Pittsburgh Electrical Shock Injury Attorney

Injuries caused by electric shocks are some of the most severe injuries a person can suffer. A person can suffer severe burns, loss of limb, cardiac arrest and brain damage. In the worst cases, a person can be killed. People in certain occupations, such as electricians, construction workers and cable installers, face higher risks of suffering severe shocks or electrocution at their jobs.

Any serious electrical injury can prevent a person from working for a long period of time and can lead to major medical expenses. If you or a loved one has been electrocuted, either at work, at home or on another person’s property, a personal injury lawyer can help you recover money for your medical expenses, lost income and pain and suffering.

The attorneys of Caroselli, Beachler & Coleman, L.L.C., have represented injured people since 1972. We understand that electrocutions and other serious electrical injuries can take a major physical, emotional, and financial toll on victims and their families, and we are here to provide strong legal guidance and moral support during this difficult time. We work closely with our clients, and we have the experience and skill to seek every source of compensation for your injuries while you focus on your physical recovery.

If your injury took place while at work, our law firm will help you prepare a workers’ compensation claim. If there is someone other than your employer who is responsible for your injuries, we can file a third-party claim against that party. With our substantial experience, we are adept at locating any party who shares responsibility for your injuries, such as a subcontractor, manufacturer, product designer or other entity.

Common Electrical Injuries

Electrocution can be caused in many different settings by a number of events, such as:

• Defective or improperly maintained machinery or equipment
• Coming into contact with exposed wires
• Faulty wiring
• Buried or hidden electrical cable

Electrocutions and other electrical injuries typically occur as a result of low-voltage or high-voltage shocks or lightning, and many of these injuries can be severe or fatal. There are several types of electrical injuries, four of the most common are:

• Flash Injuries: These are injuries that are caused by an electric current known as an arc flash that passes through the air when the voltage of an electrified conductor is overloaded. Flash injuries are typically superficial and can cause severe damage to the skin. However, they usually do not penetrate the skin’s tissue.
• Flame Injuries: When an electrical current from an arc flash causes fire to an individual’s clothing or items nearby, the individual can suffer a burn injury from the flames. Burn injuries can vary in degree and severity, and some can be very serious or life-threatening.
• Lightning Injuries: When lightning strikes, it happens in an instant and sends an extremely high voltage electrical shock through its path, often resulting in severe and fatal injuries when an individual is struck. Lightning is so powerful that it is been known to split solid trees in half, destroy chimneys, and do similar types of damage. Sudden death is not uncommon with a lightning strike, and many survivors end up with permanent and debilitating conditions.
• Electrocution: Electrocutions happen when electrical currents pass through an individual’s body and causes shocks. Many electric shocks are fatal, while others may result in minor injuries or no injuries at all. An electric shock can also cause a burn injury, and if it happens when someone is in a high elevation, it can result in a serious fall.

Electrical injuries can cause a number of severe injuries, including:

• Nerve damage.
• Neurological damage.
• Traumatic brain injuries.
• Cardiac arrest another heart issues from the electric shock.
• Hearing loss.
• Scarring and disfigurement.
• Wrongful death.

Liability for Electrical Injuries

As we talked about earlier, if an electrical injury occurs at work, the first recourse is usually to file a workers’ compensation claim (assuming your employer has coverage). Workers’ comp is a no-fault system, meaning that you should be able to obtain benefits regardless of who caused your injury, and there is no need to prove negligence.

That said, the claims process is far more complicated and confusing than it should be, and injured workers are often denied the benefits that they deserve. For this reason, it is always best to work with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer, so you are able to recover benefits and your rights are protected throughout the process.

Even when an electrical injury happens at work, there are a significant number of cases in which a party other than the employer could be responsible. This is where it pays to work with attorneys who have in-depth knowledge of this area of law and the proven ability to uncover all potential legal avenues for their clients. If a third party ends up being liable for the injury, you can recover damages not only for direct monetary losses such as medical bills and lost earnings, but also for intangible losses such as pain and suffering and emotional distress.

Some examples of parties that could be held responsible for electrical injuries include:

• Electricians and Contractors/Subcontractors: An electrical injury could occur at work because an electrician or another contractor or subcontractor installed an electrical system without following all of the safety codes and policies. When this is the case, the injured worker can file a legal claim against the party that did not install the system properly.
• Property Owners: Owners and caretakers are responsible to ensure that their property is safe and free of known hazards, including electrical wiring, systems, and outlets. If an owner fails to maintain these systems and a worker on the property gets electrocuted as a result, then they could be held responsible for the injury under the legal theory known as premises liability.
• Faulty Product Makers: When an appliance or piece of electrical equipment causes an injury during the course of regular use, there could be in inherent design flaw or a problem with the manufacturing process. Either way, if a defective or dangerous product is responsible for an electrical injury, it may be possible to file a product liability claim against the manufacturer, supplier, or distributor.

Contact A Pittsburgh Electrocution Attorney Today

Caroselli, Beachler & Coleman, L.L.C., has an office in Pittsburgh. Call 412-391-9860 in Pittsburgh or Western Pennsylvania, or toll free at 866-466-5789. You may also complete our online contact form. We provide a free initial consultation on your case. If you cannot meet with us in our office, we can come to your home, hospital or union hall.