Probably all of us know what it's like to be on the receiving end of a small jolt of electricity. The shock may have occurred from an electrical outlet, a battery, or some do-it-yourself construction work at your house. Fortunately, most of these shocks do little more than startle us. Unfortunately, there are times when an electrical shock causes severe injuries or even death. When this occurs, an attorney knowledgeable in this complicated area is necessary. The attorneys at Racine Olson have been serving people in Idaho Falls for years, even decades. They have helped people involved in many different types of accidents and injuries, including severe electrical injuries. We believe that we have the experience and expertise to help you through the pitfalls of dealing with an electrical injury case.
Who is Responsible for the InjuryOne of the first questions that must be answered in an electrical injury case is who is at fault for the injuries that occurred. Is it the electrical company? Is it the victim? Or is it some unrelated third party?
In Idaho, because of the dangerous nature of electricity, electrical companies have the highest standard of care for making sure that people are safe from harm due to electricity. In most cases, a person only needs to act as a reasonable person would under all the circumstances. However, when it is concerning an electrical company that is either engaged in the transmission or generation of electricity, that company or person owes the highest standard of care to others. This doesn't mean that the electrical company will be liable in every single instance, but if there is any negligence at all on the part of the electrical company, it will be held liable to the victim. This high standard is appropriate to protect people from this invisible but very deadly source of harm and ensures that electrical companies do their very best to make sure that people are kept safe.
If other people or entities were also involved in the accident, their fault is compared to that of the electrical company. In other words, at trial a jury will write down the percentage that each entity or person contributed to the accident. For instance, if the electrical company is totally found at fault, then the jury would enter 100% for it. However, if the victim is 20% at fault, then the jury would enter a finding of fault for the electrical company of 80% and the victim of 20%. The verdict would then be reduced by the amount that the victim was negligent. In other words, if the total damages were $100,000, then the verdict would be reduced by 20% and the victim would recover $80,000 instead of the full $100,000. This makes it very important to show that the innocent victim was not at fault for causing the accident.
Electrical InjuriesWhen a person suffers a severe electrical shock, the injuries are usually catastrophic. There are severe burns, both externally and internally. This often means large medical bills, lost wages, and usually results in the inability of a person to be gainfully employed in the future. In addition, the pain and suffering are intense.
We know that these cases are difficult and serious. Fortunately, Racine Olson has handled these cases before and would be happy to represent our Idaho Falls friends and neighbors to reach a proper and fair result. Give us a call. Problem Solved.