Electrocution Lawyer in Charleston, WV
Compensation for On-the-Job Injuries in West Virginia
Electrocution is one of the leading causes of workplace-related injuries and deaths, especially in the construction industry. However, this fact doesn’t mean you deserve to be electrocuted when you’re on the job—all employers are expected to provide safe working conditions for their employees. If you’re suffering from an electrocution injury, Warner Law Offices, PLLC can help.
The bulk of electrocutions are work-related injuries, followed by private consumers usually in their own homes because of unsafe home maintenance or a defective or dangerous product. One of our experienced electrocution injury attorneys in West Virginia can help you or a loved one receive compensation quickly and determine whether you can benefit from a personal injury claim.
Contact our Charleston office today online or by phone to schedule a free consultation at 304-345-6789. We connect within an hour to our clients and are happy to answer any of your questions.
What is Electrocution?
Electrocution refers to an electric shock that occurs upon the contact of a human body with any source of voltage high enough to cause sufficient current flow through the muscles or nerves. The current may cause tissue damage, heart fibrillation, or death. Electric shocks are accountable for around 1,000 deaths in the United States annually, or close to 1 percent of all accidental deaths. In 2018 alone, occupational exposure to electrical shocks led to more than 1,500 injuries and 160 fatal injuries.
The severity of the injury depends on factors like the current’s pressure, the amount of current, the body’s resistance to the current, the current’s path through the body, and how long the body remains in contact with the current. Most often, the nervous, respiratory, and cardiovascular systems are the most damaged, in addition to possible skin burns. Neurological problems may be permanent depending on the severity of the shock and the length of time in contact.
Electrical injuries are typically divided into the following categories:
- Flash injuries: This describes a fast yet intense shock you can receive, causing light, superficial burns. However, the electrical current doesn’t go past your skin.
- Flame injuries: Coming into contact with electrical sources can cause fires. If you’ve suffered burns from having your clothes catch fire, this is considered a flame injury.
- True injuries: A “true” injury occurs when a person has become a part of an electrical circuit, which can result in serious organ damage.
Where Electrocution Injuries Occur
Any worker can be electrocuted depending on the nature of their work and office conditions, though it’s worth mentioning that those in construction trades like roofers, painters, electricians, and construction site laborers are more at risk of being electrocuted and injured or killed. The main reason for this is that manual laborers are regularly exposed to electrical sources.
Some examples of how electrocution injuries occur at work include:
- Defective equipment or machinery
- Coming into contact with power lines
- Digging or mining into underground electric lines
- Exposed electrical wiring
- Misusing extension cords
Some people may think electrocution injuries are only momentarily painful, which is why they might not seek medical attention. However, electrical shocks are associated with health consequences like seizures and organ damage, which is why we always recommend that victims have their conditions diagnosed and treated by a doctor. If you’re experiencing symptoms like burns, confusion or loss of consciousness, cardiac issues, or difficulty breathing, call 911 for emergency medical care.
How We Help
At our firm, our job is to help our clients get high-quality legal representation, so they can heal and move on with their lives. If you’ve been electrocuted at work, chances are you’re facing financial difficulties as a result of your medical bills and time taken off work to recover. If you lost a loved one to a fatal electrical injury, you may also have funeral bills and lost income to worry about in addition to your emotional pain.
Our lawyers are able to help you look into filing a personal injury claim on your behalf. We’re knowledgeable about employer negligence as well as OSHA laws and can ensure you receive the compensation you need. We can also help you meet West Virginia’s statute of limitations, as injured individuals just have six months from the date of injury to file for benefits after an occupational injury. When you call us, you can expect to be connected to a lawyer directly and receive the guidance you need during a painful time.
Contact our Charleston office today online or by phone to schedule a free consultation at 304-345-6789. Our attorneys can give you interrupted and personalized guidance.
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Bobby has received many accolades throughout the years from both his peers in the legal community, as well as the media. The National Trial Lawyers association named Bobby a Top 100 Trial Lawyer and he has been selected as a Member of the Nation’s Top One Percent. Additionally, he has been named a Best Attorneys of America by Rue Ratings, which also named Warner Law Offices to its Best Law Firms of America.
We represent clients across West Virginia and surrounding areas, providing compassionate client service and relentless advocacy in and out of the courtroom.
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