Philadelphia Electrical Injury Lawyer
Electrical injuries can consist of anything from mild burns to death by electrocution. The attorneys at the Philadelphia, PA law firm of The Levin Firm Personal Injury Lawyers know that electrical injuries may occur from coming into contact with faulty machinery or appliances, touching a live wire or power line, experiencing a shock from an electrical outlet or appliance, or even being struck by lightning. Your attorney should understand that electrocution is as serious as any other personal injury.
At The Levin Firm Personal Injury Lawyers, we have seen the devastating effects of electrical injuries and we know how to protect your rights as an accident victim. These cases can be highly technical and we have the knowledge and resources to successfully advocate for our clients after an electrical accident. If you have been injured at home, at a business, at work, or anywhere else, please do not hesitate to contact our firm for more information today.
How Electrical Accidents Occur
Generally speaking, children are more likely to be injured in the household, while adults are more likely to be injured at work. There are many factors that can cause electrical injuries, including the following:
- Faulty wiring
- Improper installation of electrical systems
- Ungrounded wires
- Contact with electrical systems in wet conditions
- Improper contact with electrical outlets
- Defective appliances
Children tend to be curious and can injure themselves when playing with or near electrical outlets or wiring. Adults can also be involved in electrical accidents at home, though usually due to faulty or defective wires or appliances.
Adults are much more likely to be injured in an electrical accident while on the job. In fact, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) ranks electrocution as one of the top four fatal accidents in the construction industry. Many people work with electrical systems, power tools, heavy machinery, and other tools that can result in an electrical accident.
The attorneys at The Levin Firm Personal Injury Lawyers have experience handling electrical injury cases that originate from both the home and the workplace. We will evaluate the appropriate course of legal action for you and will pursue any compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Effects Of An Electrical Injury
As with many types of injuries, the effects of an electrical injury will differ from one accident victims to another. Some victims will have relatively minor effects that require a short course of medical treatment while others may not survive their injuries. When an electrical current passes through the body, it can cause many problems – some visible and some invisible.
In some situations, an electrical accident victim will have serious burns where the current entered and/or exited the body, These burns can affect the surface of the skin or can go much deeper and destroy all layers of the skin and even some tissue below the skin. Such burns will require extensive treatment to prevent infections or other complications and promote proper healing. Painful skin grafts and other surgeries may be required and a victim may have to spend time in a burn center.
While burns on the skin are a good indication of an electrical injury, not all people develop physical, visible injuries. This does not mean that the electrical accident did not cause injuries, however. If you have been exposed to an electrical current, you may have suffered damage to your internal organs or have burned internal tissue. While these injuries may not be visible to the eye, they certainly can have many effects and symptoms and require immediate medical attention.
The best way to determine the extent of your injury is to have a doctor monitor your heart for abnormal rhythms and examine you for any other signs of serious injuries. After any type of electrical accident, it is critical to seek medical help even if you cannot see any visible signs of injury. It can never hurt to get checked out to ensure your heart and other organs were not affected by the accident.
In some cases, a person may not survive an electrical injury and such fatal injuries are referred to as electrocutions. Some currents are strong enough to induce a heart attack or heart failure. A person may pass away on the spot or hours or days later. In any event, such an unexpected electrocution can change the lives of family members and loved ones forever.
We understand that electrical injuries can cause serious bodily harm and dramatically change our clients’ lives. Our lawyers understand the different diagnoses of electrical injuries. We work with physicians and specialists to assure that clients receive the finest legal representation, as well as the finest support and medical care. While you are dealing with the aftermath of your injury, we are standing up for your rights.
Who Is Liable For Your Electrical Injuries And Losses?
The party or parties who may be liable for your accident-related losses will depend on how your electrical accident specifically occurred. We will closely examine what happened and identify any possible parties that may be responsible. The following are only some examples of parties who may be held liable in electrical accident cases.
- Electricians and contractors –Electricians, contractors, and anyone else who handles or installs electrical systems must do so in full accordance with safety codes and policies. If an electrical system is not properly installed, someone in the home or building may suffer an electrical injury.
- Business owners –Business and property owners have the duty to keep their premises maintained for safety – and this includes electrical wires, outlets, and systems. If an owner allows any part of an electrical system to fall into a state of disrepair, it can become dangerous and present the risk of accidents and injuries to visitors and customers.
- Manufacturers –When a manufacturer sells electrical equipment or any type of appliance that requires electricity, it must ensure that the product is safe for its intended use. If there is an inherent design flaw or if the product was assembled incorrectly, the product may malfunction and someone may be injured. Manufacturers can also be deemed negligent if they fail to properly warn of all possible electrical risks of using a particular product.
- Employers –If you are injured on the job, your employer may be held liable due to Pennsylvania workers’ compensation laws. In such cases, you likely do not have to prove your employer was negligent – only that you suffered your electrical injuries in the course of your employment. While electrical injuries are common in the construction field, they can occur in many other industries, as well.
Representing clients with traumatic electrical injuries requires a team of aggressive investigators and lawyers all devoting their maximum effort to their clients. At The Levin Firm Personal Injury Lawyers, our Pennsylvania and New Jersey personal injury attorneys work together with a team of investigators and support staff to investigate every claim so that we may aggressively and zealously represent our clients and obtain the best possible results.
An important part of our job is ensuring you receive the full value of your claim. We will closely examine your situation to calculate the total past and future losses you incurred due to your electrical injury. Such losses may include:
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Lost income
- Permanent impairments
- Wrongful death
We will also identify the best course of action for your case, which can include an insurance claim, a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit, a workers’ compensation claim, or a combination. We will represent your interests throughout your entire case so you can focus on your physical recovery.
Consult With A Philadelphia Electrical Injury Attorney As Soon As Possible
When you need a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania or New Jersey personal injury attorney to represent you, a family member or friend who has suffered an electrical injury, contact The Levin Firm Personal Injury Lawyers, who represent every client zealously in order to obtain the best results possible in each case. We offer free case evaluations, so please contact us to learn about your rights today.