What to Do if Your Husband or Wife is Electrocuted at Work

If your husband or wife was electrocuted at work and has died or is critically injured, you should find a lawyer, one with experience and the ability to negotiate a large settlement. This is because a lawsuit against a company involving an electrocution on the job is complex, and worker’s compensation laws may prevent the injured person from getting pain and suffering compensation, which can mean getting millions of dollars less than needed to get full compensation.

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Your lawyer will need to do the following before a lawsuit can be filed:

  1. Conduct an independent investigation to find evidence and determine what companies (and there is almost always more than one) that can be sued;
  2. Preserve that evidence;
  3. Thoroughly interview you and your spouse, if possible (our lawyers travel throughout the U.S. to be with clients and their families);
  4. Send a demand letter outlining your case, the evidence and how much money you and your spouse should get.

Can There Be a Settlement without Filing a Lawsuit?

Yes, a good lawyer will try negotiate a settlement before a lawsuit is filed. This almost never works, but it communicates to the other side that your lawyer knows you have a good case. Winning a large settlement requires outstanding negotiating skills, and the first volley is important.

Does the Uninjured Spouse Have a Claim for Money Damages?

Yes, if your husband or wife has been harmed in an electrical accident and he or she has a lawsuit, you will most likely have the right to sue for loss of consortium, which is the loss of your normal marital relationship. You have been harmed, and you should be compensated.

Who Can We Sue for the Electrocution?

Workers’ compensation does not give an injured worker anything for pain and suffering compensation, which can be substantial in electrocution cases. This is why your lawyer needs to find a “third party” to sue. This can be a general contractor, subcontractor, manufacturer of a piece of equipment, power line utility or any company that is not your spouse’s employer.

What is Electric Shock?

At its strongest, an electrical current will cause burns, an injury commonly called “electric burn.” The burns may be an obvious surface wound, or completely internal. In the case of internal injuries, there may be only entry and exit wounds visible on the body. Even when exterior wounds are small, the internal damage to the heart, brain and other organs can be significant. For further reading, see “Can I Sue for Brain Damage from an Electric Shock?

Image of Brain TBI
Initially, brain damage may present as seizures. This is an indication that nerves have been damaged. This may affect motor function and cognitive ability. The full extent of the damage may not be known for years, which is why your lawyer should consult medical experts to get your spouse full compensation.

The outcome of an electric shock to an individual depends on the intensity of the voltage to which the person was exposed, the route of the current through the body, the victim’s state of health, and the speed and adequacy of the treatment.

Death by electric shock is called electrocution. On this page, because most people refer to electric shock as electrocution, we are doing the same. We want this information to be understandable. If you disagree with our use of this term, let us know.

Electric Current Can Cause Injury in 3 Main Ways

  1. Cardiac arrest due to the electrical effect on the heart.
  2. Muscle, nerve, and tissue destruction from a current passing through the body.
  3. Thermal burns from contact with the electrical source.

Wrongful Death Compensation

When someone dies from electrocution, the person’s family may have a wrongful death claim against the parties responsible for the electrocution. Wrongful death compensation law varies by state. In most states, the family may seek to recover compensation for the following:

  • Funeral expenses
  • Medical expenses
  • Lost wages
  • Loss of care and comfort

Causes

The causes of electric shock and electrocution can include the following:

  • Accidental contact with exposed parts of electrical appliances or wiring
  • Young children biting or chewing on electrical cords, or poking metal objects into the electrical outlet
  • Lightning
  • Flashing of electric arcs from high-voltage power lines
  • Machinery or occupational-related exposures
  • Defective products