Electrocution Accident Information

A guide to dealing with Electrocution Accidents, including a list and explanation fo the types and causes of electrical accidents in the workplace, a guide to determining liability, and information on the statute of limitations for Electrocution Accidents.

Understanding Electrocution Accidents · Types of Electrocution Accidents · Electrical Accident Causes · Fault and Liability · Stature of Limitations

Understanding Electrocution Accidents

Electricity is a powerful resource, but it must be handled carefully and appropriately in order to avoid potential injury. Unsafe handling of electricity can result in fatal electrocution accidents or severe electrical burns. In the workplace, public places, and homes, unsafe electrical installation or usage can result in painful and serious injuries. The severity of electrical accident injuries varies with the voltage of the conductor. Workplace electrocution accidents and electrocution accidents in train and rail yards can be severe when they involve contact with high-voltage wires and power transformers. Electricians and engineers face the threat of electrocution each day in the course of their work through their direct contact with powerful electic objects, including power lines. Other electric threats are faced by office employees, restaurant workers and homeowners, all of whom have indirect contact with electricity through electrical appliances and devices. When electrocution accidents occur on the job or as a result of someone's negligence, the injured party may be eligible for workmans' compensation benefits or personal injury compensation.

Types of Electrocution Accidents

Electrical Accident Causes

The reasons for electrocution accidents can vary. Sometimes, electrical equipment is improperly wired or secured, or workers are given inadequate electrical safety training. Sometimes electrical shocks happen randomly and by accident, but other times the injuries that result are the direct cause of negligence on the part of the contractor, the site owner, the architect, or another employer. Common causes of electrical accidents include:

Exposed electrical wires Puddles of water near appliances or light switches Power plant construction accidents High voltage switches and lines Crane contacts with high voltage wires Sagging power lines Uninsulated transmission line contacts Failure to properly ground outlets and wiring Frayed, substandard, or damaged wiring Unguarded or unfenced power installations Failure to turn off electricity Damaged electrical outlets or overloaded outlets Contact with overhead power lines Defective products and equipment

Fault and Liability

The number of work-related electrocution accidents continues to rise. In many cases, employer negligence leads to a worker's injury or death after contact with power lines or exposed electrical sources. Most on the job injuries are covered by workers' compensation laws. However, while many times the employee is covered by workers' compensation, the injury may have been the result of a third party's failure to provide safety or prepare the work site by deactivating the electrical source. If a third party is responsible for an electrocution accident, a personal injury or wrongful death claim can be made for damages, especially when the workers' compensation benefits are insufficient to provide for the injured worker or his family.

If an electrocution accident is a result of the lack of an insulator on an electric utility transmission line on an easement, or a high voltage cable in a building or construction site, the electrocution victim may have a premises liability claim.

Defective products also cause an alarming number of electrocution injuries. If you were electrocuted while using a hair dryer, household appliance, power tool or any other product that runs on electricity, you may have the right to file a products liability claim against the designer, manufacturer and distributor of the product to recover your medical expenses, loss earnings, loss of enjoyment and pain and suffering.

Electrical companies have an obligation to:

Properly install and maintain their wires Fix sags in power lines Keep power lines from running too close to a house Fix power lines that have been knocked down in a storm.

When the power company fails to exercise reasonable care in protecting the public in these situations, they may be held liable for an electrocution accident.

Stature of Limitations

If you are the victim of an electrocution accident, your time to file a lawsuit can be extremely limited by state and federal law. Each state has a requirement, known as a statute of limitations, that holds that a lawsuit to recover for an electrocution accident must be filed within a limit of time, or the claim is lost. The length of time that you will have to file a claim in connection with an electrocution accident will depend on the state in which the accident occurred and the type of claim that is being filed, as well as other circumstances of the accident. In order to ensure that you do not waive your right to possible compensation for your electrocution injury, it is essential to contact an electrocution accident lawyer as soon as possible following the incident.

All content on Accidents.com is for informational purposes only and is NOT intended as legal or medical advice. Please seek advice from a professional on any related topics.

Tags: Electrocution Accidents · Legal Help · Work Accidents