Electric Shock Injuries in Virginia

What is An Electric Shock?

An electric shock occurs when a victim makes contact with an exposed electric circuit or an object they touch suddenly becomes electrified. If the negligence of another party causes your electric shock injuries, that party may be liable in a lawsuit. At The Smith Law Center, our experienced Virginia trial lawyers represent people who suffered horrendous injuries from shocks and other sources. Please contact us for a free consultation.

How Common Are Electric Shock Injuries and Electrocution?

Workers who deal with electricity on a daily basis are most likely to sustain injuries and electrocutions. Electrocution is the sixth most common cause of worker deaths in the United States. Electricity causes about 350 deaths a year nationwide, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Every year, about 4,000 workers suffer electric shock injuries.

You are less likely to receive an electric shock if you do not work with electricity, but people may suffer electric shocks in their own homes or be shocked by downed power lines or other unexpected hazards.

How Does the Human Body Cope with an Electrical Shock?

The human body is a good conductor of electric current. Electricity passes very easily throughout our bodies. Direct contact with electrical current can cause massive injuries and death. While some electrical burns appear to be minor, they may cause extreme damage to the organs like the heart and the brain.

How Does Electric Current Cause Serious Injuries and Deaths?

When dealing with electric shock Injuries in Virginia and elsewhere, we are conscious of the different ways electricity can damage the human body. There are three main possible effects of electric shock, namely:

• Nerve, muscle, and tissue damage from a current passing through the body
• Cardiac arrest due to the electrical effect on the heart
• Thermal burns caused by contact with an electrical source

Damage sustained to the nervous system is often extremely serious. It can leave victims with permanent neurological damage. If you suffer injuries of this nature, it is necessary to recover as much as possible from a defendant who may be an individual, a power company, an employer or another entity.

What Scenarios Can Lead to Electric Shock Injuries and Electrocution?

Some dangerous scenarios that can cause electric shocks include:

• Construction workers and forklift or crane operators who routinely come into contact with electrified wires
• Storms that bring down power lines or strike transformers
• Electricians who face dangers from faulty wiring or other hazards
• Tree surgeons and landscapers who work close to overhead power lines
• Homeowners and tenants who face dangers from faulty wiring in kitchens, bathrooms and other areas
• Railroad workers who suffer shocks on tracks and on trains
• Swimmers who suffer shocks in pools or marinas

What Can You Claim If You Suffer an Electric Shock Injury in Virginia?

If you are harmed by exposure to electricity in Virginia, you may be able to recover for a wide range of costs and harms including:

• Medical bills, which may include the costs of rehabilitation.
• Lost wages if you took time off work or if the injury forces you to change your job. You may end up permanently disabled or unable to return to your old job.
• Pain and suffering, including physical and emotional pain and discomfort.
• Emotional strain associated with the electric shock injury

Wrongful Death Lawsuits After an Electrocution

If you lose a loved one from electrocution, you may have grounds to file a wrongful death lawsuit. This can be brought against an employer who asked a worker to go into a dangerous facility or a power company that was negligent when its lines fell down and killed a passer-by. Electrocution often occurs in the most unexpected of circumstances.

Family members or the estate of a victim can claim the following damages.

• Funeral expenses
• Medical expenses
• Projected future income of the deceased
• Work benefits and health insurance
• Projected financial contributions in the future including the deceased’s lost payments to mortgages and car loans
• Loss of the value of services to the family

Contact an Experienced Electrocution Injury Lawyer in Virginia

At the Smith Law Center, our experienced Virginia trial lawyers have helped people who suffered terrible injuries from electric shocks due to the fault of another party or the families of those who lost a loved one. Please contact us for a free consultation today at (757) 244-7000.