Electrical Shock Injury Attorneys

Electrocution or electrical shock injury can occur when an electrical charge travels through the body or a limb. The severity of the injury is primarily determined by the voltage level of the charge. But under certain circumstances, low voltage charges can be as dangerous as high voltage ones. There are reported cases of fatalities by shocks of only 50 volts!

Factors that can determine the severity of an electrical shock injury include:

• The electrical current's pressure (voltage)
• The amount of the current (amperage)
• The body's resistance to the current
• The current's path through the body
• The amount of time the body remains in contact with the current

Tissue damage from the current can occur to the nervous, respiratory, and/or cardiovascular systems, and skin burns are the most common. Neurological problems can be immediate or develop over a period of up to three years, and sometimes may be permanent. Damage in the form of heart fibrillations can result in death. An estimated 1,000 people die from electrical shocks in the U.S. each year.

While most electrocutions are work related and the risk of electrical shock varies greatly across different industries, private consumers also receive electrical shock injuries, often from defective electrical appliances or from not carefully following the directions in the appliances' owners' manuals.

Special care should be taken around frayed or damaged wiring or sagging power lines, and children should be supervised or otherwise be prevented from biting into electrical cords or inserting items into electrical outlets. And if someone near you receives an electrical shock, err on the side of seeking immediate medical attention.

Electricity can be found all around us, and electrical shocks can occur when we least expect them. But electrical shock injury or death that occurs as the result of someone's negligence can be especially tragic. It is not always immediately apparent if such is the case, so after seeking medical attention, the equipment or appliance involved should be preserved (but not touched!). If safe, and if at all possible, photograph the scene and the victim's injuries.

If you or a loved one is the victim of an electrical shock injury, you may be entitled to compensation. An experienced personal injury lawyer can advise you and help protect your rights. Please contact us today for more information or to speak with an attorney.