| Anytime a person comes into contact with a | | | | damage, heart failure, and neurological |
| source of electricity, a shock can occur. When the | | | | complications can all result when the body comes |
| voltage of the electricity is high, it can cause a | | | | into contact with electricity. When this happens, |
| very dangerous current to flow through the body, | | | | the victim could die or may be affected for the |
| through muscles, skin, organs, and even hair. | | | | remainder of his or her life, depending on the level |
| When this happens, damage to the tissues can | | | | of the current. Treating electrocution patients is |
| result, as well as fibrillation which can lead to | | | | quite difficult as the injuries can vary a great deal |
| death. Nearly one thousand people die each year | | | | and are not always able to be easily diagnosed. |
| in the United States as a result of electrocution. | | | | When the victim does survive, he or she may |
| (Statistic courtesy of The National Institutes of | | | | have lifelong complications that will affect overall |
| Health) Of these deaths, many are the direct | | | | health, as well as the person's ability to work and |
| result of a workplace accident, faulty equipment, | | | | earn a living. To make these situations even |
| or faulty wiring. | | | | worse, it is not uncommon to learn that many of |
| It is always very important to seek medical | | | | them could have been avoided if it were not for |
| attention promptly following any type of electrical | | | | someone else's negligent behavior. |
| shock. An electrical injury may first seem minor, | | | | If you feel as though someone else's negligence |
| with only a bit of a small burn to the skin, | | | | has caused you or someone you know or love to |
| however much more severe damage may occur | | | | suffer a serious and/or debilitating injury, it is |
| deep below the surface in the tissues. The victim | | | | important that you understand that you may be |
| may experience pain, confusion, difficulty | | | | entitled to monetary compensation. One of the |
| breathing, or lose consciousness. If the current | | | | best ways to find out if you have a strong case, |
| was strong enough, a great deal of internal | | | | and how much you could be awarded, is to meet |
| damage can occur, which may cause heart | | | | with an experienced personal injury lawyer who is |
| arrhythmia or even cardiac arrest. Some electrical | | | | skilled in handling electrocution lawsuits. |
| incidents are so severe they cause the victim to | | | | A personal injury attorney who has a proven and |
| be thrown, leading to fractures, broken bones, | | | | successful track record of handling these |
| and other injuries. | | | | specialized types of claims will be able to quickly |
| Following an incident that results in an electrical | | | | determine if your case is viable, how to proceed |
| shock, it is quite important to remedy the | | | | with litigation to go after the party or parties |
| situation so that others are not injured. It may be | | | | responsible for your injuries, and what information |
| a good idea to contact the local power authority, | | | | is needed to obtain the best possible result. No |
| a state workplace safety board, or even OSHA | | | | matter how many people are involved (whether |
| to investigate the incident as well. | | | | the jobsite included contractors, subcontractors, |
| Electrocution can happen in a variety of ways; | | | | suppliers, equipment repair personnel, or other |
| however human error is usually the most | | | | individuals) these attorneys know exactly how to |
| common cause. Failure to follow proper safety | | | | get to the bottom of the matter to move the |
| guidelines, faulty wiring, defective equipment, and | | | | case along quickly. |
| negligent maintenance procedures are all among | | | | A personal injury attorney will become your best |
| some of the other more common causes for | | | | line of defense for compensating your injuries and |
| electrical accidents. Unfortunately, many | | | | helping to secure your future. Since these types |
| companies, property owners, and construction | | | | of attorneys typically work on a "contingency |
| sites often overlook hazards or fail to follow | | | | basis", you do not have to worry about large legal |
| proper safety guidelines. Sometimes machinery or | | | | bills while your case is being settled. You pay |
| equipment is modified in a way that becomes | | | | nothing upfront, and your attorney simply takes a |
| unsafe leading to risk of injury as well. Activities | | | | percentage of your compensation when all |
| such as digging and striking an underground power | | | | litigation has been concluded. |
| line, or having a vehicle come into contact with | | | | The area of personal injury law, including |
| overhead lines are quite common occurrences. | | | | electrocution injuries, can be extremely complex |
| Other less common causes include: accidental | | | | and vary somewhat from state to state. Each |
| contact with exposed wires, inserting an object | | | | jurisdiction has distinct rules that govern these |
| into an outlet, touching a downed power line, | | | | types of cases, including various principles |
| children biting or chewing on an electrical cord, | | | | regarding providing a burden of proof, time |
| placing an electric item too close to water, and | | | | limitations for filing a suit, as well as compensation |
| altering an electrical device. | | | | limits. A personal injury attorney is the best |
| While it certainly is possible for individuals to | | | | person to advise you on how to proceed for the |
| become injured at home (as described above), | | | | most favorable outcome. |
| most electrocution accidents happen at work, and | | | | While there is no way to undo the damage that |
| the second highest cause of death for workers in | | | | has been done, or to bring back a loved one who |
| the construction field is electrocution. These types | | | | has been killed due to an electrocution accident, |
| of accidents can happen anywhere on a | | | | you can seek a bit of justice through the judicial |
| construction site, at any time. In some cases, | | | | system. A personal injury lawyer who specializes |
| electrocution accidents may involve multiple people | | | | in electrocution injuries can help you rebuild your |
| when one person tries to help another and in the | | | | life, and make the legal end of your ordeal flow |
| process becomes injured. | | | | smoothly. Having someone on your side to guide |
| The outcome of an electrocution accident can be | | | | you through the process can be a great comfort |
| catastrophic. Deep tissue burns, internal organ | | | | in a very stressful and upsetting time. |