Electrocution Accident

If you or a loved one has experienced an electrocution accident, understanding your legal rights is essential. These accidents can lead to severe injuries or even death, generating significant emotional anguish and financial hardships.

A Chicago electrocution accident lawyer has specialized knowledge in navigating the unique aspects of electrical injury claims, which is crucial for helping victims receive full compensation for their losses.

Keep reading to learn more about legal remedies for electrical accident injuries, damages you may be entitled to, and how we can help you move forward.

The Statistics of Electrical Accidents

Electrical accidents present a significant risk of serious injury and death, underlining the importance of safety and preventive measures in both residential and occupational settings.

Here are key statistics and insights that highlight the severity and frequency of electrical accidents:

• Around 1,000 deaths occur annually in the United States due to electrical injuries. High-voltage electrocution incidents account for roughly 400 of these fatalities. [1]
• Approximately 20% of all electrical injuries involve children, with the highest incidence observed in toddlers and adolescents. [1]
• Electricians (15.5%), laborers except construction (10%), and construction site workers (9%) are the top occupations involved in electrocution injuries. [2]
• The primary causes of electrocution deaths across all occupations include contact with overhead power lines (45.7%) and working on or near energized conductors/parts (44.9%). Failures in lockout/tagout procedures or the removal of safety controls contribute to 8.4% of deaths. [2]
• Electrocutions rank among OSHA’s “Fatal Four,” making it one of the top four causes of construction workers’ fatalities. [3]

The Most Common Causes of Electrocution Injuries

Electrocution injuries are unfortunately quite common, and can occur in several scenarios:

• Appliance Use: Inappropriate handling of electric appliances, especially in areas exposed to moisture such as bathrooms or kitchens, can lead to electrocutions.
• Contact with Unexpectedly Live Wires: Live wires left unattended — either intentionally or due to substandard work/supervision — could lead to serious electrocutions.
• Faulty Wiring: Poorly installed wiring can create hazardous conditions prone to causing accidental electrocution. For example, if an outlet isn’t grounded when it should be, this can lead to serious injuries.
• Workplace Injury Accidents: Occupational sites can be home to a range of hazardous scenarios with potential risk of electrocution. This could happen due to misuse or malfunctions in heavy equipment or improper safety measures by a power company taken around overhead power lines, for example.

While these examples highlight some common causes of electrocution, this list is by no means exhaustive.

The Most Common Electrical Injuries

Electrical injuries can vary widely in severity and nature. Here are some of the most common electrical injuries:

• Severe burns
• Electrical burns
• Cardiac arrest
• Thermal burns
• Neurological effects
• Nerve damage
• Injuries to soft tissues
• Falls
• Death

Can You Sue If You Get Electrocuted?

If you’ve been electrocuted due to the behavior of negligent parties — whether on a construction site, in a public space, or in a private residence — you may have grounds to sue. The context of the electric shock accident will influence how you pursue your claim.

For instance, if it occurred at work, workers’ compensation could be the initial recourse; however, if a third party’s negligence caused the accident, you might be able to seek damages via a personal injury lawsuit.

Legal Options an Experienced Electrocution Accident Lawyer Can Help You Explore

Navigating the aftermath of an electrocution can be difficult, especially when considering legal action. An experienced electrocution lawyer can assist in uncovering all avenues for compensation based on the circumstances surrounding your incident.

Here are some of the ways you may be able to seek recourse:

Workers’ Compensation Claim

Workers’ compensation is a form of insurance providing wage replacement and medical care benefits to injured workers when an electrical injury is experienced in the course of employment.

While this system is intended to protect workers and compensate them without the need to prove someone else’s negligence, employees should still consult experienced Chicago workers’ comp attorneys to ensure they recover maximum compensation for their electrical injuries.

Personal Injury Lawsuits

A personal injury lawsuit is pursued when an individual suffers harm from an electrical accident or electrocution injury and someone else is legally responsible for that harm.

Claims address losses such as medical expenses and pain and suffering. In these cases, individuals need to demonstrate negligence with the help of skilled Chicago personal injury attorneys, showing that the responsible party had a duty to keep them safe and breached that duty.

Wrongful Death Claim

A wrongful death claim is filed when someone has died due to the negligence or misconduct of another person or entity. This legal recourse compensates for the survivors’ loss. Families need a Chicago wrongful death lawsuit attorney who can navigate these emotionally charged cases with compassion and legal acuity.

How Our Experienced Electrocution Lawyers Can Help

Our electrocution attorneys are ready to support you through the multifaceted legal process following an electrical injury. We can guide you by taking the following steps:

• Case Evaluation: We will evaluate your situation to determine what type of claim you’re eligible to file, which will depend on where it occurred and whether there was a fatality as a result.
• File Your Claim: We handle all legal filings within mandated deadlines to ensure that your case progresses without unnecessary delay.
• Discovery Process: During discovery, we’ll obtain further evidence from the opposing side, request relevant documents, and obtain depositions from experts and parties involved.
• Negotiations: We’ll negotiate for a settlement on your behalf. Our goal during settlement talks is to secure fair compensation that covers all your losses.
• Legal Representation at Trial: If negotiations don’t result in an acceptable settlement agreement, we are prepared to provide strong and skilled legal representation in court.

Legal Liability in Electrocution Accident Cases

Negligent parties often include power companies, electricians, property owners, manufacturers of electrical products, and employers. Proving liability in an electrical accident case is essential to obtain fair compensation. To do this, you’re typically required to show negligence on behalf of another party, which includes proving the following elements:

Duty of Care

The first element that must be proven is that the defendant owed you a duty of care. This means they have a responsibility to act in a way that prevents you from being harmed. For example, if an electrician is installing an appliance for you, they likely have a duty of care to install the appliance correctly to prevent you from being harmed.

Breach of Duty

Next, you have to prove that the defendant breached the duty of care. Using the electrician example, if they fail to take proper care when installing the appliance, for example, not grounding wires when it’s required, they may have breached this duty.

Causation

The third element that must be proven is that the defendant’s negligence caused the injury. In this example, this would mean your electrical shock injury was directly caused by the negligence of the electrician, for example, you were electrocuted because they didn’t ground the wires.

Damages

Finally, you must prove that you suffered damages as a result of the injury. This includes showing that you experienced identifiable losses, commonly including medical expenses or pain and suffering.

You Have Limited Time to Take Legal Action Following an Electrical Accident

After suffering an electrical injury, it’s important to recognize that you have a limited window of time to file a claim, as dictated by the statute of limitations. This timeframe during which legal action can be taken is very strict and varies depending upon the nature of your claim.

In Illinois, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is typically two years. This includes electrical products liability cases. Additionally, wrongful death lawsuits also have a two-year deadline in most cases.

When it comes to workers’ compensation claims, there are different deadlines that must be adhered to. You must notify your employer within 45 days of the electric shock incident, which can be done either orally or in writing.

To file a workers’ comp claim, it must be done within three years from the date of the injury or two years from the date the last workers’ compensation payment was received, whichever is later.

While the above time frames usually apply, there can be exceptions to these rules that can either extend or shorten the deadline.

Make sure you speak with an electrocution accident attorney as soon as possible after electrical accidents to ensure you don’t miss your chance to recover compensation.

Damages That an Electrocution Injury Lawyer Can Help You Recover

When you suffer an electrocution injury at work, you may have the option to pursue workers’ compensation benefits or file a lawsuit for damages.

Workers’ Comp Benefits

When pursuing compensation for an electrocution injury through workers’ compensation benefits, you are most often entitled to costs for medical attention, disability benefits, and vocational rehabilitation.

Personal Injury Lawsuit Damages

For civil personal injury claims pursued with the help of an electrocution injury law firm, compensation is often broader, including:

• Economic Damages: Economic damages are easily quantifiable in monetary terms. They usually include past, current, and future medical bills, lost wages, and loss of earning capacity.
• Non-Economic Damages: These damages include those that are less tangible and more difficult to put into a monetary amount. Common examples include pain and suffering, emotional distress, lost quality of life, and disfigurement and scarring.
• Wrongful Death Damages: In wrongful death claims linked to electrocution accidents, experienced electrical injury lawyers can help you seek compensation for income and benefits that the deceased would have earned had they lived, loss of consortium, and burial and funeral expenses.

Ultimately, each case is unique, and the exact types and amounts of compensation available will differ.

Financial Compensation Awarded in Electrocution Cases

There are no universally defined amounts for compensation as each incident varies greatly depending on the specific details involved in electrocution cases. Each case must be evaluated on its own merits to determine an appropriate level of financial recovery.

For example, we handled a case where we were able to achieve a significant settlement for an employee who suffered electrical shock injuries as a result of a malfunctioning stamping machine during his work shift.

Through rigorously conducted depositions involving co-workers and various witnesses, we exposed the maintenance firm’s accountability, leading to a settlement of $1,750,000.

Ultimately, the settlement amounts in electrocution cases can be influenced by a variety of factors, including:

• The severity and lasting impact of the injuries
• The degree of negligence involved
• Available insurance coverage
• Quality and amount of evidence provided
• Plaintiff’s employment history and earning capacity prior to the incident

The Time It Takes to Settle Electrocution Cases

Settling electrocution incident cases can be complex, and there isn’t a one-size-fits-all timeline. The duration it takes to resolve such claims depends on numerous factors:

• The extent of Injuries: The severity of your injuries affects the settlement process; more serious and permanent injuries typically mean higher stakes and potentially longer negotiation periods.
• Case Complexity: Cases involving multiple parties or complex legal issues often require extensive investigation, which can extend the time needed to reach a settlement.
• Willingness to Settle: The willingness of the involved parties to reach a settlement can greatly impact the timeline. If parties are far apart in valuation or liability is disputed, resolution may take longer.

The Cost of Hiring an Electrical Injury Lawyer

At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we understand that financial concerns shouldn’t bar you from seeking justice after an electrical accident. This is why our electrocution accident attorneys offer their services on a contingency fee basis, meaning you won’t be asked for any upfront costs or fees.

If and when we successfully secure settlements or jury verdicts in your favor, our fee will be deducted as a percentage of the recovery, ensuring that your legal representation comes with no financial risk to you unless you succeed.

Contact Our Electrocution Accident Lawyers Today!

At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we are dedicated to ensuring that those affected by electrocution accidents receive comprehensive support and guidance throughout the process. With a deep understanding of state laws and safety regulations regarding electrical hazards, you can be certain that we know how to get you what you’re entitled to.

Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a Cook County electrocution accident lawyer. Call us at (888) 424-5757 or contact us online to discuss how we can assist you.

Resources: [1] NIH, [2] Electrical Safety Foundation, [3] OSHA

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.