Houston Electrical Injury Lawyer
Experience You Can Trust When It Matters Most
Written and legally reviewed by Greg Baumgartner, Houston Personal Injury Attorney
Founder & Lead Trial Lawyer, Baumgartner Law Firm ยท 40+ Years of Trial Experience ยท Trial Lawyers College Graduate ยท AVVO 10/10 Rating
Last reviewed and updated: may 30, 2026.
If you or someone you love was hurt by electricity โ on a construction site, at a refinery, in your home, or anywhere else โ you are dealing with one of the most serious and complicated types of personal injury cases in Texas. Electrical injuries can cause burns, nerve damage, cardiac arrest, traumatic brain injury, and permanent disability. In the worst cases, they are fatal. You need an attorney who has done this before โ many times.
At Baumgartner Law Firm, Greg Baumgartner has spent more than 40 years representing Houstonians hurt by electricity. He knows how these cases are built, what evidence to preserve before it disappears, and how to take on property owners, contractors, employers, and product manufacturers. Call us 24/7 at (281) 587-1111 โ consultations are always free.
On This Page โขย What Is an Electrical Injury? โขย Types of Electrical Injuries We Handle โขย Where Electrical Injuries Happen in Houston โขย Houstonโs Industrial Sector: A High-Risk Environment โขย Who Can Be Held Responsible? โขย What Compensation Can You Recover? โขย How We Build Your Electrocution Case โขย How Long Do You Have to File a Claim in Texas? โขย Case Results: Electrical Injury Verdicts and Settlements โขย Frequently Asked Questions โขย Contact a Houston Electrocution Lawyer Today |
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What Is an Electrical Injury?
An electrical injury occurs when a personโs body comes into contact with an electrical source โ whether that is a live wire, a faulty appliance, a downed power line, or energized equipment. Electricity does not need to visibly arc to cause serious harm. Even a brief contact can send current through your body, disrupting your heart, damaging your nervous system, and burning tissue from the inside out.
According to the CDC/NIOSH, the utility and construction industries see the highest rates of electrical injuries resulting in days away from work. In the United States, roughly 1,000 people die from electrocution every year, and thousands more survive with lasting disabilities.
Electrical injuries fall into four categories:
- Flash injuries โ caused by an arc flash; typically superficial burns because the current does not pass through the skin
- Flame injuries โ when an arc flash ignites clothing; current may or may not penetrate the skin
- Lightning injuries โ a brief but extremely high-voltage current that can cause severe internal damage and burns
- True electrical injuries โ the most serious type, where the body becomes part of a circuit and current passes completely through it
Any of these can be life-threatening or permanently disabling. If you or a family member was hurt this way, do not wait to get legal help. Evidence at the scene can disappear quickly, and the party responsible may already have lawyers working to protect themselves.
Types of Electrical Injuries We Handle
Electrical contact can injure the body in multiple ways simultaneously. Some of the injuries our clients have suffered include:
Electrical Burns
Burns are the most visible result of electrical contact. They can be superficial, or they can go deep into muscle and bone. We often connect clients with Houston burn injury specialists as part of building a full medical picture for their claim.
Cardiac Arrest and Arrhythmia
Electrical current can disrupt the heartโs natural rhythm. Ventricular fibrillation โ a chaotic, ineffective heartbeat โ can occur even from a relatively low-voltage shock. Some victims develop arrhythmia that requires a pacemaker or long-term cardiac monitoring.
Traumatic Brain Injury
When current passes through the head, or when a victim falls after being shocked, traumatic brain injuries can result. These may not show up immediately on imaging but can cause memory loss, cognitive impairment, mood changes, and chronic headaches.
Nerve Damage and Chronic Pain
Peripheral nerve damage from electrical injury can cause numbness, burning pain, weakness, and loss of function in the hands, arms, or legs. In many cases this is permanent.
Respiratory Arrest
Strong electrical shocks can cause breathing to stop. If the victim is not revived quickly, this can lead to brain damage from oxygen deprivation or death.
Psychological Trauma
Many electrical injury survivors develop post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety around electrical equipment, depression, or sleep disorders. These are real, compensable injuries under Texas law.
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Where Electrical Injuries Happen in Houston
Electrical injuries can happen almost anywhere. In our 40-plus years of practice, we have handled cases arising from:
- Construction sites โ scaffolding, temporary wiring, overhead power lines, and unguarded electrical panels are common hazards
- Oil refineries and petrochemical plants โ Houstonโs industrial corridor from Pasadena to Baytown is one of the most electrically hazardous work environments in the country
- Manufacturing and warehouse facilities โ high-voltage machinery, conveyor systems, and poorly maintained equipment
- Residential properties โ outdated wiring, ungrounded outlets, improperly installed fixtures, and defective appliances
- Commercial buildings โ improper electrical upgrades, exposed wiring in renovation zones, and code violations
- Outdoors โ downed power lines after storms, flooded areas with submerged electrical equipment, and power line contact during tree trimming or roofing work
No matter where your injury happened, the key question is the same: whose negligence caused it? That is what we work to prove.
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Houstonโs Industrial Sector: A High-Risk Environment
Houston sits at the heart of one of the worldโs largest concentrations of petrochemical and energy infrastructure. The refineries, chemical plants, and offshore platforms that define Harris Countyโs industrial landscape also create extraordinary electrical hazards. Workers in these environments are exposed to high-voltage systems, arc flash incidents, and energized equipment on a daily basis.
The OSHA electrical safety standards require employers to de-energize equipment before maintenance, implement lockout/tagout procedures, and provide proper personal protective equipment. When employers cut corners โ rushing production, skipping safety protocols, or failing to maintain aging equipment โ workers pay the price.
We have represented workers injured at:
- Refineries and chemical plants in the Pasadena, Deer Park, and La Porte industrial corridor
- Offshore platforms and vessels in the Gulf of Mexico
- Port facilities and ship channels
- Power generation and utility facilities
If you were hurt at one of these facilities, your case may involve both a workersโ compensation claim and a separate third-party personal injury lawsuit. These are fundamentally different legal tracks, and knowing how to pursue both โ or which gives you a better outcome โ requires experience with Texas industrial injury law. This is exactly what we do.
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Who Can Be Held Responsible?
One of the most important things an electrical injury lawyer does in the days immediately after an incident is identify all potentially liable parties. In these cases, responsibility can fall on:
Property Owners
If a hazardous electrical condition on someoneโs property caused your injury โ faulty wiring, an ungrounded outlet, a missing safety cover โ the property owner may be liable under Texas premises liability law. We handle these claims as part of our Houston personal injury practice.
General Contractors and Subcontractors
On construction sites, a subcontractor who installs wiring improperly can injure a worker from an entirely different company. The general contractor may also bear responsibility for overall site safety. These third-party claims are separate from workersโ compensation and can result in significantly larger recoveries.
Equipment and Product Manufacturers
Defective tools, appliances, and electrical components can cause injuries even when used exactly as intended. If a product was defective in its design or manufacturing, or lacked adequate warnings, you may have a product liability claim against the manufacturer, distributor, or retailer. These cases require preserving the equipment for expert examination โ another reason to call an attorney immediately.
Employers
If your employerโs own employees caused the accident, or if your employer was a third party on a multi-contractor job site, a direct lawsuit against the employer may be possible alongside a work injury claim. Our firm evaluates every avenue so nothing is left on the table.
Utilities and Power Companies
Cases involving power lines, transformers, and utility infrastructure can be among the most complex. Utilities are subject to both state regulation and federal safety standards, and these cases often require specialized expert witnesses.
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What Compensation Can You Recover?
Texas law allows victims of electrical injuries to recover compensation for every way the accident has affected their lives. Depending on the circumstances of your case, that can include:
*Past and future medical expenses โ emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation, and ongoing treatment
*Lost wages and diminished earning capacity โ if your injury prevents you from returning to work at the same level, you can recover for future income you will never earn
*Pain and suffering โ the physical pain and limitations caused by the injury
*Mental anguish โ anxiety, depression, PTSD, and psychological harm that stems from the trauma
*Disfigurement and scarring โ electrical burns frequently leave permanent visible scars
*Loss of enjoyment of life โ if the injury prevents you from doing things you loved before the accident
*Physical impairment โ when the injury leaves you with a permanent reduced physical capability
*Loss of consortium โ the impact on your marriage and family relationships
*Punitive damages โ in cases of gross negligence or intentional misconduct, Texas courts may award additional damages to punish the wrongdoer
If someone was killed, the victimโs family may have a wrongful death claim. Greg Baumgartner has represented Houston families in wrongful death cases arising from electrocution, and he understands both the legal complexity and the human weight of these cases.
How We Build Your Electrocution Case
Electrical injury cases require a specific kind of investigation. The physical evidence โ the equipment involved, the wiring, the site conditions โ must be preserved before it is repaired, discarded, or altered. Our firm moves quickly to:
Send spoliation letters to the responsible parties, legally requiring them to preserve evidence
Retain electrical engineering experts and safety consultants to inspect the scene and the equipment
Gather OSHA inspection records, incident reports, and site safety logs
Obtain medical records and work with specialists to document the full extent of your injuries โ including long-term effects that may not be obvious at first
Identify all potentially liable parties before any statutes of limitations expire
Build a damages model that accounts for your lifetime of medical needs and lost income, not just your current bills
We have handled cases against property owners, general contractors, subcontractors, and major product manufacturers โ including cases that went to verdict and cases that settled for significant amounts before trial. You can review some of our results on our case results page.
How Long Do You Have to File a Claim in Texas?
Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code ยง 16.003, you generally have two years from the date of your injury to file a personal injury lawsuit in Texas. For wrongful death cases, the clock typically runs from the date of death.
Important: Do not wait. Two years sounds like a long time. It is not. Electrical injury cases require early investigation โ accident scenes change, witnesses forget details, and equipment gets repaired or destroyed. The sooner you contact an attorney, the stronger your case will be. |
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There are limited circumstances that can toll (pause) the statute of limitations โ for example, if the victim is a minor, if the injury was not immediately discovered, or if the liable party fraudulently concealed relevant facts. An attorney can evaluate whether any of these apply to your situation.
- Medical expenses for emergency room visits, surgeries, medication costs, etc.
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Scarring, disfigurement, and humiliation.
- Emotional trauma or distress.
- Loss of life enjoyment
- Loss of consortium
- Physical impairment
- Punitive damages in some cases
If you have any questions about dealing with and recovering from your electrical shock injury, donโt 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.
Common Causes of Electrical Shock
A Faulty Outlet Or Switch
As you may know, electricity comes from a box connected to your homeโs power lines, outlets, and switches 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 shock you when you touch a part of that path (e.g., 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 allows an outdated outlet with no ground wire to be installed, allowing unstable currents to pass into the ground instead of 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 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.
Case Results: Electrical Injury Verdicts and Settlements
Greg Baumgartner has won electrical injury and wrongful death cases against property owners, general contractors, subcontractors, and product manufacturers. Some representative examples:
Wrongful Death โ Mobile Home ElectrocutionA man was electrocuted while working beneath his mobile home. Our investigation revealed that the manufacturer had failed to properly ground the electrical system. The case settled for a substantial confidential amount before trial. Construction Site โ Third-Party ElectrocutionA subcontractorโs worker was severely injured when a general contractor failed to properly identify and de-energize a circuit. We brought a successful claim against the general contractor separate from the workersโ compensation recovery. |
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Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a particular outcome. For more, see our full case results.
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 product liability cases, 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 records, evidence of lost wages, and other evidence. Be sure to speak with an attorney if youโre pursuing a case, whether itโs 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 contractors, subcontractors, and even product manufacturers. Some of our successes involved fatal accidents and a Texas wrongful death lawsuit. Other notable wins were achieved following a construction accident caused by the negligence of the parties.
Frequently Asked Questions
These are the questions we hear most often from people who have just experienced an electrical injury.
What should I do immediately after an electrical injury?
Seek emergency medical care first, even if you feel okay โ electrical injuries often cause internal damage that is not immediately apparent. Then, preserve everything you can: take photos of the scene, get names of witnesses, do not allow equipment to be repaired or moved, and contact an electrical injury attorney before speaking with any insurance company.
Can I sue if I was injured at work?
It depends. Texas is unique in that private employers are not required to carry workersโ compensation insurance. If your employer has workersโ comp coverage, that is typically your first avenueโbut it does not cover pain and suffering. If a third party (a contractor, property owner, or equipment manufacturer) caused or contributed to your injury, you may also have a separate personal injury lawsuit with a much larger potential recovery. We evaluate both options in every case.
What is the average electrocution settlement in Texas?
There is no average โ the value of an electrical injury case depends on the severity of your injuries, whether you can return to work, your lifetime medical needs, and how clearly liability can be established. Cases with catastrophic injuries and permanent disability have resulted in multi-million dollar recoveries. Minor cases may settle for less. The only way to get a realistic estimate is to have an attorney review your specific situation.
How long does an electrical injury lawsuit take?
Most cases resolve through settlement within one to two years. Cases that go to trial can take longer. The complexity of establishing causation in electrical cases โ which often requires expert testimony โ is one reason these cases benefit from an attorney with deep experience in this specific area.
What if I were partly at fault for the accident?
Texas uses a modified comparative fault system. As long as you are not more than 50% responsible for your own injury, you can still recover compensation, though your award will be reduced by your percentage of fault. This is why it matters to have an attorney presenting the strongest possible version of your case from the start.
Do I have to go to court?
Most electrical injury cases settle before trial. However, you want a lawyer who is genuinely prepared and willing to go to trial if the insurance company does not offer fair compensation. Greg Baumgartner is a trial lawyer โ not a settlement mill โ and insurance companies know it.
Electrical Shock and Electrocution Injuries Statistics
Electrical shock injuries are relatively common. Each year in the US, some people die from electric shock at work, and about 2,000 others are injured but survive. 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. Approximately 30,000 shock incidents occur annually in the United States, resulting in over 20,000 incidents 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, itโs 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 personโs clothing, and an electrical current may or may not pass through the skin.
- Lightning injuries are caused by a short but high-voltage electric current running through a personโs body, which can lead to severe burn injuries.
- Actual electrical injuries happen when a personโs body becomes part of an electrical circuit and energy passes through it from one end to the other.
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Attorney in Houston for Help
Talk with a top-rated Electrical Injury lawyer by calling (281) 587-1111
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Contact a Houston Electrocution Lawyer Today
If you or someone in your family was hurt by electricity in Houston or anywhere in Southeast Texas, the most important step you can take right now is to speak with an attorney who knows these cases. The evidence that wins electrical injury cases can disappear fast. Call us today โ we are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
6711 Cypress Creek Pkwy, Houston, Texas 77069 Phone: (281) 587-1111 Free consultation: Contact us online No fee unless we win your case. |
Hereโs What Our Electrical Injury Clients are Saying
We represent clients in Houston and throughout Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery Counties, as well as the surrounding areas. Explore our related practice areas:
- Houston Construction Accident Lawyer
- Houston Work Injury Lawyer
- Houston Wrongful Death Lawyer
- Houston Burn Injury Lawyer
- Houston Product Liability Lawyer
- Houston Catastrophic Injury Attorney
About Greg Baumgartner
Greg Baumgartner founded Baumgartner Law Firm in Houston in 1985. He holds dual law degrees, carries a perfect 10 AVVO rating, and is recognized as one of the best personal injury lawyers in Texas. He is a graduate of the Trial Lawyers College and has recovered millions for accident victims across Texas. He personally handles every electrical injury case at the firm.
Baumgartner Law Firm
6711 Cypress Creek Pkwy
Houston, Texas 77069
(281) 587-1111
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