Electrocution is one of the most dangerous premises liability injuries. Depending on the strength of the electrical current and the time you were exposed, you may suffer serious injury. Electrocution poses a risk to your life in the short term and can cause long-term damage to your body.
At Horton Mendez, we represent electrocution victims and their families who have been injured while visiting another property. Contact us to request a free case consultation.
Causes of Electrocution Injuries
Common causes of electrocution injuries include:
- Poor or negligent wiring of a premises
- Low-hanging power wires
- Utilities that are not properly buried
- Defective appliances
- Exposed wiring
- Too many jacks plugged into one outlet
- Frayed or damaged electrical cords
Nearly all of the causes of electrocution will be easily discoverable through a reasonable inspection of the property. However, property owners are trying to cut corners and take shortcuts, either to save money or because they are careless.
Symptoms of an Electrocution Injury
You will likely know right away that you have been exposed to a high level of electricity because you will feel tingling and numbness. While you may remain conscious, it may not take long to realize that you have suffered a severe injury.
Electrocution often requires emergency medical interventions. In the short term, the victim’s life may be at risk. Because of damage to the central nervous system, they may suffer the following:
- Severe, involuntary muscular contractions
- Seizures
- Ventricular fibrillation
- Respiratory arrest
Once the immediate effect of the elevated electricity wears off, you may notice symptoms, and you should seek medical treatment immediately.
Long-Term Electrocution Injuries
Common electrocution injuries include:
- Severe burns
- Nerve damage
- Loss of sensation
- Internal organ damage
- Renal damage and kidney failure
Much of the immediate short-term treatment is aimed at monitoring and stabilizing the patient, given the ever-present possibility of cardiac arrest or respiratory failure. In addition, if the victim has been burned, medical personnel will need to provide wound care to reduce the risk of infection. In addition, the victim will need to be monitored for the possibility of tetanus from the foreign agent in the body.
You Need to Prove Negligence to Win Any Premises Liability Case
Like every premises liability accident, negligence is the standard that you will use to find someone else responsible for your injuries. Once you are on someone else’s property with permission, they assume a legal duty to you to act reasonably under the circumstances to keep you safe.
Although the property owner is not automatically responsible for every accident just because it happened, electrocution should not occur naturally. Accordingly, someone else will likely be to blame for your accident injuries. However, you will first need to gather the proof that someone else did not live up to their legal obligations.
Potential Defendants in a Premises Liability Case
There are several potential defendants in an electrocution lawsuit. The most likely defendant is the property owner or the person who controlled the place where you suffered an injury. Property owners are obligated to inspect and maintain their property when they invite others onto it. If they knew or should have known of a potential danger, they had a legal obligation to take action.
If you were electrocuted by an appliance on someone else’s property, there is a chance that the appliance itself could have been defective. If you can prove a product defect, you can hold the manufacturer or seller of the product strictly liable for your injuries.
Finally, you may have suffered an injury from the electrical wires themselves. For example, power wires can have been hanging low, causing you or something on the ground near you to come into contact with them. In that case, you may have a potential lawsuit against the power company.
You may have a claim against multiple defendants. An experienced premises liability attorney can investigate what happened and help you determine the proper party or parties to sue. Electrocution cases can be complex because you need to understand precisely what went wrong, which will require the ability to get to the bottom of several technical issues.
Likely, you can sue a company that owned or operated the property where you suffered an injury.
Damages in an Electrocution Lawsuit
Your injuries may be substantial, entitling you to a significant award or settlement check. If you have been burned, for example, you will need substantial medical care to help you recover and go through intensive discomfort.
If you have suffered an injury in an electrocution accident, you may be entitled to the following damages:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages for time missed from work
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma and distress
You have a legal right to be paid for every dollar of damages you have suffered. Our lawyers will fight the liability insurance company to work for the highest possible settlement and will file a lawsuit on your behalf if you cannot get an adequate settlement.
Contact a Wilmington Premises Liability Attorney Today
The attorneys at Horton Mendez are experienced litigators with a track record of holding property owners accountable for their negligence. We never stop fighting for our clients until the very end of the case.
If you or a loved one have suffered an injury in an electrocution accident, you should contact an attorney today. To schedule your free initial consultation, you can email us or call us today at (910) 668-8067.
FAQs About Electrocution Accidents
What if my family member died from their electrocution injuries?
Your family can file a wrongful death lawsuit, which will also seek to prove that someone else was negligent. The difference is that the wrongful death was your family’s personal injury.
What is the average settlement for an electrocution injury?
It is hard to give an average figure because your damages depend entirely on your specific injuries.
What types of product defects are there?
You can win a product liability lawsuit when you show that there was a manufacturing defect, design defect, or marketing defect (such as a failure to warn of known dangers).
