No matter if you’re at home or work, accidents with electrical currents can be scary. Getting a small zap when plugging a device in may not seem a serious concern, but electrical injuries should always be taken seriously. You may not be sure what your rights are if you or a loved one has been injured due to electrocution. It can be helpful to speak with a nearby electrical injury attorney regarding the accident to help determine if a claim is proper for you. Contact us at The Pearce Law Firm Personal Injury & Accident Lawyers P.C. to speak to a Philadelphia electrocution lawyer today.
Types of Electrical Accidents
Some of the most common causes of electrical accidents include:
- Circuit overloads
- Improper grounding
- Faulty wiring
- Temporary wiring
- Improper installation of devices
- Live wires
- Faulty products
- Using power tools or appliances improperly
- Medical device malfunctions
- Negligence
- Power line problems
Accidents with electricity can happen in several ways beyond what’s listed. Speaking with a Pennsylvania attorney familiar with electrocution personal injury claims can help you protect yourself in case another party is liable for your accident.
Injuries Caused By Electrical Shock
Being involved in an accident with an electrical shock or electrocution can cause some serious and sometimes life-threatening injuries, even if you think you are okay after the experience. Some injuries possible after exposure to electricity include:
- Burns
- Soft tissue injuries
- Muscle spams
- Cellular Damage
- Injuries to the central nervous system, such as cardiac arrest, heart damage, and even damage to the lungs
A bad enough shock can even be fatal. It’s essential to seek medical attention after an electrical shock to ensure that there are no long-term health implications from the accident.
Liability and Electrical Accidents
Several parties could be liable in an electrical accident, depending on the circumstances, especially if the accident happened at work. In Pennsylvania, workers’ compensation is intended to handle workplace injuries. Still, there are some circumstances where other parties beyond your employer could be liable for your electrocution accident, such as equipment manufacturers and utility companies where they are at fault for not properly maintaining or repairing their lines along with other parties. Determining liability is not always straightforward, so speaking with an electrocution lawsuit lawyer can help to investigate your accident claim to determine the parties who could be held liable for damages.
Potential Compensation in Electrocution Accident Claims
As the injuries that can occur from electrocution can take a long time to heal and, in some cases, could be life-long, understanding the potential compensation you can seek as damages is essential. Some of the damages you can add to your claim can include:
- Medical costs from the accident and ongoing care into the future
- Missed work, now and into the future
- Lost income from being unable to work
- Amputation
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Pain and suffering
- And other
Not every accident is the same, and the damages caused to you by the accident may differ from what happened to another person.
When the electrocution resulted in a fatal accident, the surviving family can file a wrongful death suit that can also entitle them to damages for the cost of the funeral and burial, loss of income, loss of a companion, and similar damages.
Contact An Electrocution Lawyer Near You
After your or your loved one’s electrocution accident, you may have noticed that the bills have started to come in, and it’s often not long before you’re feeling overwhelmed and may consider taking the first offer from the insurance company to help offset these costs. That’s often unadvisable, as insurance companies are like any company looking to protect their bottom line and may do so at your expense. Speaking with an electrocution lawyer near you can help you determine what compensation you should receive for the accident rather than just what the insurance company feels like offering you.
It can be no surprise that electrical shocks can be dangerous to experience. They can cause severe injuries and, in some cases, be fatal. When you or a loved one has been injured or killed by electrocution, it’s beneficial to speak with an electrical injury attorney in Pennsylvania with experience with these types of cases. Contact the Pearce Law Firm online or call 215-557-8686 today to discuss the specifics of your electrocution accident using our no-cost initial consultation. Let us help you get the compensation you deserve.