Dallas Electrocution Accident Lawyer
Electricity is an essential part of our modern world, but it also comes with inherent risks. Unfortunately, electrical accidents are widespread in certain occupations here in Texas and throughout the United States. Electrocution happens when someone makes contact with a high-voltage electrical source, causing the current to make its way through the human body. The way the body responds will depend on a host of factors, including the source of electricity and voltage. Regardless, these accidents often lead to serious, disabling injuries. For this reason, an electrical injury can be extremely devastating and cause widespread damage to the victim’s organs, muscles, and skin.
Intense pain. Heart complications. Electrical burns. These are just a few of the symptoms commonly associated with electrocution. Although electrocution accidents can happen in virtually any industry, they are more common with construction jobs and other similar occupations. In Texas alone, there are currently 715,400 electricians working across various sectors. Sadly, a worker in the Lone Star State dies on the job every 16 hours, often from electrocution.
If you were injured in an electrical accident, or if you lost a loved one to electrocution, it may be time to discuss your case with a lawyer. Shamieh Law is a leading electrocution and workplace accident lawyer in the Dallas area. We offer free consultations and are dedicated to helping our clients understand their rights. Depending on the nature of your case, you may be able to file a lawsuit. To learn more about your options, contact Shamieh Law at (214) 494-8156, and schedule a no-obligation consultation.
What Is Electrocution?
To understand the serious nature of electrical accidents, it helps to know what electrocution is. Electrocution accidents can cause both internal and external bodily injuries that may range from minor burns to life-threatening injuries and death. Electricity is potent and can damage and destroy human tissue in a matter of seconds. This happens because the human body serves as a conductor of electricity when any part comes in contact with the electrical source. In some cases, the skin will protect the body from electrocution, but not always. As humans, we are particularly susceptible to electricity and the injuries that come along with it.
What Are The Symptoms Of Electrocution?
The risk of electrical shock for workers in Texas is high, no doubt about it. These incidents often involve electricity traveling through the body, affecting various organs, tissues, and muscles. The most common symptoms of electrocution include:
- Sudden loss of blood flow, leading to cardiac arrest
- Falls or other injuries that happen as a side effect of electrical shock
- Damage to the muscles, nerves, and tissue structure
- Severe burns that occur with the release of energy as it flows through the body
- Irregular heartbeat
- Muscle spasms and seizures
- Pain or loss of sensation
- Trouble hearing, seeing, or swallowing
- Difficulty breathing
- Lung failure
- Unconsciousness
- Body aches and pains
- Numbness or tingling
- Temporary or permanent paralysis
- Neurological damage
- Loss of limbs
- Cataracts
- Loss of kidney function
- Secondary injuries caused by falls
- Deformity
- Spine injury
- Muscle pain
- Confusion
Common Causes Of Electrocution Accidents
Electrical injuries are categorized into four main types:
- Flash
- Flame
- Lightning
- True
With both flash and flame injuries, no electrical current pulsates through the body, thanks to the skin. These injuries are often superficial burns or happen as a result of the clothes catching on fire. Lightning injuries, on the other hand, involve a short but high voltage of electrical energy that flows through the whole body. True electrical injuries happen when an individual comes in contact with an electrical circuit, such as while working at a construction site.
We hope the above provides you with a better understanding of how electricity works and why electrocution can be so dangerous. Let’s now look at the most common causes of electrocution accidents in Texas:
- Exposed wiring
- Downed power line
- Faulty appliance wiring
- Improper electrical wiring found during excavation on construction sites
- Improper training for machinery
- Errors in electrical wiring installation
- Defective construction equipment
- Overloads
- Ground faults
- Temporary wiring
- Live parts
How Does Electrocution Happen?
Certain occupations in Texas are more dangerous than others and leave workers at risk of electrocution. In the United States, more than 5,200 workers die every year from work-related injuries. Of these fatalities, around 1,000 are the result of electrical injuries, 400 of which are due to high-voltage injuries. Furthermore, there are approximately 30,000 shock incidents every year that lead to many different injuries and side effects.
So, how does electrocution happen? There are many different ways workers can come in contact with electricity. Some of the most common ways a worker can be electrocuted include:
- The ladder the employee is on comes in contact with power lines
- An excavator digs into the ground without realizing there are power lines underneath
- The power isn’t turned off at a worksite
- A tree or other object falls onto a power line that then comes in contact with a person on the ground
- A shock from unprotected electrical products
- Construction equipment that comes in contact with power lines
- Contact with electricity-based weapons
- Failure to enforce safety procedures
Whenever there is an exposed electrical current, the risk of electrocution is high. However, certain steps can be taken to protect workers and ensure these types of accidents don’t occur. Having proper safety procedures in place is essential and the first line of defense.
Facts About Electrocution
Numerous factors may contribute to electrical shock injuries, including:
- The type of voltage involved
- The specific pathway the electrical current took
- How long the person was in contact with the electrical source
- The health of the victim
Did You Suffer An Electrocution Injury?
If you suffered an electrocution injury while on a worksite or were injured because of another person’s negligence, you may have the legal right to file a lawsuit. Here at Shamieh Law Firm, we take these types of cases very seriously. We understand the devastating effect an electrical injury can have on an individual and their loved ones. To learn more about your rights or to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced lawyers, give us a call today.
