Electric Shock & Electrocution Attorneys

Common Causes of Electrical Injuries & Electrocution

Electrical injuries and electrocution can have many different causes, but in terms of personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits, there are some common preventable causes that involve the negligent or wrongful acts of others. These may include:

• Defective products, such as faulty machinery or appliances
• Unsafe work conditions / workplace accidents
• Improperly trained workers or contractors
• Exposed, old, and unrepaired wiring
• Failures to address potential hazards on a property or business
• Negligent driving and car accidents that result in downed power lines

Electric Shock Injuries

Electrical injuries can take many different forms – from minor electric shock to serious and debilitating injuries. At Edwards Kirby, our team focuses on representing seriously injured victims and their families, including those who suffered electric shock injuries resulting in:

• Thermal burns and severe burn injuries
• Cardiac arrest (heart attack), arrhythmia, and other heart complications
• Fractures, dislocations, and other musculoskeletal injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Eye injuries, including cataracts
• Traumatic brain injuries and brain damage
• Muscle, nerve, and tissue damage
• Internal organ damage

Electrical current passing through the body can burn and destroy tissue and cause problems with critical organs and the body’s nervous system. The severity of an injury, however, can vary depending on several factors:

• Current intensity – Standard current in American homes is 110 to 220 volts, which is less likely to result in serious injuries. High voltage, which is anything over 500 volts, has greater potential for causing severe injuries and internal damage in the body. High voltage can also cause sudden arc flashes or blasts which can jump through the air between several inches to several feet, and cause injuries when victims simply get too close.
• Type of current – Alternating current (AC) is more dangerous and more likely to cause serious injuries than direct current (DC), which is the type of current generated by batteries. While DC typically only causes a single “shock” and muscle contraction that may cause one to jump away or quickly remove their hand from the source, AC causes continuous muscle contraction, which can prevent victims from releasing themselves from the source and result in longer exposure.
• Path of current –The path electrical current takes through the body can influence which parts of the body are affected. A current which travels from the hand to the body is more likely to injure the heart, and current which runs from the head is more likely to affect the brain.
• Resistance –Resistance can also affect what injuries a person may suffer, and how severe those injuries may be. Simply put: the less resistance, the more severe the injury. A calloused hand is more resistant than softer skin. Resistance can also decrease and be more likely to cause internal damage when skin is wet or broken, such as by a cut.
• Duration – When it comes to duration, the longer the exposure, the more likely the injury will be worse.

These factors can influence how serious an electrical injuries may be, but they are not the only factor involved. That is especially true when the circumstances surrounding an electric shock leads to further injury. Some examples may include:

• Falling off a ladder and suffering fractures or a traumatic brain injury as a result of muscle contractions
• Losing muscle control or consciousness and falling onto the ground without bracing yourself
• An electric shock that causes a person operating a vehicle or machinery to cause an accident

Electrical injuries can be medical emergencies, and they often require extensive medical treatment and long recoveries. In the most severe cases, they may also result in significant disfigurement, disability, and long-term if not life-long impairments. For these reasons, it becomes critical for victims to seek compensation for their damages when electric shock injuries are caused by the negligence or wrongful acts of others.