Types of Electrical Injuries
San Francisco Electrical Burn, Shock Injury LawyersElectrical power can cause serious injury or fatality in a variety of ways. Electric Shock Even a low-voltage electrical shock can disrupt the body's own electrical impulses. The result can be:
Electrical Burns When electricity passes through the body, it can burn tissues along its path. Entrance and exit wounds, where electricity enters and exits the body, are often severe and obvious. Electrical burns within the body can cause muscle, nerve and tissue damage that are not immediately apparent. These deep, internal injuries can cause massive tissue damage and severe swelling that peaks 24 to 72 hours after the injury. Thermal Burns Thermal contact burns are caused by touching an open flame or an extremely hot object. When it enters or exits the body, electricity can ignite clothing and cause thermal burns. Thermal burns are also caused by contact with hot objects or melted metals in electrical components or overheated machinery. Arc Flash Injuries An arc flash can cause severe skin burns by direct heat exposure and by igniting clothing. An arc flash heats the air to 35,000 degrees, vaporizing metal. It can cause fatal burns to those standing within a few feet of the arc and serious burns to victims 10 feet away. Molten metal can cause thermal burns and ignite clothing. The bright flash can damage eyesight. An arc blast can rupture eardrums and cause shrapnel wounds from flying metal and cause brain injury from the concussion. Secondary Injuries An electrical shock causes muscle spasms, which can cause the victim to lose muscle control and fall. Falls from roofs, ladders, scaffolding and power lines can be as damaging as the electrical injury itself. Brain injury, spinal cord injury and severe internal injuries are often the result. Diffuse Electrical Injury Also called "electric shock syndrome" or "post electric shock syndrome," diffuse electrical injury or DEI can include a wide range of physical and neurological symptoms, including tingling, weakness, general fatigue, broad diffuse pain, personality changes, depression and short-term memory loss. If you have suffered an electrical injury or if a loved one died a wrongful death in an electrical accident, please contact an attorney at Rouda, Feder Tietjen & Zanobini for a free consultation. From offices in San Francisco, we represent electrical injury victims throughout California and across the nation. We speak Spanish, French, Arabic and Portuguese. Se habla Español |
