Hurt by Electricity in Hollywood? You Don't Have to Face It Alone.

Electrocution Injuries in Hollywood: What to Know and What to Do Next

This guide explains electrocution injuries Hollywood residents should understand. It covers what these injuries are. It also covers how they affect the body, who may be responsible, and what steps to take next.

It is written for people in Hollywood and Broward County. It also serves families in nearby cities, such as Pembroke Pines, Davie, Miramar, Dania Beach, and Hallandale Beach.

An electrocution injury happens when electric current passes through the body. The current can come from:

• A shock
• An arc blast, a sudden and powerful burst of electricity through the air
• Contact with a live wire or energized equipment. Energized equipment has electricity flowing through it.

Dealing with an insurance company after an injury can feel like walking the Hollywood Broadwalk on a windy day. Pressure comes from every direction. You do not have to handle it alone.

What Is an Electrical Injury, and Why Is It Hard to Judge at First?

An electrical injury is harm caused when electric current moves through the body. You may look fine right after a shock. But you may still be hurt inside.

Current can enter at one point and leave at another. For example, it may pass from a hand to a foot. It can also arc across a gap. That means it jumps through the air.

OSHA arc flash guidance explains that arc flashes can cause burn injuries. An arc flash is a sudden electrical blast.

OSHA electrical safety describes common hazards and causes of electrical injuries in workplaces.

Some effects appear hours or days later. Picture a tenant who touches a damaged outlet in an older apartment. They feel a jolt and shake it off. Then they go back to work.

Two days later, numbness or chest discomfort sets in. That delay is why every shock deserves a medical check. Electrical injuries can be hidden and delayed. So follow your doctors’ treatment, even if you feel fine.

What Happens in the Body When Electric Shock Occurs?

Electric current can affect the heart, the nerves, and the muscles. It can also burn skin where the current enters and exits the body.

The heart and nervous system are the main concerns after a shock. How severe the effects are depends on each person’s medical picture. When symptoms show up also varies.

The path the current takes through the body matters, too. Doctors may order tests to look for damage that cannot be seen from the outside. An electrocardiogram (ECG), for example, records the heart’s electrical rhythm.

Tell every provider about every shock, even one that seemed minor. Follow your doctors’ care. Ask them what to watch for at home.

Electrocution Injuries Hollywood: Where They Usually Happen

Electrocution injuries around Hollywood usually start with wiring, equipment, or utility work. That work may be old, damaged, or poorly kept.

Common settings include:

• Older rental units with worn wiring
• Storefronts and commercial buildings
• Parking garages and light poles
• Pool and outdoor equipment
• Construction or tree-trimming sites

Local news has covered these risks. The WSVN report said rescue crews responded on October 31, 2019, to a near electrocution at a Hollywood business.

The NBC Miami report said that on November 16, 2012, a tree-trimming worker in a Hollywood neighborhood was electrocuted and died, according to authorities.

Who may be responsible depends on the facts.

The Miami-Dade electrical safety tips cover common wiring hazards.

What Are the Long-Term Effects of Electric Shock?

Long-term effects of a serious electrical injury can include:

• Chronic nerve pain (pain that lasts a long time)
• Numbness and weakness
• Memory or concentration problems
• Changes in heart function

In the most serious cases, a shock or arc blast can lead to:

• Spinal cord injury
• Paralysis (loss of movement)
• Limb amputation
• Severe burns
• Traumatic brain injury

These are catastrophic injuries. They can change a life in a single moment.

Recovery timelines vary from person to person. Your treating care team sets the rehabilitation plan. Rehabilitation means therapy to rebuild strength and skills.

Many people also face changes to work, income, and daily routines. Talking early about those changes can help families plan. You do not have to face them alone.

Who May Be Responsible: Workplace Injuries Versus Injuries on Someone Else’s Property

Several parties may be responsible for an electrical injury. These can include property owners, landlords, contractors, equipment makers, and employers. The setting where the shock happened often shapes which claim applies.

At work. Florida’s workers’ compensation law generally makes an employer’s liability exclusive. This means the employer’s liability is the workers’ compensation liability. It takes the place of all other liability to the injured worker and certain others. There are some exceptions. See § 440.11.

A tortfeasor is a person who may be legally responsible for an injury. Non-employers include a property owner, a contractor who is not your employer, or an equipment maker. A third-party tortfeasor is a person outside the employer. See § 440.11.

On someone else’s property. If you were shocked in a rental unit, a store, a parking garage, or an outdoor area, your claim may involve several parties. These can include the owner, the landlord, the contractor who did the electrical work, or the maker of faulty equipment. Whether any of them is responsible depends on the facts.

Contractors. Florida law also addresses claims against contractors. Malfeasance and misfeasance mean wrongful or harmful acts. See § 768.0425.

Under § 768.81, a party found more than 50 percent at fault for their own harm may not recover any damages. This happens in a negligence action. This bar does not apply to medical negligence actions under chapter 766.

Fault can be divided among several parties. That is why every detail matters.

Deadlines matter too. Florida’s limitations statute sets how long a person has to file suit. This time limit is called the statute of limitations. The time limit depends on the type of claim. So the facts of each case matter.

Deadlines apply. Contact our firm promptly.

If a Loved One Died: What Families Can Do Next

Losing someone suddenly is devastating. Families often must make many decisions while grieving. You do not need to sort everything out at once.

If a loved one died in an electrocution, the family may have a wrongful death claim. Our team can explain who may bring that claim and what it may cover. Each family’s situation is different. So contact us to talk through the details.

Helpful steps for families include:

• Ask the medical providers and the authorities for copies of records and reports.
• Keep the names and contact details of anyone who saw the incident.
• Save any photos, messages, or work orders about the wiring or equipment.
• Write down what you remember about the events leading up to the incident. Do this while you still can.

Next Steps for Hollywood Families

The most useful first steps are medical care, a written record, and evidence kept safe.

• Get medical care right away. Tell every provider about the shock.
• Write down what happened, when, and where, while you still remember it.
• Photograph the scene and the equipment, if it is safe to do so.
• Keep bills, medical records, and notes about missed work.
• Be careful with recorded statements to insurance companies. Talk with our team first.

CHG Personal Injury Lawyers is a Florida firm serving Hollywood and communities across Florida. Igor Hernandez is the responsible lawyer for this page. Our lawyers are licensed to practice in Florida. Our team works with injured people and families across the state.

Quick Answers About Electrocution Injuries in Hollywood

If a shock at a Hollywood home, business, or job site hurt you or someone you love, contact CHG Personal Injury Lawyers. You will receive a free, confidential first consultation. There is no obligation to continue. CHG charges no attorney’s fees and no case costs unless there is a recovery.

Consulta en español

Si una descarga eléctrica en un hogar, negocio o lugar de trabajo en Hollywood le causó lesiones a usted o a un ser querido, comuníquese con CHG Personal Injury Lawyers para una consulta inicial gratuita, confidencial y sin compromiso. CHG no cobra honorarios de abogado ni costos del caso a menos que haya una recuperación.