Electrocution death statistics
Here are some general electrocution death statistics:
- Statistics from the National Library of Medicine reports that electrocutions kill 1,000 people every year (electrical accidents also cause 30,000 non-fatal injuries)
- There are approximately 150 fatal workplace electrical injuries annually (and 1,630 non-fatal workplace electrical injuries every year), according to the Electrical Safety Foundation International.
- According to the Texas Department of Insurance, 8% of construction worker deaths are caused by electrocution.
- The Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) reports that from 1992 to 2015 nearly 3,000 construction workers died from electrocution (accounting for nearly half of all work-related constructions deaths in this time period)
Household electrocution statistics
Electrocution statistics from the NFPA show that home fires involving “electrical distribution and lighting equipment” result in approximately 430 fatalities and 1,070 injuries each year.
Also, NFPA electrocution statistics show that home fires involving “electrical failure or malfunction” claim the lives of approximately 390 people and cause around 1,330 injuries each year.
Consumer product electrocution statistics
Statistics from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission show that, on average, 102 people die each year from fatal electrocutions resulting from the use of consumer products.
Bathroom electrocution statistics
According to the statistics published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), in a 4-year study they found 24 people are killed every year in the U.S. in bathtub-related electrocutions. The study also found these electrocution statistics:
- 66% of the deaths occurred during the winter and spring
- Children younger than 5 years had the greatest mortality rate
- Hair dryers were the biggest culprit (responsible for 60% of deaths)
Swimming pool electrocution statistics
Statistics from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission show that there were 33 electrocution-related deaths and 33 electrocution-related injuries in swimming pools and hot tubs over a four-year period.
Faulty pool lighting and bad wiring, especially in older pools, is the greatest potential electrical hazard, according to Edison International. To reduce these types of risks, Edison counsels that people should:
- Have annual inspections by a licensed electrician or pool contractor
- Hire only licensed professionals to install pools, hot tubs, and spas, and to perform repairs and upgrades, to ensure compliance with applicable local codes and the National Electrical Code
- Use Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters on all electrical equipment, including all outlets within 20 feet of the water’s edge
- Keep electrical cords at least five feet away from pools, hot tubs and spas
- Use only battery-operated appliances and devices near the water
Can I sue for an injury or fatality caused by electricity?
If you were injured in an electrical accident, you can file a personal injury lawsuit if you can show that: (1) the at-fault party owed you a duty to keep you safe from an electrical accident; (2) the at-fault party breached that duty by failing to keep you safe; (3) this breach was the direct and proximate cause of your injuries; and (4) because of your injuries you’ve incurred actual damages, such as medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
If your loved one was killed in an electrical accident, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit which allows you to sue for pain and suffering as well as money damages, including loss of your loved one’s financial support. (MCL 600.2922(1), (3) and (6)).
Who is responsible for death or injury in an accident with electricity?
Potentially responsible parties include:
- The electric company – The electric company is often at fault for electricity-related injuries and fatalities
- A third party/contractor – A contractor can be held liable for injuries it caused while installing or working on electrical equipment and systems
- The manufacturer – The manufacturer of electrical components and equipment may be held responsible if something it made caused an electrical accident
- The property owner – If the accident happened on private property, the property owner is a potentially liable party
If I was or a loved one was injured and killed in an accident with electricity, should I hire a lawyer?
Electricity accident cases are in a league of their own when it comes to complexity and specialization, and most personal injury attorneys are not equipped to handle one. You need an experienced electrocution accident lawyer who specializes exclusively in this area of law and has both a track record of success and a reputation in the industry for standing up to big, powerful defendants like electric companies. Where a lesser attorney will jump at the chance to settle for far less than a case is worth just to get it over with, an experienced and specialized electrocution lawyer will take all the steps necessary to build your case and get a maximum settlement.
A lawyer who specializes in electricity accidents will:
- Fight to get you the largest possible settlement in the least amount of time
- Perform a complete investigation of your case in order to gather evidence, unveil safety violations, determine liability, and assess the full extent and severity of your damages
- Hire the nation’s experts in safety, engineering, power infrastructure, economics, medicine, and rehabilitation
- Take a case all the way to trial if the insurance company doesn’t make a full and fair settlement offer
