaffolding and rigging companies may face claims if their equipment made contact with power lines due to inadequate clearance planning.
All of these claims can be pursued at the same time as a workers' compensation claim. Our attorneys will identify every party who may be responsible and build a case that pursues the recovery you deserve.
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Who Can Be Held Liable for Construction Electrocution in New York
Multiple parties may be liable — and workers can pursue all claims simultaneously alongside workers' comp.
Under New York Labor Law (strict liability):
- Property Owners — Absolute liability under Labor Law §§ 240(1) and 241(6) regardless of whether they were on-site. Exception: 1-2 family homeowners who did not direct the work.
- General Contractors — Equally liable under the same statutes. Obligation to enforce electrical safety code compliance extends to every subcontractor on the project.
- Electrical Subcontractors — May be independently liable for negligence if faulty installation, exposed wiring, or failure to de-energize circuits caused the accident.
Additional liable parties:
- Equipment Manufacturers — Product liability claims if a defective tool, generator, panel, or electrical equipment contributed to the injury. Manufacturer, designer, and distributor may all be liable.
- Utility Companies — May be responsible if overhead or underground lines were improperly marked, energized without proper notification, or left energized when work required shutdown.
- Scaffolding Companies — May face claims if their equipment made contact with power lines due to inadequate clearance planning or improper positioning near overhead lines.
All claims can be pursued simultaneously alongside workers' compensation. Many injured workers do not know they can file both. The third-party recovery is often several times larger than workers' comp benefits.
Compensation Available in a Queens Electrocution Injury Case
Electrical injuries are among the most serious in construction accident law. They often produce long-term consequences that take months or years to fully appear. A careful damages assessment is essential.
What's in this video?
The Orlow Firm's attorneys explain how injured construction workers can pursue both workers' compensation benefits and separate third-party claims to get full compensation for their injuries.
Medical Expenses
Electrocution injuries often require immediate emergency care — cardiac monitoring, burn treatment, and neurological evaluation — as well as extended rehabilitation. Internal organ damage, particularly to the kidneys from myoglobinuria (the breakdown of muscle tissue that can accompany severe electrical injury), may require ongoing treatment well beyond the initial hospitalization. Future medical expenses must be documented and included in any claim.
Lost Wages and Earning Capacity
Workers who suffer permanent nerve damage, chronic pain, or cognitive effects from electrical injury may not be able to return to their trade. Lost past wages and reduced future earning capacity are economic damages that your attorneys can calculate with the help of vocational and financial experts.
Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering damages are not available through workers' compensation. They are recoverable only through a third-party personal injury claim. For severe electrocution injuries, pain and suffering often make up the largest share of the total recovery.
Permanent Scarring and Disfigurement
Electrical burns frequently produce permanent scarring, particularly at the entry and exit points of the current. New York law allows compensation for permanent physical changes that affect a person's appearance and quality of life.
Emotional Distress and PTSD
Electrocution survivors often develop post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, recurring flashbacks, and sleep disturbances. These psychological effects are compensable non-economic damages and should be documented through psychiatric and psychological evaluation.
Wrongful Death Damages
If a loved one was fatally electrocuted at a Queens construction site, a wrongful death claim can recover funeral and burial expenses, loss of financial support, loss of parental guidance for children, and the pain and suffering experienced before death. Workers' compensation provides limited death benefits. A third-party wrongful death claim can recover damages that workers' comp does not.
Our Results in Electrocution and Construction Electrical Injury Cases
$2,474,000 — An undocumented construction worker was electrocuted while working on a scaffold. The electrical shock caused him to fall, resulting in back and knee injuries requiring multiple surgeries. We pursued the electrocution claim under Labor Law § 241(6) and the fall claim under Labor Law § 240(1).
$700,000 — A union painter was electrocuted while working on a scaffold and fell, suffering a serious shoulder injury. We recovered compensation for his medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
$3,375,000 — A construction worker fell 12 feet off a ladder and sustained neck, back, elbow, and shoulder injuries requiring surgery.
$2,100,000 — An undocumented worker fell off a scaffold and required elbow and shoulder surgery.
$1,375,000 — A worker fell from a scaffold, sustaining back and knee injuries, resolved at mediation.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Steps to Take Immediately After Electrocution at a Queens Job Site
The actions taken in the hours and days after an electrical injury can affect both your health and your legal claim.
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Do not touch someone still in contact with a live electrical source. Secondary electrocution is a real danger. Call 911 and wait for first responders who are trained to de-energize the circuit safely.
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Call 911 and request emergency medical evaluation. Even if the injured worker appears alert, electrocution can cause delayed cardiac arrhythmia that appears hours after the initial shock. Emergency cardiac monitoring is essential.
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Do not let your employer pressure you to skip medical treatment or minimize the incident. Workers' comp covers treatment, and accepting care does not mean you are claiming inability to work.
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Report the accident to your employer in writing within 30 days. New York workers' compensation law requires prompt reporting. Written notice creates a record.
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Photograph the hazard before it is repaired or removed. Job sites are often cleaned up quickly after accidents. Photos of the exposed wire, ungrounded equipment, or damaged wiring are important evidence.
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Identify all witnesses — fellow workers, supervisors, or passersby who saw what happened.
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Do not give recorded statements to insurance adjusters before speaking with an attorney. Insurers representing the owner and contractor will use those statements against you.
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Contact a Queens electrocution attorney promptly. Preserving evidence, interviewing witnesses, and investigating site conditions must happen quickly. Call The Orlow Firm at (646) 647-3398 for a free consultation.
View text version of this infographic
Steps to Take After Electrocution at a Queens Job Site
Acting quickly protects both your health and your legal claim.
- Do not touch the victim if still in contact with a live source. Call 911 — secondary electrocution is a real danger.
- Request emergency cardiac evaluation. Electrocution can cause delayed arrhythmia hours after the initial shock.
- Do not skip medical treatment due to employer pressure. Workers' comp covers treatment — accepting it does not mean you are claiming disability.
- Report to your employer in writing within 30 days. NY workers' comp requires prompt notice. Written records protect your claim.
- Photograph the hazard before it is repaired. Photos of exposed wiring, ungrounded equipment, or damaged cables are important evidence.
- Identify all witnesses — fellow workers, supervisors, or anyone who saw what happened. Witness accounts can be decisive.
- Do not give recorded statements to insurance adjusters before speaking with an attorney. Insurers will use your words against you.
- Contact a Queens electrocution lawyer promptly. Evidence disappears quickly on construction sites. Call The Orlow Firm at (646) 647-3398.
Time Limits: Notify employer within 30 days for workers' comp. File workers' comp claim within 2 years. File personal injury lawsuit within 3 years. File wrongful death claim within 2 years.
Frequently Asked Questions: Queens Electrocution Lawyer
What is the difference between electric shock and electrocution?
Electric shock refers to a non-fatal injury where electrical current passes through the body. Electrocution specifically describes a fatal electrical injury. Both can cause serious harm — burns, nerve damage, cardiac events, and secondary falls. In legal usage, "electrocution case" often refers to either fatal or severe non-fatal electrical injuries on construction sites.
Can I sue if I was electrocuted at a construction site in New York?
Yes. If your electrical injury resulted from a violation of Industrial Code § 23-1.13, Labor Law § 240(1), or Labor Law § 241(6), you can file a third-party lawsuit against the property owner and general contractor in addition to collecting workers' compensation benefits. These are separate claims and filing one does not limit the other.
Can undocumented workers file an electrocution claim in New York?
Yes. New York's labor laws apply regardless of immigration status. Our firm has recovered $2,474,000 for an undocumented construction worker who was electrocuted on a scaffold. Workers' compensation benefits are similarly available to undocumented workers under New York law.
How long do I have to file an electrocution injury claim in New York?
For a personal injury lawsuit, the statute of limitations is generally three years from the date of injury. For workers' compensation, you must notify your employer within 30 days and file a claim with the Workers' Compensation Board within two years. For wrongful death cases, the limit is two years. Do not wait — key evidence can disappear quickly.
Does wearing protective equipment affect my claim?
Generally, no. Under Labor Law §§ 240(1) and 241(6), the owner and general contractor are liable for failing to provide a safe work environment regardless of the worker's conduct — unless the worker's own negligence was the sole cause of the accident. That is an extremely high bar for defendants to meet and rarely defeats a claim.
What if a defective tool or piece of equipment caused my electrocution?
If a defective electrical tool, generator, panel, or piece of equipment contributed to your injury, you may have a product liability claim against the manufacturer in addition to your Labor Law claim. Our attorneys will investigate whether any equipment involved was defective in design, manufacturing, or labeling.
What compensation is available if a loved one died from construction electrocution in Queens?
A wrongful death claim can recover funeral expenses, the decedent's projected lifetime earnings, loss of guidance and support for dependent children, and loss of companionship for a surviving spouse. Workers' compensation death benefits are available but capped. The third-party wrongful death claim can recover damages that workers' comp does not cover. Speak with a Queens electrocution attorney about your family's options.
Contact a Queens Electrocution Lawyer Today
If you or a family member was seriously hurt or killed by an electrical hazard at a Queens construction site, our attorneys are here to help. The Orlow Firm has represented injured construction workers throughout Flushing, Long Island City, Astoria, Jamaica, Elmhurst, and all of Queens since 1981. Adam Orlow, former President of the Queens County Bar Association (2022–2023), and Steven Orlow, our founding partner and former Counsel to the Queens County Executive, bring decades of local experience to every case we handle.
You pay nothing unless we win. Our consultation is free, and we will come to you if you cannot come to us.
Call (646) 647-3398 to speak with a Queens electrocution lawyer today.
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Sources & Official Resources
New York Laws Cited
- New York Labor Law § 240(1) — Scaffold Law / Elevation-Related Injuries
- New York Labor Law § 241(6) — Construction Site Safety Requirements
- New York Labor Law § 200 — General Duty to Provide a Safe Workplace
- 12 NYCRR § 23-1.13 — Protection Against Electrical Hazards (NY Industrial Code)
- CPLR § 214 — Personal Injury Statute of Limitations (3 Years)
- EPTL § 5-4.1 — Wrongful Death Statute of Limitations (2 Years)
- NY Workers' Compensation Law — Filing Requirements and Deadlines
Federal Safety Standards
Statistics Sources
- OSHA Severe Injury Report (SIR) Data — 2015 through July 2025
- OSHA Injury Tracking Application (ITA) Form 300A Data — 2023–2024
Case Law (for attorney reference)
Helpful Resources for Injured Workers
- NY Workers' Compensation Board — File a Claim
- NYC Buildings Department — Report a Construction Safety Hazard
Data Methodology Borough and neighborhood breakdowns for workplace severe injury data were calculated by The Orlow Firm's research team from publicly available OSHA Severe Injury Report records (2015–July 2025) and OSHA Injury Tracking Application Form 300A establishment data (2023–2024). OSHA publishes these records at the address and establishment level. We aggregated these records to produce the Queens-specific statistics cited above, as OSHA does not publish pre-calculated borough-level breakdowns. The SIR data reflects employer-reported severe injuries under federal OSHA jurisdiction; public-sector workers covered by New York PESH are not included.
