A recent video about pranksters electrocuting bike thieves is going viral. However, the situation is no laughing matter. Electrocution kills over 300 American workers every year and seriously injures another 4,000.
A Lawyer’s Perspective
Today we’re sharing a lawyers’ perspective on whether lethal force was warranted, the dangers of electrocution and what should be done next.
In the video, pranksters installed an electrical shock unit underneath the bike seat. When would-be thieves attempted to ride away with the bike, producers pulled out a remote control that unleashes a high-voltage surprise. After the victim crashed, pranksters laughed and asked, “What happened, buddy?”
Criminals? Yes, but lethal force is not warranted
Some would argue that such action is fine, given the victims were criminals. Yes, stealing is reprehensible. The use of lethal force, however, remains reserved for moments in which someone feels his or her life in immediate danger. And as you’ll see below, the electric shocks administered to these bike thieves could become lethal. Electrocuting people for the purposes of entertainment is just a bad idea all around.
How could the electric shock become lethal? If the thief had just left the restroom and had wet hands, or wet clothes, the electric voltage could easily produce serious bodily injury. Trust that no one would be laughing for long, especially after the police arrived.
Electrocution statistics in the U.S.
Americans die almost every day from incidents involving electricity. Thirty eight percent of all home fire deaths occur between December and February, largely because of electrical decorations, such as tree lights, according to “Holiday Statistics and Data” from ESFi.com.
Construction workers accounted for over 20% of the 4,251 workplace deaths last year. Of these, 8.5 % were electrocutions. In addition, 4,000 workers are injured by electricity annually, according to OSHA.
More education on electrocution and shock injury is necessary
The fact that this video of pranksters harming a person using electricity went viral shows that the public needs more awareness and education on the dangers of electrocution. The shock obviously stunned the victims to such a degree that they momentarily lost control. Some tumbled off the bike. Others went rolling down inclines.
All could have died if just a few factors had been slightly changed.
While our attorneys believe considerations should be made on whether the video should be banned, all we can do now is use it as an educational tool to spread awareness and discuss the dangers of electrocution.
Could the electric shock victims file lawsuits?
The people shocked for stealing the bait bike could possibly file lawsuits. Despite their criminal actions, they could be the victims of a premeditated tort. The video producers intended, from the start, to lure thieves to ride the bikes and receive electric shocks in return.
Electrocution is a form of punishment reserved by the authorities for serious crimes. Again, these thwarted bike bandits could have been killed.
