Electrocution Personal Injury Lawsuit
Electricity surrounds us in our homes‚ at work‚ and on the street. It heats and cools our buildings‚ powers trains and automobiles‚ and lights our homes and cities. But‚ there’s a darker side to electricity: its ability to severely injure‚ burn‚ and even kill us. If you have a loved one that has been injured due to electrocution‚ you may be able to pursue compensation for damages in a personal injury lawsuit. To ensure that you get a settlement‚ you will need the representation of a compassionate San Diego personal injury attorney.
Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers has been successfully representing San Diego injury victims and their families for over 15 years. Call us today to schedule a free consultation. We can be reached at (888) 233-5020.
Common Causes of Electrocution Accidents
People of all ages‚ especially small children‚ are vulnerable to electrocution. The following are some of the more common causes of electrocution accidents:
- Contact with overhead power lines
- Contact with underground power lines
- Contact with exposed parts of electrical appliances
- Faulty wiring
- Faulty products
- Attempting electrical work without turning the power off
- Ungrounded electrical devices
For children‚ the common causes of electrical accidents are biting or chewing on electrical cords‚ and inserting objects into electrical outlets.
Common Scenarios for Electrical Injuries
While electricity is ubiquitous, certain locations and scenarios present significantly higher risks for serious injury or electrocution if safety standards are not met. These include:
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Car Accidents and Traffic Incidents: When a vehicle strikes a utility pole, live power lines can fall onto the car or the surrounding roadway. In these cases, the vehicle’s metal frame can become energized. Stepping out of the vehicle or approaching the scene to help can lead to a lethal shock through “step potential,” where electricity ripples through the ground.
- Workplace Accidents: Beyond specialized electrical work, injuries occur in various industrial and office settings. Employees may be injured by malfunctioning machinery, unmaintained heavy equipment, or overloaded power strips. In kitchens and restaurants, wet floors combined with faulty appliances create high-risk environments for workers.
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Electric Vehicle (EV) Collisions: Modern EVs use high-voltage lithium-ion batteries. In a severe crash, damaged battery cells can lead to “stranded energy” or thermal runaway, creating a risk of high-voltage shocks from compromised cables or even pooled water near the vehicle.
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In the Home (Residential): Electrical injuries frequently happen in bathrooms, kitchens, and laundries where water can easily make contact with faulty outlets or appliances. Outdated electrical panels in older houses may also fail, causing shocks or fires.
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Construction Sites: This is one of the most high-risk environments due to the presence of temporary wiring, high-voltage machinery, exposed live circuits, and the frequent use of power tools near metal scaffolding and wet surfaces.
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Public and Commercial Spaces: These include retail stores, hotels, and schools where ungrounded extension cords, exposed wirings from repairs, or defective lighting fixtures can injure visitors.
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Near Water Sources: Public pools, hot tubs, marinas, and lakes present significant dangers. Negligently installed or poorly maintained pumps, lighting, or nearby electrical sockets can electrify the water itself, causing a lethal shock to swimmers or boaters.
Electrocution Accidents at Work
Laborers‚ construction workers‚ and electrical workers make up the majority of electrocutions in the United States. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) found that the most common cause of construction site injuries was contact with overhead or underground electrical lines. This occurred more often than the other leading causes of construction site accident injuries‚ including falls‚ being hit by falling tools or construction materials‚ and being hit by vehicles. OSHA also estimates about 350 electrical-related fatalities each year in the work place.
Compensation for Damages in an Electrocution Personal Injury Claim
While no amount of money can bring back a loved one‚ their surviving family members may be able to pursue compensation for any of the following damages:
- Medical bills
- Pain and suffering of the deceased before they died
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of future income
- Loss of future benefits (such as medical benefits and retirement benefits)
- Mental anguish and emotional duress
- Loss of love‚ affection‚ companionship‚ guidance‚ marital consortium‚ etc.
- Loss of household duties the deceased performed (such as childcare‚ vehicle maintenance‚ property maintenance‚ chores‚ etc.)
- Punitive damages
Your first step in filing a successful personal injury claim is to hire an experienced personal injury legal team. Your San Diego personal injury attorney will thoroughly investigate your loved one’s fatal accident and discover all negligent parties involved. This could be a property owner‚ an employer‚ a product manufacturer‚ a contractor‚ etc.
Contact Our San Diego Electrocution Personal Injury Accident Attorneys Today
Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers has passionately represented San Diego area injury victims and their families for well over a decade. Call us for a free‚ comprehensive consultation at (888) 233-5020.