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 or how long you have to file a claim if you or a loved one has been injured or electrocuted 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 and what evidence you need to prove negligence. Contact us at The Pearce Law Firm Personal Injury & Accident Lawyers P.C. to speak to a Philadelphia electrocution lawyer today for a free case review.
Types of Electrocution 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 and defective equipment
- Using power tools or appliances improperly
- Medical device malfunctions
- Negligence by employers or property owners
- Power line problems and high voltage accidents
- Arc flash incidents
- Electrical fires from dangerous wiring
- OSHA violations at construction sites
Accidents with electricity can happen in several ways beyond what’s listed and are often preventable with proper safety measures. Speaking with a Pennsylvania electrical accident attorney familiar with electrocution personal injury claims can help you protect yourself in case another party is liable for your accident and help you understand what if you were partially at fault.
Injuries Caused By Electrical Shock
Being involved in an accident with an electrical shock or electrocution can cause some serious and even catastrophic and sometimes life-threatening injuries, even if you think you are okay after the experience. Some injuries possible after exposure to electricity include:
- Burns, including first-degree burns, second-degree burns, third-degree burns, internal burns, and entry and exit wounds
- 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
- Nerve damage and paralysis
- Brain injury and memory problems
- Respiratory failure and kidney failure
- Vision loss and hearing loss
- PTSD, anxiety, and depression from the traumatic experience
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 and to properly diagnose and treat any severe or permanent injuries.
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 who produce defective equipment and utility companies where they are at fault for not properly maintaining or repairing their lines, along with third-party liability claims for premises liability and product liability issues. 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 and represent you in negotiations or litigation.
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 lifelong or result in permanent and debilitating disabilities, understanding the potential compensation you can seek as damages is essential when evaluating how much your case is worth. Some of the damages you can add to your claim can include:
- Medical costs from the accident and ongoing care into the future, including future medical expenses
- Missed work, now and into the future
- Lost income from being unable to work and loss of earning capacity if you can’t work anymore
- Amputation
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Pain and suffering
- Rehabilitation costs and home modifications
- Assistive devices needed for daily living
- Loss of consortium for your spouse
- Economic damages and non-economic damages
- Punitive damages in cases of gross negligence
- 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. An electrocution lawyer can help you recover maximum and fair compensation through a settlement or verdict.
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 by offering less than full compensation. 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 and can negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf.
Common questions we hear include “How much does a lawyer cost?” and “Can I afford an attorney?” Our dedicated and compassionate team works on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no fees unless we win your case. We offer a free case evaluation to discuss how long your case will take, what evidence you need, and whether you will have to go to court.
It should 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 shocked or killed by electrocution, it’s beneficial to speak with an electrical injury attorney in Pennsylvania with experience with these types of cases. Our attorneys are available 24/7 to consult with you about your electrical burn attorney needs and will work to compensate you for your losses. 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.
