Electrocution Injury Attorneys in La Mesa

When an individual comes into direct contact with an electrical current, the damage to the internal organs or skin is an electrical injury. The victims are often equally traumatized with the electrocution, as well as the burning aftermath.

While our lawyers cannot undo pain and eliminate that terrible memory, we can fight hard on your behalf to ensure that you get the rightful compensation that you deserve. The skilled and knowledgeable electrocution burn injury lawyers at Garmo & Garmo have extensive experience in handling electrocution and electrical burn injuries.

Electrical Burn Injuries: Types and Treatment

Electrical burns are distinct from chemical or thermal burns in their ability to cause significantly more sub-dermal damage. While they can sometimes cause only surface damage, more often, the tissues in the deeper skin layers sustain severe damage.

Consequently, electrical burns are hard to diagnose correctly. Many victims underestimate the seriousness of their burns. Electricity can, in extreme cases, lead to shock to the brain, strain to the heart, and damage to other organs. In the US alone, electrical burn injuries are responsible for 1,000 fatalities annually, with a mortality rate of three to five percent.

Electric burns can be classified into six basic types. At times, an electrical burn victim can experience two or more burns. Medical practitioners should manage and treat each burn differently, depending on the severity and cause. The key types of electrical burns are as follows:

Arc Burns

Arc burns occur when electrical energy travels from a space of high resistance to one of low resistance. These burns do not require direct contact with a source of electricity but can cause a spurt of pressure and create extremely high heat.

Flame Burns

When the source of another burn (for instance, an arc burn) catches fire, it can cause flame burns.

Flash Burns

These burns take place when electrical arcs appear on the skin and can lead to severe damage to substantial areas of the skin, but typically do not penetrate the tissue.

Low Voltage Burns

Low voltage burns occur when someone comes into contact with an electrical source of 500 volts or under. These burns typically only cause damage to the skin and are milder.

High Voltage Burns

These burns take place when an individual comes into contact with a high voltage electrical source and can damage organs and tissues.

Oral Burns

Oral burns occur when an individual bites into an electrical cord. Children are often victims of such burns, leading to injuries to the mouth. At times, defective dental equipment can cause oral burns as well.

Common Reasons for Electrocution Accidents at Construction Sites

Electrocution accidents commonly occur due to:

1. An accidental encounter with underground or overhead power lines
2. Accidental contact with live wires
3. Accidental contact with an electric current while using power tools, construction equipment, or electrical appliances

Data indicates that most electrocution accidents on construction sites take place due to non-compliance with OSHA’s safety guidelines. For instance, OSHA provides recommendations on the distance one should maintain from overhead power lines, based on their voltage.

• Maintain a distance of two feet, if the voltage is below 300 volts.
• Maintain a distance of ten feet if it is between 300 volts and 50,000 volts.
• Maintain a ten feet distance plus an additional four inches for every 10,000 volts beyond the limit of 50,000 volts. For instance, you should maintain a distance of ten feet and 12 inches if a power line is carrying 80,000 volts.

The employer or contractor is responsible for enforcing these safety regulations on the job site, failing which they could be held liable for injuries and fatalities due to electrical accidents. Employers, construction site owners, contractors, and electrical equipment manufacturers can be held at-fault for electrocution accidents because of the following:

• Inadequately insulated power lines
• Defective power tools
• Lack of electrical safety training for workers
• Unmarked or poorly marked construction zones
• Insufficient lighting in construction zones
• Ungrounded outlets
• Lack of protective gear for workers

If you have sustained injuries in an electrocution accident that occurred due to any of the reasons mentioned earlier, seasoned electrocution injury attorneys at law offices of Garmo & Garmo in California can help you collect fair compensation from the parties whose recklessness caused your injuries.

Determining the Lethality of an Electric Shock

In general, the lethality of an electric shock depends on the following:

• The amount of electric current traveling through the body: The probability of death is proportional to the amount of electric current passing through the body.
• The length of time in contact with electricity: The risk of sustaining deadly injuries increases with an increase in the duration of time the body remains in contact with electricity.
• The pathway that current flows through: The risk of death is very high if the electrical current passes through your heart’s muscles.
• The amount of voltage the power line carries: High voltage can disintegrate your skin and lower your resistance, considerably increasing the risk of fatality.

Non-fatal electrocution can result in various injuries such as breathing troubles, tingling sensation, irregular heartbeat, heart attack, numbness, fractured bones, burns, difficulty swallowing, spasms, and pain. We handle the following types of electrocution cases:

• Faulty appliances
• Faulty power tools
• Defective curling irons, lamps, and other small electronics
• Unattended down power lines
• Contact with overhead power lines
• Injuries caused due to a lack of ground fault detection
• Accidents related to power lines
• Electric shock injuries
• Electrical accidents

Schedule a Consultation with an Experienced Electrocution Injury Lawyer

The seasoned lawyers at Garmo & Garmo work closely with clients and family members to understand the electrical burn or electrocution accident’s impact. It may become impossible to resume work due to cognitive disruption or nerve damage.

Other victims may experience a range of symptoms ranging from tingling and numbness to memory loss, even personality changes. We will fight tirelessly to make sure that the financial, medical, emotional, and psychological aspects of electrical burn or electrocution are fairly compensated. To schedule a free consultation with an experienced lawyer, message us online or call our office today at (619) 441-2500.