Jermaine Whitmore, 32, Died in Hyannis Industrial Accident After Coming Into Contact With Live Wires While Helping Distressed Worker In a Bucket Truck
HYANNIS, MASSACHUSETTS (August 19, 2025) – A 32-year-old father of four identified as Jermaine Whitmore has tragically died in a Hyannis electrocution accident near Hamden Circle.
Barnstable County officials say the accident took place around 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Jermaine Whitmore was preparing to take his kids to the beach when he heard a worker calling out for help in a bucket truck.
Relatives of the victim said that they think he came into contact with live electrical wires as he was attempting to help the worker. Paramedics were called to the scene to help both victims. Jermaine Whitmore was taken to Cape Cod Hospital with critical injuries. Tragically, he later died at the hospital due to his injuries.
A full investigation into the accident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Electrocution Accidents
Depending on the unique facts of any case, there could be numerous sources of liability for any electrocution accident.
- Utility companies in Massachusetts have a legal obligation to maintain their power lines in a reasonably safe condition. This necessitates that they perform timely inspections and repairs on those lines to prevent them from becoming hazards.
- If electrical wires were not properly installed or were inadequately insulated, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.
- As a general rule, employers in Massachusetts can be held vicariously liable for their employees’ wrongful actions, as long as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties.
It is relatively common for utility companies to hire contractors and subcontractors to perform certain tasks related to the upkeep of electrical lines. If any employee for one of these subcontractors creates a hazardous condition on public property, their employer could be held at fault.
Safety Precautions to Take to Prevent Electrocution Accidents
Numerous safety precautions should be taken to prevent pedestrians from being electrocuted by energized lines.
- De-energize: Power lines should be completely de-energized before any type of maintenance or work is performed on them.
- Safety Perimeter: There should be a safety perimeter around any area where power lines are being worked on.
- Clearance and Vegetation Management: All vegetation near a power line should be cleared so that lines aren’t accidentally knocked down during storms.
- Routine Inspections: Power lines should be routinely inspected so that any defects can be properly addressed.
Preserving Evidence After Massachusetts Electrocution Accidents
It is essential that all evidence related to any industrial accident is properly preserved. Evidence can establish what took place and what entities may ultimately be liable. What follows are just a few of the items that should be collected and reviewed.
- Police Report: The police will create a report of an accident that they are called to. These reports will include their initial assessment of what happened and who may be responsible. But these reports are hardly thorough and may even contain mistakes.
- OSHA Report: If any accident involves a worker being injured, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will conduct a thorough investigation into what went wrong. This report will normally include what safety measures were violated.
- Photos: It is important that photos of the accident site are taken. These photos may reveal dangerous conditions at a location that may have contributed to an accident.
- Medical Records: All of the medical records related to a person’s injuries should be reviewed. Medical records can help detail how an accident unfolded, along with the unfortunate consequences.
Utility companies and their contractors will virtually never accept responsibility when someone is injured due to their negligence. This is one of many reasons that evidence is so important. Much of the evidence essential to establishing liability can become lost or destroyed after certain amounts of time. It is therefore important for accident victims considering legal actions to operate with some sense of urgency.
Investigating Barnstable County Electrocution Accidents
DiBella Law extends our deepest condolences to the family of Jermaine Whitmore. Anyone with more information should contact the investigators.
Do you need more information about a Barnstable County electrocution accident? Our team of top-rated personal injury lawyers in Boston is here to help in any way that we can. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any incident, we are here for you. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.