Electrical Injury/Electrocution Injuries

Electrical burns and injuries can happen at home or in any public place, but they’re most common at industrial and construction work sites. If you’re hurt in an electrical accident, you want to be fully protected by an electrocution accident lawyer who knows the rules of New Jersey and how they should be enforced. Call the best electrical injury lawyer in NJ at RAM Law to get compensated so you can recover fully and return to your previous quality of life.

What Defines an Electrocution Accident?

A person who comes into contact with an electrical energy source, such as a live wire or malfunctioning electrical device, experiences an electrocution accident. This can result in an electric shock that can cause an electrical injury of some type or even death. The quantity of current, the amount of time of contact, and how the current travels through the body affect how severe the injury is. Accidents involving electrocution can occur in homes, workplaces, and outdoor environments.

Premises liability claims may result from electrocution accidents on a property when the accident was caused by negligence, dangerous conditions, or a failure to provide a warning. Depending on the shock’s intensity, electrocution symptoms can change. Get medical attention as soon as possible because some symptoms might not appear straight away after the incident. Common symptoms include:

• Pain or a burning feeling
• Contractions or spasms of the muscles
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Cardiac arrest or irregular heartbeat
• Burns or scorched skin from when skin meets an electrical source
• Tingling or numbness
• Unconsciousness
• Seizures
• Vision problems, such as blurry vision
• Confusion or memory loss

If you’ve been injured in an electrocution accident, you need a professional electrocution attorney from the top legal practice in New Jersey at RAM Law. Not only will their personal injury lawyer help you get maximized compensation, but they make sure justice prevails and the negligent party is held accountable for their mistakes.

What Are the Primary Causes of Electrocution Accidents?

Accidents involving electrocution can occur for a variety of reasons. Workplace electrocution accidents usually are caused by defective equipment. The danger of electrocution accidents at home is increased in households with defective wiring. Other common causes include:

• Contact with live wires during construction, maintenance or appliance handling leading to construction accidents
• Exposed wires or broken electrical equipment
• Negligent security
• Buildings with aging or faulty wiring
• Inadequate safety measures
• Inadequate and insufficient training
• Improper electrical installation
• Overloaded circuits, particularly in houses

Although electrocution accidents can occur in various ways, most commonly they happen after direct contact with a live wire. But other common types include:

• Indirect contact, which entails being exposed to electrical current via surfaces or materials that conduct electricity
• Flash arc, which is an unexpected energy release brought on by an electrical fault or short circuit that results in a flash or explosion
• Ground fault, meaning current is leaking into the earth as a result of defective wiring or insulation
• A lightning strike, which can cause extremely dangerous electrical shock, leading to catastrophic injuries
• High voltage from electrical systems or equipment operating at high voltage, exposure to which may cause industrial injuries
• Low voltage from lower voltage electrical systems that can cause accidents common in households

Who’s at Risk of Electrocution Accidents that Require an Electrical Injury Lawyer?

Industrial sites and employees working there are mostly at risk because they often have to work in an environment with extensive exposure to wiring and electric equipment. Other jobs that put workers at risk of electrocution may also include:

• Construction workers
• Electricians
• Maintenance technicians
• HVAC technicians
• Plumbers
• Workers at factories
• Agricultural workers
• Landscapers

Electrical burn injuries are the most common injuries from electrocution accidents. These burns happen when the skin and underlying tissues are damaged by an electrical current passing through the body. The severity of electrical burns can range from superficial burns to serious tissue damage necessitating surgical intervention. Other injuries may include:

• Muscle injuries
• Internal injuries
• Fractures or trauma to the limbs
• Psychological trauma
• Head and brain Injuries
• Back and neck injuries
• Deep tissue or organ damage
• Death

Electrical injuries are unfortunately common in industrial settings. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were around 1,640 non-fatal electrical injuries that required days off work in the private sector in 2020. According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International, electrical accidents cause approximately 4,000 injuries in the United States each year.

What Legal Options Do I Have After an Electrocution Accident?

Understandably, the damages you have suffered are too often not reversible, but you can get help with your recovery. There are several legal options in New Jersey that your electrocution accident lawyer may present, including:

• Worker’s compensation. You can be qualified for workers’ compensation if the accident happened while you were employed.
• Personal injury lawsuit. You may file a personal injury lawsuit if the accident was brought on by the carelessness of another party, such as the owner of the property or the producer of defective machinery.
• Product liability case. You may bring a product liability case against the manufacturer if the accident was brought on by a malfunctioning electrical device <Link to Defective Products> or piece of equipment.
• Premises liability case. You may bring a premises responsibility case if the accident happened on someone else’s property as a result of dangerous circumstances or poor upkeep.
• Wrongful death lawsuit. On behalf of the estate of the deceased, you may file a wrongful death lawsuit if the electrocution accident claimed a loved one’s life.

The principles of negligence are used to assess who is at fault in an electrical accident. Your electrocution attorney establishes liability by proving elements such as:

• Duty of care. The individual making the negligence accusation must have a duty to provide a safe environment for the victim.
• Breach of duty. It must be demonstrated that the party’s failure to take reasonable safety steps to avert the accident constituted a violation of their duty of care.
• The electrocution accident and the defendant’s breach of duty must be directly related to the ensuing injuries and damage.
• The accident must have caused the plaintiff to suffer real costs, such as lost income, medical bills, pain and suffering, or property damage.

An electrocution accident lawyer offers important support and representation, guiding you through the legal process and pursuing the compensation you deserve for your injuries and losses. An electrical injury lawyer from RAM Law in New Jersey:

• Specializes in electrical accidents and understands all aspects of these situations, including applicable local, state and federal laws, regulations and legal precedents
• Evaluates the specifics of your case, such as the facts of the accident, the severity of your injuries, and the potential liability of the persons involved
• Investigates and gathers all the evidence
• Negotiates with the insurance provider and opposing parties on your behalf to reach a fair settlement
• Defends you in court if a settlement can’t be reached

What Compensation Options Are Available to Electrocution Injury Victims?

Electrical injury victims in New Jersey should consult with an experienced personal injury attorney to assess their case because there are so many variables that influence the way a case is pursued. Your lawyer boosts the amount of money you’re compensated for from your electrocution accident based on the particulars of the accident. Potential compensations may include:

• Current and future medical costs associated with the treatment of electrocution-related injuries
• Income lost due to missing work during healing or any permanent handicap that limits your earning potential
• Lasting disability, handicap or disfigurement caused by the electrocution accident
• Rehabilitation treatments, physical therapy, occupational therapy, cosmetic surgery and other types of therapy required for recovery
• Punitive damages may be awarded to punish the offender and prevent similar behavior in the future in cases of excessive negligence or misconduct by the accountable party

The severity of injuries suffered in an electrocution accident has a significant impact on compensation. More serious injuries frequently result in more compensation due to increasing medical costs, longer durations of absence from work, and greater pain and suffering.

Are There Specific Labor Laws in New Jersey?

New Jersey has labor laws that control many areas of employment, such as salaries, hours, workplace safety, discrimination and employee rights. Important labor laws in New Jersey include:

• New Jersey’s Wage and Hour Law establishes guidelines for the minimum wage, overtime compensation and other wage issues that must be considered when assessing damages.
• The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD) prohibits discrimination and harassment based on protected characteristics, which can’t be used in a personal injury lawsuit.
• The New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA) offers eligible employees job-protected leave for family and medical reasons, including leave for recovery from an accident.
• The Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA) protects employees from retribution if they report illegal, unsafe or unethical workplace conduct.
• The New Jersey Temporary Disability Compensation Law provides temporary disability compensation to qualifying employees who are unable to work due to non-work-related diseases, injuries or diseases.
• Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) sets standards for workplace safety and health and is enforced by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

These rules establish a framework for enhancing workplace safety and guaranteeing businesses take the necessary precautions, including offering training, putting safety procedures into place, and maintaining equipment, to prevent electrical injuries. They also set guidelines for compensation to workers who sustain injuries as a result of negligence or hazardous working environments.

When You Are Injured in An Electrical Accident, Our Accident Lawyers at Rebenack, Aronow & Mascolo, L.L.P. Will Help

An accident from an electrical accident can be life-changing and saddle you with mounting medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. Our seasoned Personal Injury lawyers at Rebenack, Aronow & Mascolo, L.L.P. can help. Call 732-247-3600 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. We are located in New Brunswick, Somerville, and Freehold, New Jersey, and we serve clients in Middlesex County, Monmouth County, and Somerset County.

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https://www.uptodate.com/contents/electrical-injuries-and-lightning-strikes-evaluation-and-management

https://htxtriallawyers.com/blog/top-electrical-accidents-in-the-workplace/

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https://ramlawnj.com/