Electrocution injuries can be severe, life-altering, or even fatal. In fact, they’re so dangerous that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) lists electrocutions as one of the top four hazards for construction workers.

If you suffered an electrocution ijury, you could face long-term medical treatment, rehabilitation, and financial pressures. Understanding your legal rights is the first step in seeking compensation for your injuries.

Contact Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC at 615-676-7060 for a free consultation about your electrocution injury case. Our team of experienced Nashville electrocution injury lawyers will provide an evaluation, explain your legal options, and answer your questions.

Common Causes of Electrocution Injuries

Electrocutions can occur in your home, work, and public spaces. Anywhere that has electricity has the potential to lead to an electrocution. Some of the most common causes of electrocutions include:

  • Faulty Wiring – Poorly installed or maintained electrical systems can lead to dangerous conditions, resulting in fire hazards and electrocution. If electrical work is done in your home, hiring an electrician with the proper certifications and licenses is essential.

  • Defective Products – Improperly designed or manufactured electrical appliances, tools, and other devices could pose a threat of electrocution. If a defective product caused your injuries, you may have a specific type of personal injury case called a product liability claim.

  • Workplace Accidents – Construction sites and other industrial workplaces are hotspots for electrocution hazards due to heavy machinery and exposed electrical systems. If your electrocution injury happened on the job, you likely have a workers’ compensation claim.

  • Power Line Contact – After a storm, power lines may be down on roads, exposing you to the risk of electrocution. Property owners should trim tree branches that come into contact with these lines, and the electric company and government must work to restore the lines as quickly as possible to reduce the danger to the public.

  • Improper Safety Measures – A lack of proper safety protocols can put people at risk of electrocution on worksites and public spaces. Live electrical systems should have warning signs and should not be publicly accessible.

Types of Electrocution Injuries

Electrocutions can result in a wide range of injuries, from minor burns to life-threatening conditions. Common injuries resulting from electrocution include:

  • Electrical Burns – Burns from electric shocks can damage the skin, muscles, and other tissues and may lead to scarring. You should receive the same treatment for these burns as any other burn injury.

  • Cardiac Arrest – A severe electric shock can disrupt your heart’s rhythm, leading to cardiac arrest or other heart issues. These potential heart issues are one of the primary reasons why you should seek immediate medical treatment after an electrocution injury.

  • Nerve Damage – Electrocutions can cause nerve damage, which results in loss of sensation or motor function in the limbs. In extreme cases, it can even lead to paralysis.

  • Muscle and Tissue Damage – Electrical currents can damage muscles and tissues by burning them beneath the skin or causing them to tear due to forceful contractions. These injuries may require surgery and physical therapy to heal.

  • Internal Injuries – Any internal organ that the electrical current passes through can suffer damage. Symptoms of these internal injuries may not appear for hours or days after the electrocution event.

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Steps to Take after an Electrocution

After an electrocution, there are steps you should take to maximize your physical recovery and your potential compensation. These steps include:

  • Seeking Medical Treatment 1

    You should seek immediate and long-term medical treatment after an electrocution injury. This treatment can fix your injuries or prevent them from worsening. And by seeking treatment, you’re creating a paper trail of your injuries that will be useful later in your case.

  • Reporting Your Injury 2

    After any injury, you should report it to your employer, the property owner, or any relevant authority and make sure they file a report. Depending on the circumstances of your electrocution, you may have to file this report within a certain amount of time.

  • Gathering Evidence 3

    Taking photos of the scene after an electrocution incident can bolster your claim. These photos should show the hazard that electrocuted you and the surrounding area. Other evidence you can gather are witness statements and contact information.

  • Consulting an Attorney 4

    An attorney will protect your rights and assist you in seeking compensation for your injuries. The sooner you speak to an attorney after an injury, the better, as they can provide legal advice and begin working on your case.

Damages Available in an Electrocution Claim

Victims of electrocution injuries can seek both economic and non-economic damages through personal injury claims. Economic damages are monetary losses, while non-economic damages are non-monetary losses. Damages you can seek compensation for include:

  • Medical Expenses – You can seek compensation for your current and future medical expenses, including surgeries, hospital stays, medical treatments, medical devices, and prescription drugs.

  • Lost Wages – Your lost wages include the income you lost while recovering from your injuries and your loss of future earning potential if your injuries affect your ability to work long-term. Benefits like health insurance and a retirement fund you receive through work may also apply to this category.

  • Household Services – If you cannot perform household services, such as cleaning, yard work, or home maintenance, due to your injuries, you may seek compensation to cover hiring people to perform those services.

  • Pain and Suffering – The physical pain and suffering you experienced due to your injury may be challenging to put a price on. But that doesn’t mean you can’t seek compensation for it.

  • Emotional Distress – If you experience emotional distress due to the lasting impact of your injuries, such as anxiety or PTSD, you can receive compensation.

  • Loss of Consortium – Loss of consortium is unique among damages because your spouse brings the claim. These damages compensate your spouse if your injuries caused the deterioration of your romantic relationship, such as if your spouse is now your caretaker.

There are a few other things to know about seeking compensation in Tennessee. The first thing to understand is that, under most circumstances, there is a $750,000 cap on the compensation you can receive for non-economic damages. The main exception to this cap is if your injuries are “severe,” in which case the cap increases to $1,000,000.

The second thing to know is that Tennessee operates under a comparative negligence rule. If you are partially at fault for your injuries, your compensation may be reduced by your percentage of fault. An attorney can assist you in seeking the maximum amount of compensation available.

   

Contact a Nashville Electrocution Accident Lawyer

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Determining Liability after an Electrocution Injury

To determine liability after an electrocution, you must first determine the cause. If the cause was a faulty appliance, for example, the manufacturer may be liable under product liability.

If faulty wiring caused your injury, however, the electrician who installed the wiring may be liable. Similarly, the property owner may be liable if they hired someone who wasn’t licensed to perform the electrical work.

Property owners may also be liable if their negligent property maintenance led to the electrocution. An apartment manager may be liable for not maintaining the building, leading to an electrocution. And a property owner may be liable if their untrimmed trees removed a power line.

When you hire an attorney, part of their job is determining what party is at fault for your injuries. And in some cases, there may be multiple parties who share fault.

Tennessee Personal Injury Statute of Limitations

In Tennessee, the statute of limitations on personal injury claims is one year from the date of your injury. You must file your claim within this period to receive compensation for your injuries.

The Role of an Injury Lawyer

Why do you need a personal injury lawyer? There are many reasons, but some of the most important are:

  • Your attorney’s knowledge of the personal injury claims process can make your case smoother than if you attempt to do it independently.

  • Your attorney will gather evidence supporting your claim, including evidence you may not know how to get, such as surveillance camera footage showing your accident.

  • Your attorney will provide legal advice and make sure that the opposing attorneys don’t take advantage of your situation or inexperience by giving you a lowball settlement offer.

  • Your attorney can hire expert witnesses to provide supporting testimony during trial.

  • Your attorney will represent your best interests by seeking the maximum compensation available at trial if your case doesn’t end with a settlement.

Contact a Nashville Electrocution Injury Attorney

Were you injured in an electrocution incident? Do you have medical bills to pay? Have your injuries impacted your job? Through a personal injury claim, you can seek compensation from the party whose negligence led to your injuries.

Call 615-676-7060 or contact us online for a free consultation with the experienced attorneys of Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC about your case. Our team will help you understand your legal options and assist you in building a solid case for the maximum compensation available.