If you or a loved one has suffered serious injury as a result of electrocution or an electrical accident, Scartelli Olszewski, P.C.’s skilled accident attorneys in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania can help you seek compensation. Our personal injury lawyers have recovered millions of dollars on behalf of electrocution victims and their loved ones. We have successfully tried personal injury cases in state and federal courts and have advocated on behalf of injured victims in arbitrations and mediations. Through this, we’ve secured substantial recoveries from power companies and product manufacturers on behalf of our clients. If you have been injured in an electrical accident, we encourage you to contact us today.

Who is Most At Risk of Electrocution?

Electrical injuries cause approximately 1,000 deaths in the United States each year. For adults, electrocution typically occurs in the workplace, while children are primarily injured in a household setting.

Reports indicate that the risks of electrocution are particularly high for construction workers, utility employees, engineers, electricians, and other personnel who regularly come into contact with electrical sources.

While all individuals who are injured in electrical accidents should seek the advice of an experienced accident lawyer, claims by those injured on the job can be especially complex. This is because of workers’ compensation law, insurance coverage, and occupational safety regulations.

What are the Laws for Electrocution in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence approach with all personal injury claims, which checks whether you are at least partially responsible for your accident or injuries. Consequently, you can still file a claim if you are 50% or less at fault and recover damages in proportion to the same percentage.

The same applies to electrocution law in Pennsylvania. If you have been in an electrical mishap, you have two years to file a lawsuit seeking compensation. Any longer, and you might not qualify.

What Can You Pursue Damages for in Pennsylvania?

Because many electrocution accidents are traced back to a negligent company or individual, you may have a clear legal recourse if you sustain severe electrical injuries. Depending on the extent of your debilitation, you can pursue damages for:

Medical bills and expenses
Missed wages (lost and future)
Pain and suffering
Mental anguish
Wrongful death

At Scartelli Olszewski, P.C., our dedicated electrocution lawyers in Scranton, Pennsylvania, are ready to help you recover compensation for your losses. With decades of experience, we can act quickly and seek the justice you deserve.

What are the Common Causes of Electrocution?

Electrical accidents in Pennsylvania can happen in multiple ways. From new construction and renovation to plain negligence, the reasons are endless. Here are a few causes of electrocution you should know about.

Contact with a Power Line: A ladder or high-reaching equipment grazing an exposed wire or even a shovel coming in touch with a downed power line can cause electrical injuries.
Contact with Exposed Electrical Sources: You can also blame faulty electrical wiring, power cords, extension cords, defective appliances, or unsafe commercial/industrial environments for electrical accidents.
Faulty Outlets: Outlets and switches receive electricity through a box connected to wires. The electricity can become unstable if any screw or wire in the box is loose. This may lead to electrical accidents once you plug in an appliance.
Electricity Touching Water: Electricity and water make for a dangerous combination because water is incredibly conductive. A submerged source of electricity can turn water bodies like swimming pools into a shock hazard. Swimming pool electrocutions happen far too often, and the property owner and pool contractors can be held liable for the damages.

Some other causes of electrocution include:

Electrical outlets placed in unsafe locations
Shorts in electrical appliances due to manufacturing defects
Gross negligence by power companies
Poorly discarded extension cords
Fallen telephone lines
Unsafe work practices
Insufficient isolation
Unsafe rules
Poor control over work activities
Live working
Unsuitable test equipment
Poor maintenance
Uninsulated electrical wiring
The lack of preventive devices like ground-fault circuit interrupters (a device that monitors and shuts off electrical accidents when the current fluctuates), three-pronged plugs, and polarized plugs.

While electrocutions can happen anywhere, most occur on the job. Certain professions come with a greater risk of electrical accidents, such as construction, manufacturing, and power line work. Of these, power line workers are the most vulnerable to grave electrical injuries due to their regular exposure to high-voltage electricity.

When it comes to electrocutions, it only takes a moment to cause life-changing injuries or even death. Electrical accidents can leave victims with serious injuries, mounting medical bills, and years of rehabilitation.

Fortunately, you don’t have to face it all alone. Scartelli Olszewski, P.C.’s electrocution lawyers in Scranton, PA, can help you obtain maximum compensation for your suffering. If you or a loved one has experienced electrical accident injuries on the job, feel free to contact us to learn about your legal rights.

What Kind of Injuries are Caused by Electrocution?

It doesn’t take much exposure to electrical current to result in an injury. As the voltage increases, there’s a greater chance of severe trauma or death.

Those who survive an electrical current can be left with catastrophic injuries that forever alter the course of their life. Common electrocution injuries include:

Electrical Shock: Even a low-voltage electrical current can block the signal between the brain and muscles. This can either stop the heart, prevent the person from breathing, or cause muscle spasms. The exact effect depends on the voltage, how damp the person is, and how long the current flows.
Electrical Burns: Electrical current passing through the human body can burn the tissues along the length of its path. This can result in deep burns that often require significant surgeries and are permanently disabling. Although burns are customary with higher voltages, they may occur from domestic appliances if the current flows for longer than a fraction of a second.
Loss of Muscle Control: People who get electric shocks may suffer from painful muscle spasms severe enough to break bones or dislocate the joints. Once the person loses muscle control, they cannot escape or ‘let go’ of the electric shock.
Thermal Burns: Incorrectly maintained or overloaded electrical equipment can get very hot. People might receive thermal burns when they get too close to hot surfaces or an electrical explosion.

Other electrocution injuries are as follows:

Irregular heart rate
Headache
Chest pain
Body aches
Unconsciousness
Numbness and tingling
Paralysis
Temporary or permanent hearing and speech impediments
Cardiovascular problems
Neurological damage
Loss of limbs
Death

Can Being Electrocuted Lead to Injuries that Aren’t Caused by Electricity?

The force of an electric shock can also cause injuries when the person is electrocuted at a height. Workers may be thrown from their ladders or other elevated structures, suffering secondary injuries like broken bones, slipped discs, or brain hemorrhages.

Electrical injuries can ruin your life. Contact a seasoned Scranton electrocution attorney if you believe another party is responsible for your injuries. We’ll begin by investigating the accident, compiling evidence of liability, tracking damages, and negotiating a fair payout.

The team at Scartelli Olszewski, P.C. has handled several electrocution claims over the years, and we know exactly how to hold those responsible accountable for your injuries. We’ll go through each aspect of your case to determine how much compensation you qualify for.

Who is Responsible for Electrocution?

As mentioned, the costs associated with electrical injuries can be quite high, including:

Medical bills
Lost time from work
Additional transportation fees
Physical, mental, and emotional trauma

Although the injured parties, or their surviving loved ones, are entitled to compensation, they must first determine who’s to blame. Here are the various parties most often liable for electrical accidents.

Construction Contractors: Construction crews must employ extreme safety measures when working around unfinished electrical systems. Failure to do so can lead to grim results. This means that when an accident does occur on a construction site, the contractor is likely responsible. Contractors can also be held liable if a passerby is hurt due to a poorly contained site.
Power Line Companies: Electrical companies are responsible for many electrical accidents. Power line companies are usually tasked with maintaining high-voltage lines, repairing frayed wires, replacing defective switches, restoring compromised infrastructure, securing power installations with fences, and providing employees with ongoing training. If you were hurt in an electrical accident that your local power company could have prevented, you have every right to pursue legal action. Work with your Scranton electrocution injury lawyer to gather evidence and negotiate a settlement with the insurance provider.
Private Property Owners: Owners of private properties are expected to provide a safe environment for guests and customers. Hence, they may be held liable for any electrocution accidents taking place on their property. Consult your Scranton electrocution lawyer to discuss if an electrocution accident on private property qualifies for a lawsuit.
Defective and Dangerous Product Manufacturers: Electrical products like tools, kitchen appliances, and bathroom must-haves are everyday essentials. However, they can pose a severe threat to homeowners when they don’t work as intended. For most defective product cases, the manufacturer or seller is seen as the guilty party. However, an employer may also be at fault if they provided the defective product without disclosing its dangers.

Determining liability in an electrocution accident can be difficult. Usually, multiple parties are responsible for your damages. Your Scranton electrocution injury lawyer will analyze your case and establish who’s at fault before you proceed with a lawsuit.

What to do if You Suffer Electrocution Injuries

If you or a loved one has been electrocuted, it’s vital to seek first aid right away. Electrical accidents can cause injuries that are not always visible. Based on how high the voltage was, the injury can be fatal. The victim should seek proper medical attention as quickly as possible, regardless of the impact. Electrocution patients who do not receive proper treatment put themselves at a higher risk of permanent bodily damage.

Once you’re in the hospital, consider what caused your accident. Was it your fault? Or was your employer to blame? If the latter is true, you may have grounds for an electrocution lawsuit. An electrocution injury attorney in Scranton, PA can guide you in the right direction and calculate compensation for your injuries.

Contact the Scranton Electrocution Accident Attorneys at Scartelli Olszewski, P.C.

The Scranton electrocution accident attorney you choose can make or break your case. So, make sure you choose wisely. The team at Scartelli Olszewski, P.C. can help victims of electrocution uncover the truth and seek justice for their accidents. We’ll assist you through everything, whether it’s filing a claim for workers’ compensation benefits, investigating the cause of the accident, or seeking full and fair compensation for your injuries.

With us in your corner, you won’t have to worry about a thing. Contact us today.