What is an electrocution injury?
An electrocution injury is a serious and often fatal injury that occurs when a high voltage electrical current passes through an individual’s body, the severity of which depends on certain factors such as the current’s amperage, voltage, duration, and path, as well as the individual’s general health.
Types of electrocution injuries
Electrocution injuries are more severe than electric shock injuries. When a person is electrocuted, the most common injuries are:
- Severe burns
- Brain damage
- Heart damage
- Arrhythmia
- Electrical trauma
- Significant nerve damage
- Organ damage
- Eye damage
- Serious muscle contractions (often leading to fatal falls)
- Post electric shock syndrome
- Death
What determines the severity of an electrocution injury?
The severity of an electric shock injury is determined by the following 5 factors:
- Current (amperage) – The amount of electrical current/amperes passing through an individual’s body is a major factor in determining the severity of the injuries
- Voltage – High voltage electric shock injuries (over 1,000 volts) are more likely to cause catastrophic injuries and fatalities
- Duration – The longer an individual is exposed to the current, the more likely it is that he or she will suffer severe injuries or death
- Path – The most severe injuries occur when the path of the electrical current goes through the brain, heart, or lungs
- General health – An individual’s age, skin condition, and overall health play a role in the severity of the injuries
Electrocution injury symptoms
Electrocution injury “symptoms” include tingling, dizziness, muscle pain, back pain, chest pain, and anxiety. The most common symptoms of an electrocution are significant physical pain and suffering.
Treatment
Here are some potentially life-savings steps you can take if an individual has been electrocuted:
- Remove him or her from the electrical source – If possible, turn off the power source and move the victim out of harm’s way. If you cannot turn off the power source, find a non-conductive object that will allow you to roll the victim away from the electrical source.
- Call 9-1-1 – Get first responders on the scene as soon as possible
- Start CPR (if needed) – If the victim is not breathing or otherwise unresponsive
- Provide oxygen (if needed) – If the victim is showing signs of respiratory distress
- Treat burns – Cover them with clean, non-stick bandages if they are exposed, but do not remove clothing that is stuck to the skin or apply ice or ointments.
- Inform first responders – Provide first responders with any information they need to assess the victim’s situation and then allow them to take the next steps
Prevention
Here are some tips for preventing an electrocution injury:
- Become educated on electrical safety
- Always look for and be aware of potential electrical hazards
- Follow instructions when using electrical appliances and do not overload outlets
- Use special safety devices such as ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs)
- Routinely inspect and maintain all of your electrical systems
- Use a partner if you are performing electrical work
- Wear insulated gear and use insulated tools when performing electrical work
- Hire a licensed professional to perform electrical work that you are unqualified to perform
Can I sue if I suffered an electrocution injury?
You can file and win a negligence lawsuit if you can show that:
- The defendant owed you a duty
- The defendant breached that duty
- The defendant’s conduct caused your injuries
- You suffered actual damages (medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering)
Who is liable for injuries after an accident?
The most common at-fault parties in an accident are:
- Power company – Typically because of an aging infrastructure or a downed power line
- Contractor – Often because of improper installation of electrical equipment or systems
- Property owner – Usually because of an unsafe electrical condition on the property
- Manufacturer – Generally because it manufactured faulty electrical equipment
What happens if the electrocution injuries are so severe that they result in death?
If you lost a family member in an electrical accident, an experienced electrocution lawyer who specializes in this area of law and has handled and won wrongful death cases can help you hold the party who caused the accident accountable. A wrongful death action allows you and other surviving family members to sue the defendant for benefits to cover lost financial support in the form of lost wages, medical expenses, and funeral and burial costs. (MCL 600.2922)
Is it worth hiring an electrocution injury lawyer for my case?
Hiring an experienced electrocution injury lawyer who specializes exclusively in this area of law can mean the difference between getting full and fair compensation for your injuries or being forced to accept a low-ball settlement offer from the insurance company.
This area of law is among the most specialized areas of personal injury, requiring significant experience, highly specialized knowledge, and a strong reputation in the industry. Insurance companies and defense attorneys know when they’re up against an inexperienced lawyer and they will use this to their advantage by making a low-ball offer and scaring the attorney into accepting it or risk protracted litigation and a lengthy trial.
But a seasoned lawyer knows all their tricks and will force their hand in order to get you and your family a maximum settlement as quickly as possible by doing the following:
- Conducting a full investigation of the accident with the assistance of the nation’s best experts in engineering and power infrastructure
- Work with the nation’s top experts in the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) and National Electrical Code (NEC) in order to identify any and all violations and strengthen your case
- Boost the value of your case using the country’s premier economics and medicine and rehabilitation
- Identify and verify insurance coverage and financial assets that will be used to fund your settlement
- Take your case to trial if a full and fair settlement offer is not made
How do I choose the best lawyer for my case?
There are only a handful of lawyers in America who can truly handle a serious electrocution case. But you can find one near you by looking at the following key factors:
- Experience – An expert in electrocution law will have hundreds of these cases under his or her proverbial belt
- Exclusive specialization – The best lawyers are those who focus their entire practice on one area of law, giving them specialized knowledge that other lawyers lack
- Track record of success – Only the top electrocution attorneys have won million-dollar settlements and verdicts
- Reputation – A lawyer who is well known for taking cases to trial when the insurance companies refuse to agree to fair settlements can negotiate bigger, faster settlements.
