Electricity powers many aspects of our lives. Our reliance on electrical conveniences is so ingrained that we sometimes forget the associated dangers. Electrocutions and electrical shock accidents can cause severe or fatal injuries, changing lives irrevocably.
Many electrical accidents happen on the job, being the fourth-highest cause of traumatic workplace deaths. If you or a loved one sustained injuries in an electrical accident caused by someone else’s negligence, Cellino Law can help you seek the compensation you deserve.
Is Electrical Shock the Same as Electrocution?
Many people use the term “electrocution” to describe any kind of electrical accident. However, that term technically refers to an extremely serious injury or death caused by electricity. Although electrical shock accidents can produce injuries, they may not affect people as severely.
Can You Get Compensation After an Electrical Accident?
Compensation is sometimes available if an electrical accident injures you or kills a loved one. These incidents can happen anywhere there is electricity, and the circumstances surrounding the accident determine whether you qualify to file a claim.
If your injury happens in your own home, you probably can’t seek compensation. Exceptions, such as improper electrical wiring done by a third party or defective power tools, may exist. Contact Cellino Law so we can tell you if you are eligible to file a claim.
Defective Products
When you use products for their intended purposes according to instructions, they should not harm you. Unfortunately, some products are defective, whether due to design flaws, manufacturing process errors or other causes.
If a defective product causes an electrical accident, you may be able to seek compensation from:
- Product designers
- Product manufacturers
- Distributors
- Retailers
Your Cellino Law attorney will investigate to determine the cause of your injury and find evidence to support your claim. We will then file claims against all at-fault parties.
Premises Liability
Many parties may be responsible for private and public properties. Each has a legal duty to keep the properties safe and in good repair to reduce the likelihood of injury accidents. Potentially liable parties include:
- Property managers or owners
- Business managers or owners
- Third-party companies or individuals
- Government agencies
- Power companies
If the responsible party’s negligence leads to an electrocution or other electrical accident, you might be able to file a claim for damages. However, the accident typically must have happened on someone else’s property.
Workplace Electrical Accidents
An employer’s worker’s compensation insurance policy should pay medical expenses and a portion of lost wages for electrical accidents that happen while an employee is performing work-related tasks. However, worker’s comp doesn’t provide compensation for other damages, such as pain and suffering.
In many cases, employees can’t file personal injury claims against their employers. In instances where an employer does not follow or enforce safety protocols dictated by OSHA and other relevant rules, you might qualify to file a negligence claim.
There are teams working for multiple entities on some construction and job sites. If a company or individual other than your employer causes an electrical accident, you might qualify to file a claim for damages.
During your free case evaluation, we at Cellino Law will ask questions about your accident to determine who might be liable and recommend your best course of action.
What Causes Electrical Accidents?
Many situations can cause electrical shock and electrocution accidents. In the home, DIYers who are unfamiliar with electricity may injure themselves while replacing a light fixture, for example. Young children may chew on electrical cords or stick fingers into outlets.
Although uncommon, lightning can strike individuals and cause severe injuries or death. Main power lines might also fall, exposing those nearby to live high-voltage wires.
In the workplace, there are many common situations that can lead to electrical accidents, such as:
- Contacting live wires while working on or with machinery, electrical panels or outlets
- Not taking appropriate safety protocols when handling power lines or transformers
- Defective power tools, extension cords or machinery
- Insufficient training or supervision
- Other employees using unsafe practices
Electrical injuries are often very serious, usually qualifying you for compensation from at-fault parties.
What Kinds of Injuries Do Electrical Accidents Produce?
The types of injuries sustained and their severity differ due to several factors but may include:
- External and internal burns
- Decreased range of motion, pain, muscle spasms, joint stiffness and lack of coordination
- Vision and breathing problems
- Cardiac arrest, stroke or erratic heartbeat
- Weakness, seizures, headaches and irritability
Electrical accident victims working on a ladder or at a height can fall due to the shock, and these falls can cause additional injuries or death. These are only a few of the injuries and complications frequently associated with electrical injuries.
There are four main categories of electrical injuries: flash, flame, lightning and true. Each designation describes the amount and type of electrical current that enters the body and the extent of damage the exposure can cause. Factors that determine injury severity include:
- Alternating or direct current
- Length of exposure
- Amperage and voltage
- The person’s health condition before the accident
An initial medical assessment and subsequent treatments may require a coordinated team of cardiologists, trauma and burn specialists, neurologists and mental health providers.
Electrical Accident Damages
If you have a valid electrical accident claim, you can seek compensation from the liable party or parties. The amounts vary based on case-specific factors. You can typically seek compensatory damages for economic expenses and non-economic effects:
- Current and future medical expenses and lost wages
- Replacement services
- Pain and suffering, anxiety, depression and PTSD
- Temporary or permanent disability
- Losing your ability to enjoy life
Economic damages reimburse you for specific, quantifiable expenses. Non-economic damages compensate for the adverse effects that your accident and injuries have on your life.
In rare cases, you may also receive punitive damages. Rather than compensating you, this category of damages aims to further punish guilty parties for blatant or willful negligent acts.
When your Cellino Law has all the relevant information in hand, we can tell you what kinds of damages you can seek and how much you might receive.
Wrongful Death
If someone loses their life due to an electrocution, eligible survivors can often file a wrongful death claim. You might receive compensation for medical and funeral expenses, lost support and other types of damages.
Are Electrocution and Electrical Shock Claims Complicated?
Many people are unfamiliar with electrical accidents, potentially complicating these claims. Depending on the severity of your injuries, your damages may be extremely high; this is another complicating factor, because insurance companies don’t like paying high amounts to claimants and may try to deny or minimize your compensation amounts.
Fortunately, your Cellino Law legal team will fight to protect your interests. We know how to handle electrical accident claims successfully. We will not let liable insurance companies shortchange or take advantage of our clients.
Why Should You Choose Cellino Law?
For over 60 years, a Cellino Law firm has assisted injured New Yorkers with personal injury claims, including those involving electrocutions and electrical shock accidents. Because our focus is on personal injury law, we know how to handle these claims successfully and win maximum compensation for our clients. Our track record proves it — we have won more than $2 billion in settlements and millions in recoveries.
Your initial consultation is free, and you won’t pay us fees unless we win your case. Contact Cellino Law today.