Contact with electricity can cause devastating personal injuries and often results in electrocution. There are many different ways that the mishandling of electrical power can cause injury or death. Electrical injuries and electrocution are often a result of the negligence of a third party such as the power company, an electrical contractor, a home builder, or the supplier of faulty equipment.
Contact with even relatively low voltages can cause significant injury or death. In fact, each year more people are killed and injured with standard household voltages than by high-voltage currents. If you or someone you love has been injured in an electrical accident that may have been caused by another party’s negligence, it is important to speak with a skilled Chicago electrical injuries lawyer that can advise you of your legal rights and help you determine what kind of case you have against the responsible party.
Electrical accidents and electrocution can cause a number of serious injuries. These include:
- Mild to Severe Burns (often causing bodily disfigurement)
- Brain Injuries
- Nerve Damage
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Falls, Dislocations and Fractures
- Visual, Hearing and Speech Impairment
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Cardiac Arrest (often leading to death)
Survivors of electrical injuries can require extensive plastic and reconstructive surgeries and the longstanding effects can be profound.
Electrical Injuries and Electrocution Claims
Victims of electrocution and other electrical injuries (and their families) have the right to pursue damages against the negligent party under several categories. These include:
- Medical Bills: Medical expenses in these cases can be very high and go on for many months (or even years) to bring the victim back to normal condition. In cases where the injury leads to a permanent disability, the medical bills will continue for the lifetime of the victim.
- Lost Income: If the victim is not able to work for any period of time because of the injury, they have the right to be compensated for lost wages.
- Pain and Suffering: The pain and trauma of an electrical injury is immediate and can continue for many years into the future.
- Emotional Damage: If the injury is long-term or permanent, the victim may have ongoing feelings of depression because they are no longer able to do the things they once did.
At Hurley McKenna & Mertz, P.C., we have over 20 years of experience representing victims of electrical accidents in Chicago, Cook County and throughout the nation. Our Partner, Michael Mertz, worked as an apprentice electrician prior to attending law school and has first-hand knowledge of the construction trades. If you or someone you know has been electrocuted or injured by electricity, you should contact the experienced Chicago electrical injuries attorneys at HM&M today for a free no obligation consultation. At HM&M, our attorneys have successfully handled many cases involving severe injuries and deaths caused by contact with electricity.
For a free consultation, contact Hurley McKenna & Mertz, P.C. today at 312-553-4900 or fill out our online form to have a lawyer contact you.
