My Family Member Was Electrocuted at Work: What Should I Do?

An electrocution is one of the most serious injuries a worker can endure, and many die after experiencing this type of accident. This was true earlier in 2025, when an electrocution incident killed one construction worker and injured another in Chicago. If you’re mourning the loss of a loved one after this type of accident, you might wonder what happens next. Can you file a workers’ compensation claim in Chicago?

Why Is Electrocution So Hazardous? 

The threat of electrocution is a major issue throughout many industries in Chicago. Virtually any worker could be electrocuted under the wrong circumstances. For example, an office worker might accidentally come into contact with exposed cables. A restaurant worker might step into a puddle with an electric current running through it.

That being said, construction workers face a particularly high threat from electrocution. These workers may come into contact with exposed cables throughout the workday. This is especially true for electricians, who deal with electrical hazards every day.

Workers operating close to overhead power cables are also at risk. These might include window washers or anyone working on powered lifts. Arborists may also come into contact with power lines when working on trees.

Electrocution is extremely hazardous because it almost always results in death. When high-voltage electric current passes through the body, there is little chance of survival. Severe burns reach beyond the skin and into the bone layer. The electric current also causes significant nerve damage.

How Can Workers’ Compensation Help After an Electrocution? 

Workers’ compensation can help by providing families with enough compensation to cover losses resulting from fatalities. For example, a family might lose a primary wage-earner due to an accident involving electrocution. In this case, the family could pursue lost income that the relative would have earned throughout the rest of their career.

If the worker incurred medical costs before being pronounced dead, the workers’ comp claim could also cover these losses. For example, the worker might have been airlifted to a nearby hospital before passing away.

These are called “death benefits,” and they are worth pursuing if you have lost a loved one to a fatal accident. Remember, workers’ compensation is a “no-fault” system. In other words, you can pursue death benefits even if your loved one caused their own fatal accident. For example, your loved one might have accidentally touched an overhead cable while operating a scissor lift.

Can a Chicago Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Help Me? 

A Chicago workers’ compensation lawyer may be able to help if you recently lost a loved one due to a workplace electrocution. A workers’ comp claim can provide death benefits, which may prove crucial as you strive for financial security. Death benefits can be particularly useful for single parents left to raise dependent children. To learn more about the next steps, consider a consultation with Connolly Injury Law.

Sources 

abc7chicago.com/post/chicago-construction-worker-harvey-man-francisco-javier-ruiz-reyes-electrocuted-west-ogden-south-homan-north-lawndale/15967137/

osha.gov/electrical