San Fernando Valley Electrical Injury Lawyers
Electrical Injury
Electrical injury occurs when a person comes in direct contact with a power source. As the electric current passes through the body, vital organs and tissues can be seriously damaged, resulting in cardiac arrest, organ damage, burns, mental impairment, nerve damage, muscle damage, seizures, respiratory failure, or death. The extent of the damage to the body will depend on the voltage, strength of the electrical current, the path that the current takes through the body, and the quality of medical treatment received immediately after the injury occurred.
The U.S. Department of Labor tells us that electric shocks are a common cause of work-related injuries in California each year and electrocutions are responsible for approximately one thousand deaths. If you or a loved one has sustained an electrical injury due to someone else's negligence, you may be entitled to compensation beyond the benefits allowed by Workers' Compensation. You will need an experienced electrical injury lawyer to conduct a thorough investigation into your accident and aggressively pursue negligent parties. The Mandell Law Firm is dedicated to representing victims of electrical injuries and helping you recover maximum compensation. You may be entitled to compensation for, not only your medical expenses, but pain and suffering, disability, loss of quality of life, disfigurement, and rehabilitation.
There are several different types of injuries one may suffer as the result of electrical currents. These injuries may include problems with the nervous system, such as paralysis, the heart, in the form of life-threatening ventricular fibrilation, but the most common type of electrical injury is a burn.
There are four specific types of electrical burns: contact burns, arc burns, fire burns, and flash burns.
Contact burns are a type of electrical burn where an electric current passes through the body due to physical contact with the conductor (a live wire, water, metal rod etc.). These types of burns can be very serious and especially painful as they penetrate deep below the skin surface. The severity of contact burns depends on the duration of the contact, voltage (in volts), strength of the current (in amperes), and one's resistance to electric current. If the voltage is over 500 volts, significant damage can be done to the tissue, organs and muscle.
Arc burns occur when an electric current arcs between two previously unconnected conductors, and through the human body. Temperatures near electrical arcs can reach over 35,000 degrees Fahrenheit and involve extreme voltages and currents. Electrocution and life threatening burns can result from coming in contact with an electric arc.
Fire burns occur when heat generated by an electrical current sets fire to clothing.
Flash burns are caused by close proximity to electric arcs. Given the extreme temperatures involved, electric arcs can cause debilitating burns to exposed skin within 10 feet and ignite clothing within several feet.
Electric shock can also cause an injury called diffuse electrical injury (DEI), in which a short-duration low voltage electric shock causes pain that is "out of proportion to the electric shock." This type of injury is difficult to diagnose and treat. Lastly, when electric current passes through the heart, it can cause fibrillation. Fibrillation can be fatal if the heart is not defibrillated quickly.
Contact an Electrical Injury Lawyer in San Fernando Valley
The Mandell Law Firm is familiar with these types of cases and we understand how difficult it can be to try to get on with your life while you are suffering from extreme pain while fighting for your rights. The Mandell Law Firm takes a personal interest in our clients. We hold negligent parties responsible for your injuries and ensure that you receive all the compensation that you are entitled to. Our experienced North Hollywood burn injury lawyers will assist you by thoroughly investigating your accident, dealing with the insurance companies, filing any possible third party negligence claims and aggressively protecting your rights.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured as the result of an accident, contact Robert J. Mandell at The Mandell Law Firm for a free case evaluation.