Managing Partner
Electrical burn injuries can be extremely serious because an electrical current may damage internal tissues, nerves, muscles, and organs even when burns on the skin appear minor. Electrical injuries can also affect the heart, making prompt medical attention important after a significant electrical shock.
The full extent of an electrical injury is not always immediately apparent. When someone else’s negligence causes an electrical injury, the injured person may also have grounds to pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and other losses.
Why Are Electrical Burns So Dangerous?
Unlike many thermal burns, electrical burns are caused by current passing through the body. The current may enter through one part of the body and exit through another, damaging tissue along the path it travels.
As a result, the visible burn may represent only part of the injury. Electrical current can cause:
- Deep tissue and muscle damage
- Nerve injuries that cause pain, weakness, or numbness
- Abnormal heart rhythms and other cardiac complications
- Damage to internal organs
- Serious burns at the current’s entry and exit points
- Falls or other secondary injuries caused by the electrical shock
Severe burn injuries may require hospitalization, surgery, skin grafting, rehabilitation, and ongoing treatment. When an electrical injury results in permanent impairment or other life-changing consequences, it may also qualify as a catastrophic injury.
What Commonly Causes Electrical Burn Injuries?
Electrical injuries can occur at home, at work, on construction sites, or on someone else’s property. The circumstances surrounding the accident often help determine whether another person or company may be responsible.
Common causes include exposed or damaged wiring, poorly maintained electrical systems, defective appliances or tools, contact with power lines, and unsafe equipment. Workers in construction, manufacturing, utilities, and other industries may face particularly serious electrical hazards.
Some injuries stem from unsafe property conditions. A property owner or manager who fails to address a dangerous electrical condition may face a premises liability claim. Other accidents may involve a defective electrical device or piece of equipment, potentially giving rise to a product liability claim.
Electrical burns sustained on construction sites and other jobsites may also involve issues beyond workers’ compensation. Depending on how the accident occurred, injured workers may have additional legal options when a contractor, equipment manufacturer, property owner, or another third party contributed to their workplace accident.
Who May Be Liable for an Electrical Burn Injury?
Liability depends on how the electrical exposure occurred and who was responsible for the hazard. In some cases, more than one party may share responsibility.
Potentially liable parties may include:
- Property owners or managers who failed to repair or warn about dangerous electrical conditions
- Contractors or subcontractors responsible for unsafe electrical installation, repairs, or work practices
- Product manufacturers when defective equipment, appliances, or electrical components cause an injury
- Third parties at a worksite whose negligence created or contributed to an electrical hazard
Determining liability requires investigating the source of the electrical current, the property or equipment involved, applicable safety practices, and what each party knew or should have known before the injury occurred.
How Can Casper, Meadows, Schwartz & Cook Help After an Electrical Burn?
Electrical burn cases often require looking closely at how the electrical exposure happened and who was responsible for the hazard. At Casper, Meadows, Schwartz & Cook, we investigate the circumstances of the accident, preserve important evidence, identify potentially liable parties, and consult with qualified professionals when technical issues are involved.
We also look at the full impact of the injury on your life, including your health, ability to work, and future needs. Depending on your case, we may pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost income, reduced earning capacity, future treatment, pain and suffering, and other losses.
Take Action After a Serious Electrical Burn
An electrical injury can have consequences that extend well beyond the initial burn. Getting medical care promptly can help identify internal injuries, while an early investigation can help preserve evidence about how the accident occurred.
If you or a loved one suffered a serious electrical burn because of unsafe property, defective equipment, or another party’s negligence, contact Casper, Meadows, Schwartz & Cook for a free case evaluation. We can review what happened, explain your legal options, and help you pursue compensation from those responsible.