The human body makes a great electricity conductor, but at a great cost. Whether you are working on a construction job site or in an office, or visiting someone else’s property, an electrocution injury can cause serious injury, or even death. Even minor electrical burns can have very serious corresponding internal injuries. Read more about electrocution injuries here.
Electrocution occurs when an individual is exposed to high voltage electricity. The person experiences a shock and they are often immobilized. The severity of the injury will vary depending on the intensity of the voltage and how long the individual is exposed.
Visit here to learn more about how electrocution injuries could be a result of a premises liability case.
Potential Causes of Electrocution Injuries
Electrocution injuries can occur in the workplace or in the home, and can be a result of premises liability. Exposure is often due to someone else’s carelessness or negligence.
Children are much more likely to experience an electrical-related injury because they do not know what safety precautions to take around outlets or exposed wiring.
Potential causes of electrocution injuries include:
- Electrical arcs (where there is a spark between two objects that are not in contact with one another)
- Accidental contact with exposed wiring
- Faulty electrical appliances
- Lightening
- Machinery or occupational-related exposures
- Putting metal objects in an electrical outlet
- Lack of proper electric maintenance
- Poor employment training
- Overburdened electrical outlets or other electricity sources
- Down or faulty power lines
Read more about the common causes of electrocution here.
Types of Electrocution Injuries
The most common type of injury associated with electrocution is an electric burn. These burns can actually be much more serious than they appear on the surface, so it is important to seek medical attention immediately after you or a loved one have been electrocuted. Damage to the internal organs after an electrocution is not uncommon.
Other injuries may include:
-
- Cardiac arrest because of the electricity’s effect on the heart
- Muscle, nerve, and tissue damage
- Thermal burns
- Broken bones
- Problems with swallowing, vision, or hearing
- Numbness or tingling
- Seizures
- Muscle spasms and pain
- Irregular heartbeat
Electric shock is a reflex response that the body enters into when it is exposed to an electrical current. It will usually involve burns, but it can also cause the individual to lose consciousness and develop an abnormal heart rhythm. Severe electrocution can also cause loss of balance, resulting in a fall, which could mean a personal injury case.
Dealing with an Electrocution Incident
If you witness someone being electrocuted, the first thing you should do is turn the power off, if you are able to safely, of course. Never touch the individual with your bare hands because you will only end up electrocuting yourself as well. You should immediately call for emergency medical attention, and avoid moving the person, if possible, until help arrives.
Liability for Electrocution-Related Injuries
If you are electrocuted at home or in another location, then you may have a personal injury claim against whomever is responsible for the maintenance of that building or area.
For example, if you have recently had the wiring redone in your home and you experience an electric shock when plugging something in, then you could have a personal injury claim against the electrician that worked on your home.
Be sure to stay away from down power lines, if at all possible. Many premises liability cases that involve electrocution also involve running into power lines or dealing with down power lines.
Power companies have very strict safety rules that they must follow to prevent injuries related to electricity. A failure to meet these standards that causes an electrocution injury could also result in a viable personal injury claim.
Get Started On Your Case with a West Palm Beach Premises Liability Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been the victim of an electricity-related injury, then you might want to consider exploring the legal options for a premises liability case. So where should you start?
Visit here to contact a West Palm Beach premises liability lawyer to discuss whether you might have a valid legal claim.
[call_to_action]