An Overview of Electrical Injuries

Although the word “electrocution” is a portmanteau of “electric” and “execution” and is defined specifically as “to put an individual to death through the use of electricity,” it is often used to refer to any injury that an individual suffers from an unsafe amount of electricity entering his or her body. Electrical appliances and wiring can be found in both indoor and outdoor environments and if you come into contact with a poorly-maintained piece of electrical equipment or do not exercise proper precautions when handling electricity, you can become injured. If you suffer from an electrical injury, you need to seek medical attention right away to diagnose and treat the injury. After you have received medical attention, an experienced workplace injury attorney can help you seek the money you need to cover your injury-related expenses.

The human body conducts electricity easily. This is why it is important to wear protective gear when working with exposed wires and devices that conduct electricity. Some examples of injuries that an individual can face as a result of electrical exposure include:

• Thermal burns;
• Muscle and tissue damage from the electrical current moving through the body; and
• Heart problems, including cardiac arrest.

Individuals who are shocked by high levels of electricity can also fall and injure themselves.

Symptoms of electrical injuries include broken bones, loss of consciousness, an irregular heartbeat, burns on the skin, muscle spasms, numbness, problems seeing or hearing, and heart attacks. If you witness an individual exhibiting any of these signs while working with an electrical device or shortly after, unplug the electrical device and call for medical attention right away.

Call 911 for emergency medical attention right away. Stay with the victim until the ambulance arrives and do not attempt to move him or her unless he or she is at risk of being injured further by a fire or an explosion. If the individual was injured by a high-voltage electrical current, stay at least 20 feet from him or her until the electricity is turned off. Merely turning a device off is not enough to stop the flow of electricity – you need to turn off the flow of electrical current entering it.

Do not bandage the victim's burn with an adhesive bandage, ointments, ice, or any type of medication. Do not attempt to pop his or her blisters or remove any dead skin resulting from an electrical burn. Allow EMS personnel to care for the victim and provide them with all necessary information about the accident.

Electrical injuries can have serious, life-altering repercussions. If you have been injured in a workplace accident, contact Corsiglia, McMahon, & Allard, L.L.P. to schedule your free consultation with a skilled San Jose workplace injury attorney at our firm. We can determine the best way for you to proceed with your claim to get the money you need. Our firm proudly serves clients throughout the Bay Area, San Mateo county, Alameda County, San Benito County, Monterey County, and Santa Clara County. Contact us today to learn more about filing and pursuing a workplace injury claim with us.