Electricity is such a part of our world that most of us take it for granted. We also forget how dangerous it can be until it’s too late. When an accident involving electricity occurs, it can be serious and even fatal, leading to significant issues that can be hard to recover from.
This applies not only to your physical health but to your financial stability as well, and when you’re injured in an electrocution accident you may end up with more bills and financial burdens than you can handle. But if the accident wasn’t your fault, you have an option – seek restitution with the help of a personal injury lawyer.
Electrocution And Its Repercussions
No matter the cause of an electrocution accident, it can be serious and lead to burns, brain damage, and even death. The wounds can take a long time to recover from and in the case of a death, those left behind may struggle to pick up the pieces and move on after the event.
Your finances are also at risk. Being injured in an electrocution accident can mean that you struggle financially due to things like:
- Hospital bills
- Lost wages due to missing work
- Future potential lost earnings if your injury means you can’t perform your job anymore
- And more
And in the case of a death, if the departed was a breadwinner, the family left behind may end up without a major source of income – and still have mounting debt to pay that includes the funeral costs of their loved one. None of this is fair, and getting justice is important. A personal injury lawyer can help.
Common Causes Of Electrocution
There are many causes of electrocution, and it is sadly an issue that can come out of virtually anywhere. Some of the most common causes include:
- Exposed wires
- Faulty wiring
- Standing water near electrical sources
- Poorly maintained equipment or property
- Working on a project without turning off the electrical breaker
While it’s very easy to overlook something and electrocute yourself, what happens when you had no way of preventing the issue because it was caused by the carelessness or recklessness of someone else? When that occurs, you have the right to seek compensation.
Do You Have A Case?
In order to file your personal injury lawsuit, you’ll have to be able to show that your injuries were caused as a direct result of someone else’s negligent or reckless behavior. This can mean a lot of different things. Some of the common examples of negligence or recklessness in a case like this include:
- A property owner knows about a faulty outlet but does nothing about it
- Someone fails to maintain the equipment in their workspace, leading to an accident
- Bare wires or extension cords are left in or near puddles
- Someone fails to properly inspect equipment or property as required
The key here is to understand that the responsible party must have been aware of the issue. For example, a property owner who was completely unaware of a safety issue can’t be held liable – it’s only if they knew about the risk and failed to correct it or failed to take steps to warn others about it.
Proving Fault
Proving fault in electrocution accident cases isn’t easy since you have to show that the responsible party really did know about the safety risk and did nothing about it. But how do you do this? The best option is to trust in a personal injury attorney.
They can use a variety of different resources to prove fault including:
- Security camera footage
- Witness statements
- Accident reports
- Medical documents
- Past history of events at the property
- Property inspections
- And more
Getting What You’re Owed
Another major issue is that insurance companies and representatives from the other side don’t always have your best interests at heart. Often, they will do all they can to keep from giving you a dollar. They may deny payment outright or offer you a settlement that is far less than you are really owed. In any situation, you need respect.
Your attorney gets you that respect and stands up to the other side. Our team has a reputation in Florida and in the field, and once you have us on your side you’ll instantly get the respect of the other side. They’ll be much more likely to negotiate and get you what you’re owed, and we’ll make sure that you get it.
The Help You Deserve
If you or a loved one has been injured in an electrocution accident on the property of someone else or while working, you may have the right to get restitution. Contact us today to talk to one of our lawyers in a free consultation and see more about what we can do for you and just what your rights are.