Electrical accidents can be caused in the workplace, in your home, or on someone else’s premises, but they always have one thing in common– they are entirely preventable. These accidents can result in injuries ranging from mild burns to severe electrocution, and even death.
Electrical accidents in a workplace may be the result of faulty power tools, malfunctioning equipment, loose electrical wires, improper grounding and failure to take proper safety precautions. However, you may be just as likely to suffer an electrical injury in the home, mainly through the use of a defective product.
The most common types of injuries from electrical accidents are burns. A higher voltage may result in a burn injury, but burns may occur even at low voltages if the electrical current passes through the body for a longer period of time. Victims may suffer from loss of muscular control and spasms that can cause their limbs to be flung about leading to joint dislocation, fractures, and falls. Thermal burns usually occur from proximity to an electrical explosion.
Liability, in an electrical accident-related injury, will depend on the nature of the injury. For instance, an electrical accident in the workplace may be covered under the Texas Workers’ Compensation laws. Victims may also be eligible for personal injury claims against any third parties responsible for the accident. In the case of electrical injuries caused by a defective product, the manufacturers, suppliers or distributors of the product could be held liable. In case of electrical injuries that are caused on another’s property, like a rental vacation home or a hotel room, an injured victim may be able to recover damages under Texas premises liability laws.
Serious electrical injuries can leave a person with long-term health effects that include:
- Internal injuries;
- Long term muscle damage;
- Development of cataracts, in case of electrical injuries near the eye;
- Facial deformities, in case of injuries to the face or mouth;
- Brain damage;
- Nerve damage;
- Short term memory loss;
- Changes in personality;
- Insomnia; and
- Erectile dysfunction
Have you been injured or lost a loved one because of an electrical accident? Contact an experienced Austin electrical accident lawyer at the Briggle & Polan, PLLC. for a free initial consultation about your case. Come visit us at our office or we can even meet you at your home, office or hospital to discuss your case. Call us at (512) 400-3278 or submit an inquiry through our online consultation form. We don’t charge a fee unless we obtain a settlement on your behalf.
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