Have you sustained electrocution injuries in Philadelphia? Anyone who works with or around electrical systems is at risk of sustaining such injuries. Even if your job doesn’t involve working with electrical systems, you may have been electrocuted in other circumstances, perhaps because someone was unreasonably careless.
Electrocutions can cause burns, pain, scarring, and various long-term health issues. If you’ve been electrocuted, you may be facing mounting medical bills, lost wages, and a range of other difficulties.
During this challenging time, a compassionate and dedicated Philadelphia electrocution injuries lawyer at Cooper Schall & Levy can review your case and inform you of your legal options. You may be eligible for financial compensation for your injuries and we may be able to help.
Jobs With a High Risk of Electrocution Injuries in Philadelphia, PA
It’s not uncommon for electrocution injury victims to sustain their injuries while operating as employees. Some jobs involve a higher-than-average risk of workers getting electrocuted. They include:
- Construction and extraction work
- Installation, maintenance, and repair jobs
- Building and property cleaning/upkeep jobs
Have you been electrocuted while doing your job in Philadelphia? You may be eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits if so.
Philadelphia Work-Related Electrocution Injuries and Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Most employers in Pennsylvania must purchase workers’ compensation insurance. You may file a claim for workers’ comp benefits if you’ve sustained electrocution injuries while at work in Philadelphia.
Workers’ compensation benefits compensate injured workers for certain “economic” losses resulting from workplace injuries and illnesses. An economic loss is a loss with a dollar value. Specifically, workers’ comp in Pennsylvania covers medical expenses and some lost wages.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim for Electrocution Injuries in Philadelphia, PA
Work isn’t the only setting or circumstance in which a victim might sustain electrocution injuries. Outside of work, potential causes of electrocution injuries include:
- Defective appliances
- Defective or damaged electrical cords
- Out-of-date electrical wiring
- Improper or damaged wiring
You may have grounds to file a personal injury claim if you’ve been electrocuted. For example, if you were electrocuted while using a dangerous or defective product, you might file a claim with the insurance of the product’s designers, owners, or marketers.
Or, if you were electrocuted on someone else’s property, you may have been injured because a property owner failed to address a dangerous issue, such as improper wiring. You might file a claim with the property owner’s insurance if so.
To file a claim, you’ll need to identify the liable party. This might require investigating your case to determine who is responsible for your injuries.
Compensation Available in a Philadelphia Electrocution Injuries Case
The compensation that may be available to you if you’ve sustained electrocution injuries can vary depending on several factors. When filing a workers’ comp or personal injury claim, you can pursue compensation for covered economic losses.
If you file a personal injury claim or lawsuit, you may also be eligible to receive compensation for losses that don’t have exact dollar values. These are non-economic losses. Examples of non-economic losses include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Assigning a dollar value to these losses often involves using specialized mathematical formulas. Technically, you can’t seek compensation for non-economic losses when filing a workers’ compensation claim. In addition, when you file a workers’ comp claim in Pennsylvania, except in rare circumstances, you can’t file a lawsuit against your employer.
However, you may be able to file a personal injury claim or lawsuit against another entity that is liable for your injuries. For example, maybe you were injured while working on someone’s property. Perhaps you were injured because the property owner didn’t take steps to minimize the risk of electrocution. Or, maybe your injuries were more significant than they should have been because a piece of safety equipment failed.
Even if you’ve already filed a workers’ comp claim, you might be able to seek additional compensation through a third-party claim or lawsuit. This could require gathering evidence showing the liable party is responsible for your injuries.
Seeking Compensation for Future Economic Losses
Severe electrocution injuries may leave you in need of long-term care or ongoing treatment. When you negotiate a settlement with the insurance company, you may expect to continue receiving treatment, meaning you may expect your medical bills to grow.
Or, perhaps your injuries have left you permanently unable to work. Thus, loss of future earning capacity may be among your economic losses after you’ve been electrocuted.
You can account for future economic losses when seeking compensation. Be aware that a claims adjuster might not inform you of this. Or, they may not help you accurately calculate the potential value of your future economic losses. You’ll have to push back and continue negotiating if you feel a claims adjuster’s settlement offers are too low.
Symptoms of Electrocution Injuries
It’s not always immediately apparent when you’re electrocuted. Major electrocutions often render victims unconscious. However, electric shock or less serious electrocutions may cause symptoms such as:
- Muscle spasms
- Headaches
- Numbness/tingling
- Irregular heartbeat
Always see a doctor right away if there is any chance you’ve sustained electrocution injuries. Left untreated, these injuries can increase your chances of having a heart attack.
Be sure to save copies of all medical procedures and bills. They can help document your losses during settlement negotiations.
Contact a Philadelphia Electrocution Injuries Lawyer
You don’t have to face off against the insurance companies alone when seeking compensation for electrocution injuries. An attorney can help by:
- Reviewing your case to determine what type of claim or lawsuit you may file
- If necessary, investigating to determine who is liable and gathering evidence of their liability
- Completing and submitting paperwork with supporting documentation and evidence
- Negotiating with the insurance company on your behalf
At Cooper Schall & Levy, we understand you’re likely struggling in various ways after an electrocution. Our Philadelphia electrocution injuries lawyers can assist by pursuing the compensation you may deserve. Learn more by contacting us online today for a case review.
