Electrocution Accident Lawyers, GA

Helping Clients Receive Fair Compensation for Their Injuries

In the summer of 2023, a man jumped from a dock into Lake Lanier in Cunningham, GA, and ended up suffering an electric shock. The dock he jumped from had electric power installed by a licensed professional just a few years before the incident, yet somehow, the current ended up electrifying the water. The man was rescued by a neighbor but suffered severe injuries and ended up dying in the hospital a day later.

Unfortunately, electrocution accidents such as this one are not uncommon in Georgia and can happen at work or in other situations, such as at home or in a public place. If you or a loved one has been injured in an electrocution accident, it is important to learn your rights as a victim and see how an attorney may be able to help you recover compensation for your damages.

How Do Most Electrocution Accidents Happen at Work?

Workers in the construction industry and lineworkers have some of the highest rates of electrocution accidents, including both fatal and nonfatal incidents. Work conditions such as tight schedules, bad weather, or pressure to get a project completed in a short time may lead to critical work mistakes that can cause serious electrocution accidents.

According to OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), the most common reasons for injuries caused by electrocution accidents at work include touching overhead power lines with equipment or tools, coming in contact with underground power lines, failing to identify and de-energize live wires or electrical equipment, touching temporary wiring on the job site, and coming into contact with electrical currents through a defective work tool, lighting fixture, faulty equipment or appliance.

What Are the Most Common Electrocution Injuries?

The most common electrocution injuries include burns, cardiac arrest, nerve damage, and internal organ damage. It is not unusual for electrocution incidents to be fatal or leave the affected person in critical condition, eventually leading to their death. Contact with high-voltage electrical lines can also cause abnormal muscle spasms that stiffen the individual’s body and make them unable to get away from what is causing the electrical shock, leading to serious internal injuries.

Burn injuries may be caused by direct contact with the electrical current, as well as from the heat generated by the current, and can be disfiguring. Cardiac arrest is life-threatening and can occur due to the disruption of the electrical signals that control the heart, causing it to stop beating. Nerve damage can occur due to the disruption of nerve signals in the body. Internal organ damage can be caused by the disruption of the electrical signals to the organs, resulting in organ failure.

Can I Get Compensation if I Was Hurt in an Electrocution Accident That Did Not Happen at Work?

If you sustained a workplace accident injury due to electrocution, you may be covered through your employer’s worker’s compensation insurance. You will need to report the accident and submit a claim as soon as possible in order to start receiving benefits to cover your medical bills and a portion of your regular weekly wages.

However, if your electrocution accident happened outside of work, you will need to determine who may be responsible for the accident before figuring out how to seek compensation. For example, if you were at home and received an electric shock after using a home appliance, you may need to determine if the appliance had a manufacturing defect that caused the problem. If so, you may have a claim against the manufacturer of that appliance.

If your accident happened at someone else’s private property or place of business, you may need to file a premises liability claim against that person’s homeowner’s insurance or business insurance to recover compensation. In some cases where filing an insurance claim is not an option, you may also discuss your case with a personal injury attorney to learn if litigation may be a feasible option for you.

What Can I Do if I Lost a Loved One Due to Fallen Power Lines?

If you have lost a loved one due to an accident involving fallen power lines, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim and hold the at-fault party liable for your losses. It is essential to speak to an attorney to see if you have a claim and to decide the best course of action.

While it is understandable that you may be grieving the loss of your loved one and nothing can change what happened, a wrongful death claim may help you offset the financial burdens associated with your loss and get justice on behalf of your loved one by assigning liability to the at-fault party and ensuring they reimburse you for damages such as hospital bills, lost wages, final expenses, and also pain, suffering, and loss of companionship resulting from your loved one’s passing.

An attorney can help you by conducting a thorough investigation of the accident in order to determine who breached their duty of care and acted with negligence and how this breach resulted in the situation that led to your loved one’s death. For example, if the power company or a private contractor failed to properly install and secure the power lines or did not take prompt action to keep others from being injured once the dangerous situation was present, they may have been negligent and thus liable for what happened.

The Scott Pryor Law Group focuses on helping injured clients in Georgia to recover compensation for their damages. If you were injured in an electrocution accident or lost a loved one and need legal representation, do not hesitate to contact our personal injury attorneys by calling 678-325-3434 and requesting an initial consultation to see how we can help you.