Houston Electrocution Attorneys

Understanding Electrical Shock Injuries

Each year, about 1,000 accidents involve electric shock. Even non-fatal shocks can cause severe and permanent injuries. The severity of electrical shock incidents depends on many circumstances. For instance, getting shocked by low-voltage equipment is usually far less damaging than direct exposure to a high-voltage power transmission line. Factors such as how wet your skin was, what type of current was involved, and how long the shock lasted all play roles in the outcome.

After being shocked, you may lose consciousness, experience seizures, or have difficulty breathing. You might also become confused or feel like your heart is beating out of rhythm. It’s critical to seek immediate medical attention after such events, but incapacitated victims may have to rely on those around them to render such aid.

Electrical Shock Cases in Texas

Electrical shock incidents can happen almost anywhere, not just around power equipment. In Texas, history has proven that from outdoor recreation areas to schools to refineries to restaurants, this type of injury is a constant hazard.

Does this mean that victims should just accept being shocked as an inescapable danger of modern life? No, because there’s a right and wrong way to do things. Many of the shock incidents that become Texas tragedies are preventable, and survivors deserve answers.

How Shocks Happen

When people get shocked, it’s usually because they came into direct contact with an energized object or indirect contact via another electrically conductive object. For instance, children have died after touching metal surfaces on faulty appliances. Power workers have been injured by transmission lines that should have been de-energized before being repaired.

Who’s at Fault?

These examples demonstrate that shocks aren’t merely random events. Organizations or business owners who fail to operate safe workplaces and maintain equipment properly can increase the likelihood that their staff members or patrons will be injured. The same goes for manufacturers that sell poorly insulated products or devices with defective safety mechanisms.

Taking Action

Those victimized by others’ lack of care have lawful options in seeking compensation and holding liable parties accountable—but the onus of proof is high.

You’ll need to show that:

• You sustained an injury
• The injury was related to someone else’s inaction, negligence, or lack of care
• The incident caused you losses, such as financial burdens related to medical bills or inability to gain employment

Texas’s comparative fault laws mean that you may be found partially responsible for what happened to you. However, you should still seek justice. Pursuing a legal judgment has the potential to reduce your medical bills significantly and recompense you for pain and suffering.

In litigation cases or cases in which you must pursue your claim in court, there are many challenges and pitfalls to avoid. Our Houston electrical shock attorneys have a successful track record in both personal injury settlements and verdicts. We have successfully recovered more than $1 billion for our clients.