When a loved one has suffered a death from a fatal electrocution accident in the United States, your family will likely be entitled to significant legal compensation and damages. Depending on the circumstances, you will be able to bring a lawsuit against either the negligent party responsible who caused the fatal accident or a Workers’ Comp claim if the tragedy occurred while on the job, or both.
Sadly, an electrical accident that causes a loss of life can happen nearly anywhere – around utility lines and power lines, at home, at work, exiting a car, in the water, in swimming pools and even in hot tubs.
Regardless of whether you bring a Workers’ Comp claim or a electric shock lawsuit based on negligence for the loss of a loved one, the parties responsible for a fatal accident can include the deceased’s employer or a co-worker, an independent contractor, an electrical utility company, the manufacturer of a defective electric component or appliance, and/or the owner of a property where the fatality occurred.
An experienced electrial accident lawyer can help you hold the negligent parties accountable and maximize the amount of your settlement.
What is the difference between electric shock and electrocution?
While often used interchangeably in casual conversation, an electric shock refers to a non-fatal electrical injury, whereas electrocution specifically means a fatal incident resulting in death. Understanding this distinction is critical when filing a legal claim, as a non-fatal shock falls under standard personal injury law, while a fatal electrocution requires a wrongful death action.
Is death by electrocution painful?
Yes, deaths by electrocution are frequently painful, as intense electrical currents passing through the body cause severe internal organ damage, deep tissue burns, and sudden cardiac arrest before a person loses consciousness.
The exact level of pain and suffering depends heavily on the duration of exposure, the current pathway, and specific voltage safety thresholds:
- Heart Rhythm Disruption: Currents passing through the chest interfere with the heart’s natural pacemaker. Voltages as low as 32 volts can be fatal if environmental conditions are wet or grounded, while contacts above 250 volts almost always cause death.
- Ventricular Fibrillation: High-voltage alternating current (AC) frequently disrupts the heart’s electrical rhythm, causing it to go into ventricular fibrillation—a state where the heart quivers uselessly rather than pumping oxygenated blood to the brain.
- Severe Organ Damage: In addition to stopping the heart, lethal electrical shocks cause extreme internal heating, severe deep-tissue and surface burns, and permanent neurological damage.
Electrocution accident death statistics for the US
According to data from the National Library of Medicine and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, thousands of Americans suffer severe electrical injuries each year. Key statistical data highlights the ongoing dangers of live electrical currents:
- Annual U.S. Fatalities: Approximately 1,000 deaths are caused by electrocution accidents each year in the United States.
- Non-Fatal Shocks: There are roughly 30,000 non-fatal electric shock incidents reported annually.
- Consumer Product Incidents: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that approximately 100 annual fatal electrical accidents are associated directly with consumer products from 2018 through 2020 with an estimated 110 consumer product-related electrocutions in 2018, 100 in 2019, and 90 in 2020.
- Workplace Electrocutions: In 2022, there were 145 documented fatalities caused by exposure to electricity on the job, compared to 152 in 2021, 126 in 2020, 166 in 2019, and 160 in 2018.
Death by electrocution at home
Electrocution deaths at home are most frequently caused by downed power lines and low-hanging or sagging electrical wires. Often, the local utility company neglects to properly maintain power lines and other infrastructure. When a power line falls, for example, these lethal threats can find their way into people’s yards, driveways and walkways.
The deadly risk of a fatal electric shock accident posed by downed and low-hanging power lines cannot be overstated. A high voltage arc from one of these live wires can reach 35,000 degrees Fahrenheit, which is three and one-half times the heat of the sun’s surface and more than 10 times the heat needed to melt iron (2,800 degrees).
Other causes of electricity-related injuries and possible fatality in the home include: faulty wiring, damaged appliances, power strips, extension cords, power tools, electrical outlets, ladders (because they put people high enough in the air that they can come into contact with power lines and wires), and space heaters.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that 100 fatal accidents from electricity are associated with the use of consumer products annually during the three-year period from 2018 to 2020. These are the most current years for which data is available.
Dying from electricity in water
Electrocution deaths from electrically charged water is frequently caused by electric-shock drowning. This occurs when an electrical current that is released into the water makes contact with a swimmer, paralyzing the person and, thus, rendering him or her unable to swim or otherwise stay afloat.
These tragedies can happen in swimming pools, saunas or hot tubs. They can also occur in lakes and larger bodies of water, especially near boats and docks that are wired for electricity.
These fatal accidents are frequently caused by negligence in maintaining electrical systems, inadequate safety measures, or defective pool and hot tub equipment.
Prevention tips include regular inspections of electrical systems, the use of ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), and prompt repair and/or replacement of faulty wiring, improper grounding and damaged equipment that is near the water. Promptly address any signs of electrical malfunction.
Dying from electricity in hot tubs
People dying from electricity related to hot tubs are caused by a release of electrical current into the water due to faulty underwater lighting, defective electrical wiring, ungrounded pumps, filters, vacuums, and appliances. A lack of GFCI protection (ground-fault circuit-interrupters) is commonly a factor.
The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission reports there were 47 incidents involving injury or death in hot tubs, pools and spas from 2002 to 2018, resulting in 33 deaths and 33 injuries.
Death by electrocution at work
Death of a loved from an electrocution accident at work may give rise to two claims by the family and dependents of the worker who lost his or her life. A claim for Workers’ Comp death benefits can be filed against the deceased’s employer. And a wrongful death claim can be filed against other negligent parties.
Workers’ compensation benefits for the loss of a loved one in most states are generally limited to helping compensate the deceased worker’s family and dependents for the loss of their loved one’s financial support. The benefits may also help cover funeral and burial expenses. There are important exceptions, however, and most personal injury lawyers and workers compensation lawyers alike often will miss viable fatal electrical accident lawsuits that can be brought against a third-party, such as a contractor, who is not shielded by a state’s workers compensation laws.
A wrongful death lawsuit will allow the deceased worker’s family to recover damages and compensation from negligent third parties other than the deceased’s employer. Recovery from this type of lawsuit will include compensation for pain and suffering and other noneconomic and economic losses including loss of a loved one’s companionship, society, and emotional and financial support as well as parental guidance to minor children. Expenses for medical, hospital, funeral and burial expenses will also be covered.
Unfortunately, a this type of lawsuit generally cannot be brought against the deceased’s employer because most states’ Workers’ Compensation laws have “exclusive remedy” provisions that only permit workers’ comp claims for certain, specified death benefits and that explicitly preclude claims for pain and suffering compensation. This is why it is so important to review your case with an experienced electrocution accident lawyer who can look for potential responsible parties who are not shielded by a state’s exclusive remedy laws.
Occupational hazards leading to a fatal electric shock accident include working near power lines, handling faulty equipment, and inadequate training on electrical safety. Employers have a responsibility to provide a safe working environment, which includes implementing safety protocols, conducting regular inspections, and providing proper training to employees. Compliance with safety regulations, such as lockout/tagout procedures, can significantly reduce the risk of electrocution accident deaths at work.
Third-party liability for a death caused by an electrocution accident at work
Third-party liability for a death of a loved one caused by an electrocution accident at work is an important way for families and dependents to recover compensation and damages after the loss of their loved one. However, this source of recovery is frequently overlooked by attorneys who are inexperienced in fatal electrical accident cases.
Even though a state’s Workers’ Compensation laws may cut-off or limit an employer’s liability for a worker’s electricity-related fatality, those laws do nothing to shield other negligent parties from being held legally liable.
Anyone – other than a direct employer or a co-worker – whose negligence contributed to a worker’s loss of life from an electrical accident can potentially be sued. Their negligence may consist of actively creating a situation that resulted in the worker’s loss of life or failing to take the necessary precautions to prevent the fatal accident.
Who is responsible for an electrocution accident that results in death?
Any person, business, or entity whose negligence causes an electrocution accident that results in death may be held responsible. This could include an employer, a co-worker, a utility company, a maintenance company, an electrician, an equipment manufacturer, a property owner and/or electrical contractors.
Can I sue if a loved one dies from an electrical accident?
If an electrocution accident has taken the life of your loved one, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the persons, or businesses or entities whose negligence caused and/or contributed to your loved one’s loss of life.
Generally, a lawsuit for a loss of life can only be filed by the personal representative of your loved one’s estate. Although the personal representative can be a family member or a dependent, he or she will have the legal authority to file a lawsuit only if he or she has been formally appointed as the personal representative by a judge in the probate court.
What type of compensation is available for a fatal electrical accident?
Compensation in a lawsuit for the loss of a loved one’s life may include money damages for pain and suffering as well as loss of a loved one’s companionship, society, and consortium. Damages for loss of financial support and medical, funeral and burial expenses may also be compensated.
However, in the event of a person at work dying from an electrical accident, compensation will generally be limited to past and future lost wages and funeral and burial expenses, depending on the Workers’ Compensation laws of the state where the fatal electricity-related work accident occurred.
Do I need a lawyer for an electrocution death case?
Yes, you need a highly specialized lawyer immediately, as fatal electrical injury cases involve complex physics, engineering standards, and aggressive corporate defense teams.
An experienced electrical accident lawyer will protect your family’s rights and build an airtight case using the following strategies:
- Preserves Critical Physical Evidence: Prevents utility companies or corporations from altering, destroying, or repairing the faulty equipment or downed line before independent testing can occur.
- Identifies All Liable Third Parties: Uncovers hidden layers of contractor liability and identifies all applicable commercial insurance policies to maximize financial recovery.
- Investigates Industry Code Violations: Methodically documents clear-cut violations of the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) and the National Electrical Code (NEC) to establish liability.
- Deploys a Nationwide Expert Network: Recruits top forensic pathologists, electrical engineering experts, power infrastructure specialists, and forensic economists to establish medical causation and project lifetime financial losses.
Why choose the lawyers at Electrcocuted.com for a death by electrocution accident case?
If you suffered a death of a loved one due to an electrocution accident, the lawyers at Electrocuted.com are uniquely equipped to help. We focus exclusively on personal injury cases and fatal injury cases due to incidents with electricity, giving us deep experience with the medical, legal, and emotional challenges that often arise in these situations.
With over 40 years of experience, we have secured record-breaking settlements and verdicts nationwide, holding manufacturers, power companies, utilities, and other responsible parties accountable. By working with a network of engineers, scientists, and medical experts, we thoroughly investigate every detail of your case to ensure nothing is overlooked.
From start to finish, we provide personalized guidance, clear communication, and aggressive representation, allowing you to focus on recovery while we pursue the full compensation you deserve for the physical, emotional, and financial impact of an injury after an incident with electricity.
