In many ways, electricity makes life safer. The availability of electrical power drastically reduces the bodily damage people incur and the physical labor that employees have to perform. However, electricity is also a significant risk for workers in all kinds of industries.
Employees at construction sites and those working in commercial kitchens are at risk of electrocution on the job. People visiting businesses and even those using products in their own homes could suffer electrical shocks. Those electrical shocks can cause severe burns, heart injuries, brain injuries and even death.
If you or someone you loved experienced electrocution, who can you potentially sue for the losses that resulted?
The property owner
When electrical shock results from fraying or poorly-maintained wiring, the property owner may be responsible for exposing visitors to that kind of risk. Premises liability insurance may offer coverage for those electrocuted in a business or on someone else’s property. They may also bring a premises liability lawsuit against the company or property owner for the injuries they suffered.
The manufacturer of a defective product
Sometimes, the problem that leads to electrocution stems from that product’s design. Companies that don’t adequately test tools and other products with electrical supply could release items that short out or have wires that fray.
Consumers hurt in their own homes by a defective product and those who suffered injuries on a job site while using tools with poor design or faulty components may have legal grounds to bring a claim against the manufacturer of that product.
An employer
In a situation involving gross negligence in the workplace caused by a lack of training or safety protocol, an employee might have grounds to bring a lawsuit against their employer because of an electrical injury.
In many cases, however, workers’ compensation insurance will cover the employee when an injury caused by electrocution occurs at work. The no-fault rules of workers’ compensation may limit workers’ ability to file a lawsuit against their employer. However, the coverage could pay their medical bills and provide disability benefits.
Carefully reviewing the circumstances around an electrocution incident can help determine who might be responsible for the losses you suffered.
