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Electric Shock Injury

Anderson, Greenville, Spartanburg, South Carolina

An electric shock injury can be as minor as a mild charge or can result in devastating injury or death. The workplace injury lawyers at the Dick James Law Firm of Greenville, South Carolina understand how difficult dealing with this type of injury can be, especially when it was sustained while on-the-job.

What is an Electric Shock?

An electric shock occurs when an individual comes into contact with a source of electrical energy. That electrical energy flows through a portion of the body causing an electric shock. Exposure to this type of energy may not do any damage, or it can result in severe injury or death. A burn is the most common injury sustained from an electric shock.

Causes of Electric Shock

The mischievous exploration of an adolescent or exposure at work are the most common causes of electric shock. Nearly 1000 people each year die of electric shock in the United States. The majority of these deaths are on-the-job injuries.
The variables that determine what injuries will occur include:

The type of current involved (AC or DC)
The amount of current (this is determined by voltage and the tissue resistance of the victim)
The pathway the electricity follows in the victim's body

Electricity that measures less than 500 volts generally does not cause significant injury to people. Electricity that measure greater than 500 volts can result in serious damage.

Helping the Injured

Helping someone who has sustained an electric shock from a high voltage source can be extremely dangerous. If a high voltage line has fallen, there may be a circle of current spreading from the tip of the line. Entering into this circle may cause you to become a second shock victim.

You should call 911 first. They will then notify the electric company and the power will be shut off. If the victim has fallen from a high place or received an electric shock that caused spasms, they may have sustained a serious neck injury and should not be moved.

Symptoms of Electric Shock

In many cases, the victim of an electric shock has very little visible evidence of any injury. In other cases, severe burns may be obvious. The victim may also be in cardiac arrest, which would not necessarily be visible. Medical help must be contacted and summoned to the scene immediately.

Other symptoms may include:

Burns at the most severe points of contact (hands, heel and head are common points of contact)
Muscular contraction may have thrown the victim clear of the electrical source. In those cases there may be injury to the spine. There also may be internal injuries, shortness of breath, chest pain or abdominal pain.
Pain in a hand, foot or any other part of the body may indicate a broken bone that resulted from being thrown clear of the source.

Electric shock not only causes severe injury and even death in some cases, it also places an emotional and financial burden on the victim and the victim's family when an injury has occurred. If you or a loved one has suffered an electric shock injury in the workplace, please contact the Dick James Law Firm. Our Workers' Compensation and personal injury lawyers in the Anderson, Spartanburg and Greenville, South Carolina areas will fight hard to protect your rights.

800-714-6029
The Dick James Law Firm
611 N. Main Street
Greenville, SC 29601