The DJF Law Firm, PLLC

Houston Electrocution Accident Lawyers

If you sustained injuries in an electrocution accident due to someone else’s negligent actions, contact The DJF Law Firm, PLLC immediately. You might be entitled to financial compensation for medical treatment and other expenses.

An electrocution injury can result from exposure to an electrical current. The current flows through the body, causing injury or death. Electrocution accidents commonly occur in occupations that involve handling wires, power lines, and electrical components. However, anyone could suffer a severe injury from exposure to an electrical current.

The DJF Law Firm, PLLC is ready to represent you in your case. The person or company that’s responsible for causing the electrocution accident should be liable for your injury. Our Houston electrocution accident lawyers know how to investigate this type of case and pursue compensation for our clients. Call us for your free consultation today at 832-529-3476.

Common Types of Electrocution Injuries

An electrical current can travel through the body when someone comes into contact with it. This causes an electrical shock. Electrocution occurs under circumstances that involve exposure to live electricity. Touching the source of electricity causes the current to pass to the body.

A range of factors can contribute to electrical shock. You could suffer an electrocution injury while working at a construction site or changing a light fixture at home. Electrical shock could occur during a storm that causes downed power lines.

The four major types of electrocution injuries include:

  • Flame – A flash could cause an item, such as clothes, to ignite. The current doesn’t always pass through the skin, but it could.
  • True – A true injury results from a person becoming part of the circuit. The electricity enters and then exits the body.
  • Lightning – Lightning injuries involve high voltage electrical energy. The energy is short-lived, but the current can flow through a person’s body.
  • Flash – A flash injury happens when there’s an electrical explosion known as an arc flash. Typically, the current doesn’t penetrate the skin and only causes superficial burns.

The severity of an injury resulting from an electrocution accident depends on multiple factors, including:

  • The affected body part
  • The type of current involved in the incident
  • The duration of exposure to the current
  • The intensity of the current
  • Resistance to the current

Electrocution accidents can be fatal. According to the National Library of Medicine, electrical injuries cause approximately 1,000 fatalities every year. Of these deaths, around 400 are from high-voltage electrical injuries.

Common Symptoms of Electrocution Injuries

Injuries from electrocution can range from mild to life-threatening. Typically, only minor physical harm results from a low-voltage electrical shock. The burn or wound is often superficial and doesn’t require significant medical attention.

The current from high-voltage shocks can penetrate the skin and damage nerves, muscles, and internal organs. This type of incident requires emergency medical care to repair the damage. Ongoing medical treatment might also be necessary to address health problems resulting from the shock.

Common symptoms of an electrocution injury in the immediate aftermath include:

  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Headaches
  • Burns
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Seizures
  • Tingling or prickling sensation

Severe electrocution injuries could lead to a coma, respiratory arrest, or heart attack.

Long-term side effects and complications can arise from electrocution, such as:

  • Loss of balance
  • Memory loss
  • Pain
  • Night sweats
  • Decreased range of motion
  • Insomnia
  • Fatigue
  • Anxiety
  • Headaches
  • Uncoordinated movements
  • Shortened attention span
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Stiff joints

You should take even a minor electrical shock seriously. Despite feeling fine, seeking immediate medical intervention is critical. You could have internal injuries you don’t know about unless a qualified doctor examines you.

Be sure to go to the hospital after leaving the scene of the electrocution accident. An emergency room physician can evaluate your condition and determine the appropriate treatment you should seek to recover.

Common Causes of Electrocution Accidents

Hidden dangers can expose you to an electrical current and lead to electrocution. You might assume you’re safe because electrical components and wires aren’t visible. However, you could get hurt if your body comes into contact with a current.

The most common causes of electrocution accidents include:

  • Physical contact with a live power line
  • Exposed electrical wires in a building
  • Using a lamp with a damaged or frayed electrical cord
  • Defective equipment or machinery at a construction site
  • A downed power line near the scene of a car accident
  • Touching standing water near an electrical source
  • Handling a damaged extension cord
  • Using a faulty household appliance

If someone else is at fault for your electrocution injury, contact The DJF Law Firm, PLLC to discuss the available options. We can review the circumstances and determine who to hold liable for the incident. We can obtain the available evidence necessary to prove what happened and secure the compensation you deserve.

You should not suffer because of someone’s misconduct. They should face the consequences of their actions and compensate you for your accident-related costs. You can count on The DJF Law Firm, PLLC to protect your rights and fight by your side until the end.

Injuries Caused in Electrocution Accidents

Various injuries can result from an electrocution accident. A person’s injuries often depend on the type of electrical shock and circumstances surrounding the incident.

The most common electrocution injuries include:

  • Chest pain
  • Nerve damage
  • Arrhythmia
  • Burn injuries
  • Shortness of breath
  • Tissue damage
  • Organ failure
  • Internal injuries
  • Physical scarring or disfigurement
  • Brain damage

Healing without medical intervention is possible with certain types of mild electrical injuries. However, some people require ongoing treatment to alleviate chronic pain, repair visible burn injuries, and improve their range of motion.

Medical bills can be expensive and cause financial strain. Many electrocution accident victims can’t afford the costs associated with treating an electrocution injury. You could face debt if you don’t have the money to pay your medical bills.

The DJF Law Firm, PLLC understands the economic struggles you face. We will aggressively pursue the maximum compensation owed to you, so you’re not forced to pay out of pocket for your expenses. You can count on us to try to secure an appropriate amount of money for you.

Compensation for Electrocution Accidents

The person or company you seek compensation from depends on who caused the accident. Various scenarios can lead to an electrocution injury, including a car crash or defective consumer product.

You could file a claim with the negligent driver’s auto insurance company if your injury resulted from a car accident. If the electrocution accident occurred while using a faulty product, you might be able to hold the manufacturer liable for your injury.

The DJF Law Firm, PLLC can investigate and determine which party we can bring legal action against on your behalf. You could recover compensation for your:

  • Hospital and medical bills
  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning capacity
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of household services
  • Mental anguish
  • Physical impairment or disfigurement
  • Damage to personal property

You might also be able to pursue exemplary damages if you file a lawsuit against the at-fault party. The court only awards these damages if the plaintiff can prove the defendant acted with malice, gross negligence, or fraud. This type of financial award punishes the defendant for their actions.

You might be entitled to compensation in a wrongful death lawsuit if you lost your loved one in an electrocution accident due to someone else’s negligence. To file suit, you must be a surviving spouse, child, or parent.

If none of these individuals initiates a lawsuit within three months of the death, the executor or administrator of the estate can file. However, pursuing a wrongful death case isn’t allowed if any surviving family members explicitly request the executor or administrator not to file a lawsuit.

The money you receive in a wrongful death case could compensate you for:

  • Lost earning capacity
  • Loss of companionship, society, comfort, and love
  • Lost care, advice, maintenance, counsel, support, and services the deceased could have provided if they lived
  • Mental pain and anguish surviving family members suffered due to the death
  • Lost inheritance, including what the deceased could have saved if they survived

Statute of Limitations for Electrocution Accidents

You must file your lawsuit within a specific timeframe if you want to pursue compensation from the negligent party. The statute of limitations for injuries in Texas allows a two-year timeframe to file suit. That means you must file your lawsuit within two years of the accident date.

Wrongful death cases also require following a two-year timeframe. However, the statute doesn’t begin on the date of the accident. It starts on the date of the victim’s death if it differs from the accident date.

Contact Us

At The DJF Law Firm, PLLC, we proudly represent accident victims in Houston. We believe in treating every client who hires us as a priority. You will receive ongoing support, open and honest communication, and personalized service from the beginning. We will remain by your side to advise you about your legal options and guide you through the complicated process.

If someone’s negligence caused your injuries in an electrocution accident, do not hesitate to contact The DJF Law Firm, PLLC. We will be happy to discuss your case with you to determine whether we can provide the legal representation you need and deserve. Call us at 832-529-3476 for your free consultation today.