Not too long ago, our team negotiated a settlement in the amount of $4.27 million for a 29-year-old man who suffered life-altering injuries following an electrical shock while at work.
While seen as a “win” in the legal sense, we know that our client would have much preferred the accident had never taken place to begin with. But the reality is that electrocutions and shocks occur on a daily basis across the country, and the Greater Fall River area is no exception.
Legal Brief: An electrocution is when death occurs from an electric shock. Not all shock victims die, however, all victims of electrocution do.
In fact, we have clients who’ve suffered various degrees of electric shock come to us on a regular basis seeking legal advice. But before it gets to our desk, we thought it important to help you realize how best to handle a situation where an electrocution or shock has just taken place.
WHAT DO I DO IF SOMEONE HAS BEEN SHOCKED?
- Don’t touch the person if he is still in contact with the electrical current
- Stay away from high-voltage wires until all power is turned off. Stay at least 20 feet away, if possible, and even further if the wires are jumping, arcing, or sparking
- Don’t move a person with an electrical injury unless he is in immediate danger
HOW DO I KNOW IF I SHOULD CALL 911 FOLLOWING A SHOCK?
You should call 911 if there’s been a serious injury, and also if the source of the burn is a high-voltage wire or lightning.
You should also call 911 if the victim experiences any of the following:
- Burns
- Confusion
- Trouble breathing
- Change in heart rhythm
- Cardiac arrest
- Muscle pain
- Seizures
- Loss of consciousness
WHAT ARE MY LEGAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING AN ELECTRICAL SHOCK?
Once the threat has been neutralized and the victim is under medical care, you might soon begin to wonder what legal actions you can take.
For starters, electrocution is a viable lawsuit. The damages associated with this lawsuit will depend heavily on the injuries and medical bills.
For the cases where electrical shock victims survive, it’s not uncommon for medical expenses to exceed six figures.
Not only are immediate medical expenses factored in, but more often than not, these severe cases require victims to ensure a lifetime of expensive living accommodations.
Other expenses your Fall River electrocution/electric shock attorney will factor in when determining your ideal settlement include loss of income and the impact on the victim’s family.
Needless to say, while the pain and suffering of the initial shock is close to unbearable, the future for that victim will likely be even more difficult. That’s why the Sabra and Aspden team work hard to help clients throughout Fall River – who have been victims of electric shocks or know someone who died as a result of an electrocution – get what’s rightfully theirs.
