Houston Electrical Injury Lawyer
Premier Electrical Injury
Attorneys in Houston
Our Houston electrical accident lawyers have protected the rights of people injured in electrical injury cases for over three decades. Call Baumgartner Law Firm Houston Personal Injury Lawyers at (281) 587-1111- never a charge for a consultation!
Every year in the United States, nearly 1,000 people are killed by contact with an electrical source resulting in electrocution. Additionally, more than 3,000 people in the U.S. suffer serious burns each year.
Electrical injuries are a common occurrence on many construction sites. They might result from dangerous or defective products and, in other cases, maybe a case of premises liability. Some electrical injuries are unrelated to work and occur outside of the workplace.
An early investigation must occur after an electrical injury or electrocution by an experienced electrical injury lawyer to determine the cause of the accident before critical evidence disappears or is altered. In the event of an injury, you should seek the services of an experienced personal injury attorney.
Potential Causes and Types of Electrical Accidents
- OSHA Safety Regulations Violations
- Lack Of Warning
- Lack Of Lockout/Tag Out Protection
- Power Line Accidents
- Contractor Negligence
- Defective Wiring
- Construction Accidents
If the injury occurs at work, the case may be a workers’ compensation case, and the worker may obtain compensation to pay for medical treatment and partial lost wages.
If a third party caused the work-related electrical injury, the injured worker might pursue a lawsuit against that third party to recover further damages. This may be the case on construction sites where another contractor may install wiring negligently that causes injury to a worker employed by another contractor. Construction site accidents may involve injuries stemming from defective equipment.
Of course, electrical injuries may not be work-related. Suppose that’s the case, like a third-party lawsuit mentioned above. In that case, injured parties may pursue a lawsuit against the liable party, whether a product manufacturer, property owner or others whose negligence led to the injury.
Electrical Shock Injury Statistics
Electrical shock injuries are relatively common. In the United States, fatalities result from electrical shock in the workplace each year, while around 2,000 non-fatal injuries occur. Jobs in construction, installation, maintenance, and repair led to more electrical shock injuries than any other job category.
Electrical shock injuries occur outside the workplace as well. About 30,000 shock incidents occur annually in the United States, meaning that over 20,000 occur in homes or other areas. In total, about 1,000 people will die each year from electrical shock in the United States.
There are four basic types of electrical shock injuries it’s worth considering:
- Flash injuries are usually caused by an arc flash and only superficial burns since no electrical current passes through the skin.
- Flame injuries occur when an arc flash ignites a person’s clothing, and an electrical current may or may not pass through the skin.
- Lightning injuries are caused by short but high-voltage electric energy running through a person’s entire body.
- Actual electrical injuries happen when a person’s body becomes part of an electrical circuit so that the energy passes through them from one end to the other.
Each type of injury can cause pain and potentially severe damage to the person affected.
Common Causes of Electrical Shock
You might hear about several leading causes of electrical shock, whether the shock occurs inside or outside the workplace. The most common causes include:
A faulty outlet or switch.
As you may know, electricity comes from a box connected to the outlets and switches in your home by wires. If the box, the cables, or the outlet or switch is damaged or loose, the electricity is forced to flow through an unstable path and could end up shocking you when you touch a part of that path (i.e., the outlet or switch).
An outdated outlet.
In the past, most outlets were made with only two prong holes. However, using three prong holes is more common in current practice. The bottom hole makes it possible for an outdated outlet with no ground wire to be installed, which provides unstable currents the chance to pass into the ground instead of into your body. You may be shocked.
Faulty appliances.
A defective appliance is usually so outdated that its circuitry is damaged, and electricity has difficulty passing through it. Electricity may ruin a defective appliance and shock you when you plug that appliance in.
Electricity mixed with water.
Water’s ions are highly conductive. If you attempt to use electricity while wet or near water, you might be shocked because the water conducts electricity efficiently from the air to your body.
Kinds of Injuries from Contact with Electricity
The most common kinds of injuries you may suffer after contact with electricity include:
- Burns. – The most obvious and common injury you’ll get from contact with electricity is a burn. This may be a mild or more severe burn that goes into the dermis (your second layer of skin) or even into your tissues and muscles beneath the skin.
- Heart attacks. – If the electricity reaches your heart, it could cause your heart to stop.
- Respiratory arrest. – Electrical shock may cause you to stop breathing for a time.
- Seizures. – You may suffer a seizure from the shock of electricity passing through your brain.
- Arrhythmia. – Severe arrhythmia can occur if electricity messes with your heart’s natural rhythm. This can cause death if not treated appropriately.
- Broken bones. – If electricity damages your bone structure or causes you to fall from any significant height, you may also have to deal with broken bones.
These are only the most common injuries from electrical shock, but many more types of injuries could result from electrical injury. No matter what injuries you’re experiencing, don’t hesitate to seek medical treatment as soon as possible to ensure that you get on the road to health as quickly as possible.
Where Electrical Injury Can Happen
An electrical injury can happen anywhere. It is common in the workplace, especially for workers who build or maintain homes with old or exposed electrical wiring. It is also common in bathrooms and kitchens where appliances with electricity may encounter water. Sometimes, electrical shock can happen outside, especially near a large body of water, if lightning is the cause of the shock. Construction accidents frequently involve electrical injury.
If you’re the victim of electrical shock, you will likely suffer the effects of the shock both outwardly and inwardly. You will likely suffer burns and damage to your heart, lungs, or brain. You must seek medical attention as soon as possible, no matter where your injury occurs. You should also reach out to an attorney for help if your injury resulted from someone else’s carelessness with electricity.
Damages from An Electrical Injury in Texas
If you live in Texas and are damaged by electricity, there are a variety of damages that you can collect. The typical damages may include:
- Medical expenses for emergency room visits, surgeries, medication costs, etc.
- Lost wages from the time you took off to recover and a long-term inability to work if your injuries prevent you from returning to your job.
- Pain and suffering.
- Scarring, disfigurement, and humiliation.
- Emotional trauma or distress.
- Loss of life enjoyment.
- Loss of consortium.
- Punitive damages in some cases.
The damages you can collect compensation for will vary considerably depending on the circumstances of your claim. You must speak with an electrical injury lawyer as soon as possible to ensure you seek compensation for the right damages.
If you have any questions about dealing with and recovering from your electrical shock injury, don’t hesitate to contact Baumgartner Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers. We offer a free consultation to help you start your claim today! Call (281) 598-1111.
Proving Your Case with Proper Evidence
Expert witnesses are usually required in the types of electrocution or electrical injury cases mentioned above. The victim or family must retain an injury attorney immediately following the accident. Particularly in the case of product liability, the equipment involved in the accident should be preserved for expert witness examination and evaluation.
Other types of evidence you may use to establish liability for your injuries and prove the effects of your injuries. Proving related damages may include eyewitness testimony, medical reports, evidence of lost wages, and more. Be sure to speak with an attorney if you’re pursuing a case, whether it’s work-related or not.
We have helped many Texas families after an electrical injury or death. Our firm has won lawsuits involving property owners, general and subcontractors, and even product manufacturers. Some of our successes involved fatal accidents and a Texas wrongful death lawsuit. Other wins were filed after a construction accident for negligence.
Hospital Liens and Health Insurance Payback
If you were treated at a hospital and did not have health insurance for the hospital did not take your health insurance, there is a good chance that you may have a “hospital lien” that attaches to any settlement. Insurance companies will not pay liability coverage without addressing a hospital lien filed on your case.
If you use your health insurance for your medical treatment, your health insurance company may seek to be entitled to be paid back from settlement proceeds. This payback is called “subrogation”. Our electrical accident lawyers are skilled in negotiating reduced payments to hospitals and health insurance companies.
Other Types of Cases Our Personal Injury Lawyers Focus on:
Call an Electrical Injury Lawyer in Houston, Texas
In any electrical accident, seek the advice of an expert electrical injury attorney familiar with Texas law. Many complications arise during these cases, and our electrical injury lawyers have the necessary experience to win your case and get you the compensation you deserve. Call (281) 587-1111!
Contact A Houston
Electrical Injury Attorney
Our Houston electrical accident lawyers have secured record settlements for over three decades for severe injury and fatal accidents. Don’t settle for less- call us at (281) 587-1111!
NEVER A CHARGE FOR AN ACCIDENT CONSULTATION!
Do you make house calls or hospital visits?
What kind of cases do you accept?
We are very selective in the cases that we agree to handle to provide the best possible service to our clients. By limiting the number of cases that we accept, we can provide the time attention, and resources required to maximize compensation for our clients.
Accordingly, our practice is limited to cases involving substantial injury or a family who has lost a loved one. We have gained a reputation for handling 18-wheeler truck accidents, car and drunk driving crashes, daycare injury cases, and other serious injury and wrongful death matters. To learn more about the cases we cover, visit our practice areas page.
Do I have to pay money out of my pocket to hire you?
Do you handle all types of personal injury cases?
No, we are very selective in the cases that we agree to accept. We intentionally limit the number of cases that we handle and the practice areas for the cases we take to provide the best possible personal service for our clients. To learn more about the cases we cover, visit our practice areas page or you can contact us for individual consultation about your case. (281) 587-1111.
What is the best way to contact you?
We prefer to be contacted by telephone and also respond to our online consultation requests. You can call us 24/7 at (281) 587-1111. We offer Zoom consultations as well.
How successful have you been with your cases?
We are a personal injury law firm with over three decades of experience and are extremely proud of our winning track record of success. Our founder is nationally recognized as among the best personal injury lawyers in the USA. We are undefeated in truck accident cases, wrongful death cases, and daycare negligence and invite you to check out our results page for recent results in cases we won.
For the last 35 years, we have concentrated on maximizing our client’s compensation in serious injury and wrongful death cases. If you are looking for the best personal injury lawyers in Houston – Call us! (281) 587-1111.
Thank you
for a job well done!
"I can never express how grateful me and my family are to Greg Baumgartner and his team of truck accident lawyers in Houston. He took care of our injury case and got us a great settlement. Thank you for a job well done!"
- R. G. Client
Houston Personal Injury Victim
Highly
Recommended!
"I was hit in the rear by an 18 wheeler and was lucky enough to have found Greg – I was overjoyed with the results and highly recommend him."
- Raymond
Houston Personal Injury Victim