Louisville Burn Injury Lawyer for Electrical Incidents

If you sustained a burn injury in an electrical incident someone else caused, contact Sampson Law Firm immediately. You might be entitled to compensation for your prescriptions, hospitalization, surgery, and other medical expenses.

A person who comes in contact with an electrical source, such as lightning or a household current, can get an electrical burn. The current can damage the skin and travel throughout the body, affecting nerves, muscles, and blood vessels. It’s a serious injury that requires immediate medical attention.

Sampson Law Firm has represented injured clients for over 20 years. We can help you hold the at-fault party liable for their actions. Call our experienced Louisville burn injury lawyers at (502) 584-5050 for your free consultation to learn more.

Common Causes of Electrical Incidents

A range of factors can lead to accidents involving electrical currents, such as:

• Poorly insulated wiring
• Malfunctioning medical equipment running on electricity
• Lightning strike
• Consumer products with faulty wires
• Leaking water near an electrical outlet
• Direct contact with an exposed electrical component, such as a car battery, during a car accident
• Touching a buried electrical cable while digging in the ground
• Exposed electrical wires on inadequately maintained public property
• Handling live power lines while working

Types of Electrical Burns

An electrical burn occurs when a part of the body touches an electrical source. The electricity damages the skin’s surface at the injury site and can cause pigmentation changes and blistering. An electrical burn can lead to internal injuries as the current travels through the body.

There are multiple types of electrical burns, such as:

• Oral electrical burn – Young kids commonly sustain oral electrical burns. They might put an electrical cord in their mouth, not realizing the dangers. It results in injury as the current passes from one side of the mouth to the other.
• Flash electrical burn – An electrical arc on the skin’s surface causes a flash electrical burn. Typically, the injury doesn’t damage underlying tissue. It only affects the skin.
• Low voltage electrical burn – A low voltage electrical burn occurs when there’s direct contact with a power source containing no more than 500 volts.
• Arc electrical burn – Electrical energy traveling from an area of high resistance to an area of low resistance causes an arc burn. Direct contact with an electrical source doesn’t have to be involved in causing this type of burn.
• High-voltage electrical burn – The current damages more than the layers of the skin as it travels through the body with a high-voltage electrical burn. The current can cause organ and tissue damage, too.

Degrees of Electrical Burns

Burn injuries, including electrical burns, fall under varying classifications depending on the severity. The primary classes of electrical burns include:

• First-degree burn – A first-degree burn is a mild, superficial skin injury. It damages the epidermis, the outer skin layer. Redness at the injury site is common, but blisters typically don’t form.
• Second-degree burn – Multiple layers of the skin are affected by a second-degree burn. The injury site can appear red, inflamed, or swollen. It can also cause blisters, leaving behind scars during healing.
• Third-degree burn – The damage from a third-degree burn affects every layer of skin and destroys sweat glands and hair follicles. It can also damage nerve endings, preventing the injured person from feeling pain.

Common Symptoms of an Electrical Burn

Electrical incidents often affect internal organs, such as:

• Kidneys
• Heart
• Nervous system
• Muscles

Even a minor electrical burn can cause internal damage you might not notice unless you see a doctor. You should seek immediate treatment if you notice any symptoms of an electrical burn, such as:

• Fluttering or pounding heart
• Burns and other injuries to the skin
• Tingling or numbness
• Dizziness, confusion, or headache
• Difficulty staying awake
• Trouble with balance
• Seizures
• Muscle contractions
• Shortness of breath
• Red-black or red urine

Your symptoms will depend on the severity of the electrical shock and other factors. Voltage is a significant factor contributing to an electrical burn injury. A higher voltage carries higher power. It will likely cause more damage and might lead to death.

Compensation for Burn Injuries from Electrical Incidents

Whether you file an insurance claim or lawsuit, the compensation you receive might cover your:

• Out-of-pocket expenses
• Lost wages
• Lost earning capacity
• Medical bills
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of household services
• Mental anguish
• Damage to personal property

Punitive damages are also recoverable when you file a lawsuit. To be granted this award, you must show clear and convincing evidence of the defendant’s malice, fraud, or oppression.

The personal representative of the deceased’s estate could file a wrongful death lawsuit if your loved one died in an electrical incident. The financial award compensates the estate and surviving family members, such as a spouse, child, or parent.

The deceased’s estate can receive compensation for attorneys’ fees, funeral expenses, and administration costs. The rest of the compensation goes to the deceased’s family.

Statute of Limitations for Electrical Burns

In Kentucky, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases allows a one-year timeframe to file a lawsuit. That means you have one year from the date of the electrical incident to file your lawsuit against the at-fault party.

The statute of limitations allows a one or two-year timeframe to file a wrongful death lawsuit depending on the circumstances. The personal representative of the deceased’s estate must initiate the lawsuit within one year of the date they are appointed as the personal representative.

The two-year timeframe applies if appointing the personal representative occurs more than one year after the death. That means the personal representative has two years from the date of the death to file suit.

Injured in an Electrical Incident? Call Sampson Law Firm Today

Electrical burns are painful and challenging to treat, especially if the damage extends below the skin. The injury might leave physical scars and cause severe psychological trauma. You deserve a chance to pursue compensation and hold the at-fault party accountable.

Sampson Law Firm will protect your rights and fight by your side for justice. Call us at (502) 584-5050 for a free consultation if you sustained a burn injury in an electrical incident due to someone else’s negligence.