Electric Shock Caused Death: Do I Have A Wrongful Death Case?

There is nothing that will ever take away the devastation and heartbreak that families suffer when they have lost a loved one to electric shock death.

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Electric shock caused death, do I have a case?

There is nothing that will ever take away the devastation and heartbreak that families suffer when they have lost a loved one to electric shock death.

But in order to hold the negligent parties accountable, to deter similarly tragic and negligent conduct in the future and to help the victim’s family persevere in his or her absence, a victim’s family will frequently turn to the courts for help in seeking justice and fairness.

In this blog post, we discuss the factors that a victim’s family must consider when evaluating whether an electrocution lawsuit should be brought on behalf of a loved one who suffered a death.

How can electric shock cause death?

An electric shock can cause death when the electrical current enters a victim’s body and the current’s pathway travels through the heart resulting in fatal conditions such as ventricular fibrillation, bradycardia and respiratory arrest before exiting the body at the nearest point of ground.

Additionally, death may be caused as a result of secondary trauma, such as a fall that was caused by the shock.

What to do if electric shock causes death?

The most important thing the family of an electric shock death victim should do – from a legal perspective – is find and hire an experienced electrocution lawyer who specializes his or her legal practice on helping families who have lost a loved one to death caused by electricity.

Time is of the essence when it comes to finding a lawyer to protect a loved one’s legal rights because the lawyers and legal investigators for the utility or power company likely began preparing their defense against a possible lawsuit the moment they received notice of the tragedy.

You need an attorney with the experience, skills and determination to immediately jump in, investigate, uncover and gather the necessary evidence about how the tragedy occurred, who was said what to whom about the tragedy and the conditions of the accident scene before, during and after the tragedy.

Additionally, your attorney will need to be able to assemble a team of the best national experts from engineering, scientific and medical disciplines that can stand up to the utility or power company and explain how the utility or power company was negligent.

Do I have a case if death was caused while in the workplace?

Too many lawyers who do not have specialized experience in helping people who have been affected by electricity shock death or injury wrongly assume that Workers’ Comp is the only case that can be brought on behalf of a victim who suffered loss of life while at work.

Depending on the circumstances, there is the potential for wrongful death liability for a person’s death or injury through any of the following entities:

  • Outside, independent contractors who may have negligently inspected, maintained or repaired the power lines at issue
  • Outside, independent contractors who may have negligently inspected, maintained or repaired the utility poles and/or pole tops at issue
  • Outside, independent contractors who may have negligently inspected, maintained and/or trimmed trees and branches in the vicinity of the power lines at issue
  • The manufacturer, seller or distributor of the power lines at issue

Do I have a case if an electric shock accident caused death?

Generally, a wrongful death lawsuit may be filed for electric shock death. The wrongful death laws of the state in which the tragedy occurs will determine who among the victim’s surviving family members can bring the lawsuit on behalf of the victim’s estate.

Circumstances that should be discussed with a lawyer before a wrongful death lawsuit is filed include whether the victim was working at the time, pain and suffering the victim may have suffered, whether the victim was married and/or had children and dependents, the victim’s age and how long he or she may have been expected to work – as well as his or her earning capacity into the future.

Additionally, punitive or exemplary damages may also be sought when a defendant’s actions were particularly egregious, reckless and/or fraudulent.

What is the statute of limitations for electric shock lawsuits?

The statute of limitations for a lawsuit will be determined by the law of the state in which the shock occurred and, thus, where a resulting personal injury and/or wrongful death lawsuit will be filed.

Need help from an experienced electrocution lawyer?

If you or someone you love is a victim of serious personal injury or death caused by electricity, you can call and speak with Jeff Feldman, arguably the nation’s most experienced electric shock accident and electrocution attorney. Jeff has litigated electrocution cases and electric shock injury cases in multiple states for families whose loved ones were injured after an electrical accident that was caused by faulty consumer products, negligence in the building and construction industry, downed or low-hanging overhead power cables, and defective or poorly maintained pool equipment. Jeff also consults with injury lawyers throughout the country on electrical accident injury and wrongful death cases involving electricity. You can call Jeff toll free at (800) 548-0043 for a free consultation.

Electric Shock Caused Death: Do I Have A Wrongful Death Case?Electric Shock Caused Death: Do I Have A Wrongful Death Case?
Jeffrey feldman

Author 
Jeffrey H. Feldman
Electrocution Lawyer

Jeffrey has tried more electrocution cases than most other injury lawyers in the country. He’s also secured several multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of his clients, many who have lost loved ones in electrocution accidents.

5 stars

He’s an honest lawyer. If he takes on a case, it’s because he truly believes in it.

– L.B.