Two Electrocuted In Waukegan Tree-Trimming Accident

Two Waukegan Workers in Crane Boom Electrocuted After Vehicle Hit Power Line

Two Electrocuted In Waukegan Tree-Trimming Accident

WAUKEGAN, ILLINOIS (January 12, 2025) – Two employees for Waukegan’s Public Works Department were injured in an electrocution near Pershing Avenue and Greenwood Avenue.

Lake County officials are saying that the incident took place around 11:30 a.m. on Thursday. The workers were conducting a tree-trimming operation.

They were in a crane boom when their vehicle came into contact with a power line, which energized their vehicle.

One worker was airlifted to Loyola Medical Center. The other worker was transported in an ambulance to Advocate Condell Medical Center.

A full investigation into the Waukegan electrocution remains ongoing at this time.

Liability for Lake County Tree-Trimming Accidents

Tree-trimming can be a very dangerous profession. Many of the injuries and deaths are the result of electrocutions. According to the one study in the National Institutes of Health, “In the United States, there are approximately 1000 deaths per year, as a result of electrical injuries. Of these, approximately 400 are due to high-voltage electrical injuries, and lightning causes 50 to 300.”Companies should take a number of measures to protect their workers from electrocutions.

  • Companies should identify electrocution hazards in the workplace and work to mitigate those hazards.
  • Companies should use ground fault circuit interrupters to prevent shocks.
  • Companies should train workers to identify and avoid electrical hazards.

Every worker in Illinois is protected by the state’s worker’s compensation systems. This is a no-fault system designed to help workers in the event they are injured. There is no need for an injured worker to demonstrate fault. An injured worker may also be able to seek aid through a third-party liability claim. A third-party liability claim may be possible if an entity separate from a worker’s employer contributed to an accident.

There could be numerous sources of third-party liability for an electrocution accident with a crane boom. For example, the companies that make the vehicle could be held at fault through a product liability claim. A crane boom may lack required safety sensors designed to avoid live electrical lines. The crane arm may lack anti-conductive material. Victims of electrical accidents tend to suffer very serious injuries.

  • Head trauma
  • First-degree burns
  • Organ damage
  • Lacerations

It can be hard to know what to do after being seriously injured on the job. Many victims will need to take long periods of time away from work. They may also be burdened by high medical bills. In many cases, a person’s injuries may be so severe that they are not able to return to their previous profession altogether. It is important for workers to understand that they do have rights.

Investigating Waukegan Electrocution Accidents

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to the workers injured in this Waukegan power line electrocution accident. It is our sincere hope that both of the victims will be able to make a full recovery. Any person who may have more information about what went wrong should reach out to OSHA.

Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Waukegan electrocution accident? You may have legal recourse. Our team of workers rights advocates is here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that workers get the medical and financial support that they need to recover. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.