Wisconsin Electric Shock Injuries Attorney

Electricity is essential to the modern world. Without it, we would be unable to work many of our current jobs, stay in touch with family, or even enjoy cold, refrigerated food. Nonetheless, electricity is a real, ever-present risk.

Any accidental electrocution can send someone to the hospital with serious, possibly fatal, injuries. Electrical currents cause pain, disability, and job loss, with many victims struggling financially following an electrical shock. Call Fitzpatrick, Skemp & Butler, LLC. We are a team of personal injury attorneys who can seek monetary compensation for any electrical shock injury. In a free consultation, we can analyze whether you can sue.

Electric Shock Injuries

Electricity can lead to some devastating injuries, including:

• Burns
• Heart damage
• Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) or fibrillation
• Brain injury
• Nerve damage
• Amputation
• Blindness
• Hearing loss
• Chronic pain
• Organ damage

There is also a risk of secondary injuries. For example, someone working on a ladder could be electrocuted when the aluminum ladder touches a live wire. The person can then fall and suffer injuries when they hit the ground, including concussions, paralysis, and back injuries.

Signs of an Electric Shock Injury

Many injuries are internal and, therefore, invisible. Some people are unsure of whether they suffered an injury at all. They know they were zapped—but they feel “ok” in the immediate aftermath.

Some signs to watch out for include:

• Burns on your palms or the soles of your feet
• Abdominal pain
• Irregular heartbeat
• Memory loss or confusion
• Blurred vision
• Continuing pain in a hand or foot
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Difficulty concentrating
• Disrupted sleep, such as sleeping too much or too little
• Unexplained mood swings

You should go to the doctor and explain how you were electrocuted. A doctor might order an imaging test to uncover internal injuries.

Accidents Which Lead to Electrocution

Our lawyers are prepared to help anyone suffering from electric shock. Most accidents are caused by:

• Defective products. A product with a design defect or shoddy materials could accidentally electrocute a user. Sometimes, safety labels or warnings are missing, so the product is defective because the typical consumer doesn’t know how to use it safely. People are electrocuted by all types of consumer products, including toys, electronics, toaster ovens, and cell phones.
• Construction defects. A defect with wiring could lead to electrical surges and electric shock. Ultimately, the person who constructed the home could be to blame.
• Workplace accidents. Many workers are injured due to power surges or accidental contact with wires. Construction is a leading industry with many electric shock victims.

Our firm can investigate what happened and whether you have a legal claim. For example, Wisconsin has a product liability law which empowers injured consumers to sue when a defective product injures them.

How Much is Your Claim Worth?

Electric shock injuries range from minor to life-threatening. Some of our clients spend only a few thousand dollars for medical care. Others are in the Intensive Care Unit for weeks. No two electric shock cases are the same.

At Fitzpatrick, Skemp & Butler, LLC, we patiently review how an electrical injury has disrupted our clients’ lives. Some of the major concerns include:

1.       The cost of medical care. Some electrical injuries will require surgery or time in the hospital. An electrical injury which results in amputation could have ongoing medical expenses.

2.       Lost wages. Any bodily injury can disrupt a work schedule. Our clients need some time to recover physically and mentally, while waiting for pain to subside. The severity of your injury will determine if you can get back to work. Some injuries like blindness could prevent you from ever returning to your job. You should share all income information with your lawyer.

3.       Pain and suffering. Bodily pain is a fact of life for many victims of electric shock. You could feel chronic pain in a limb or internal pain. Many medical treatments, like surgery, are inherently painful. Rest and recovery are necessary.

4.       Emotional distress or mental anguish. The mental component of electric shock is also worthy of comment. Many people become depressed or frustrated due to their injuries. Electrocution can also lead to depression or increased anxiety.

These are some of the major considerations when it comes to valuing a claim. We want to hear how electric shock has changed your life.

Importance of an Electric Shock Attorney

An inexperienced lawyer, or someone without an attorney, can make critical mistakes when trying to negotiate a settlement. Our team knows how to:

• Ask for enough compensation. Electrocution injuries can require ongoing medical treatment. There is also a loss of earning capacity. Our legal team makes sure to request a fair amount for all past, present, and future losses.
• Find sufficient evidence of an accident. We need to prove someone is at fault for the electrical shock. If you knowingly grabbed a live wire, then no one else is to blame but you. We need to show how someone else—a contractor, product manufacturer, property owner, and so forth—is to blame.
• Meet deadlines. In Wisconsin, a personal injury victim usually has three years to file a lawsuit based on an electrocution accident. (Wisc. Stat. § 893.54). If you miss the deadline, then a judge can prevent you from suing for compensation.
• Negotiate for a fair settlement. Our lawyers can negotiate with the person at fault for the accident for a settlement. We might attend mediation, if helpful, to move along the process.
• File a personal injury suit. Although we settle most claims, we aren’t afraid to litigate in court to hold a defendant liable for hurting you. 

Call Us Now to Learn More

Electric shock injuries are uniquely disabling. Many victims struggle with pain but are waiting patiently for a doctor to diagnose what is wrong. If you need legal help with your case, call Fitzpatrick, Skemp & Butler, LLC at 608) 784-4370 today. Our team of legal professionals can jump in and start the process of bringing a personal injury claim. Please schedule a free consultation where you can get answers to your questions and find out more about our legal services.