Electrocution Injuries in Pembroke Pines: What to Do Next

Were You Shocked or Burned by Electricity in Pembroke Pines?

An electric shock can cause serious harm. The injury may look small at first. If you were shocked, or a family member was, you deserve clear answers.

Maybe you got a jolt from an outlet, an appliance, pool equipment, or a wire that should not have been live. You might have a small burn where the current entered or left your body. Or you might feel fine now and wonder what is happening inside.

Either way, get medical care after any shock.

This page explains how electrocution injuries happen in Pembroke Pines and Broward County. It covers what these injuries can do to the body. It also covers who may be responsible and what Florida law may mean for a claim.

CHG Personal Injury Lawyers is a Florida personal injury firm. We serve Pembroke Pines and Broward County. Igor Hernandez is the responsible lawyer for this page.

How Electrocution Injuries Happen in Pembroke Pines

Electrocution injuries in Pembroke Pines often happen in one of two ways. First, wiring or equipment was not kept safe. Second, someone worked near a live power source.

At home and in rental units, the risks are familiar:

• Older wiring can fail.
• Outdoor outlets near pool areas may lack proper protection.
• Faulty appliances, extension cords, and space heaters can make metal parts electrically live.

In shared buildings, a landlord or property manager often controls the wiring. That means the duty to fix hazards may rest with them.

On job sites, the dangers are different. Workers can touch overhead or underground lines with ladders, metal tools, or equipment. Repair and construction crews sometimes work on circuits that were never shut off. Busy roads like Pines Boulevard have plenty of utility work. A crew that cuts corners can put a nearby worker at risk.

Many shocks happen when someone responsible for fixing a hazard, or warning others, could see it. Whether that is true in your case depends on the facts. Readers in Miramar, Davie, and Pompano Beach face the same Florida rules.

What an Electrical Injury Can Do to the Body

An electrical injury can cause burns, heart rhythm problems, nerve and muscle damage, and injuries from a fall.

Current can burn the skin where it entered and where it exited. Deeper tissue can be harmed even when the surface looks minor. Some people have heart rhythm changes that need monitoring. Others have nerve pain, weakness, or numbness.

These symptoms can appear hours or days later. That delay is why a checkup after any shock is important.

A shock can also make a person lose their balance. A fall from a ladder, roof, or stairway can add broken bones or head injuries to the electrical harm.

In severe cases, injuries can lead to amputation or long-term disability. Families often face long recovery periods, time away from work, and new costs at home.

Follow your doctors’ care. Keep every record, including:

• Visit notes
• Test results
• Medication lists
• Bills
• A log of days missed from work

Who May Be Responsible for an Electrocution Injury

Responsibility may fall on a property owner, landlord, contractor, equipment maker, or utility. It depends on what caused the shock.

• Every incident is different, and who may be responsible depends on the facts of each case.
• Contractors, electricians, and maintenance workers may be responsible if their work created a dangerous condition.
• Makers and sellers may be part of the claim if a faulty product caused the shock.
• Utility companies may be involved in power line cases.

Florida lets you seek economic damages. These are money losses you can count, such as bills and lost pay. The statute defines economic damages under § 768.81 to include past and future lost income, and medical and funeral expenses.

When an electric shock causes a death, the family may have a claim. The Florida Wrongful Death Act allows certain survivors to pursue damages. The right of action statute and the damages statute explain who may recover and what they may recover.

Workplace safety rules matter too. Federal guidance from OSHA on employer responsibilities describes duties.

Claims are decided on evidence. Inspection records, photos, repair logs, and the equipment itself often shape the outcome.

Florida Deadlines and Fault Rules That Apply

Florida sets filing deadlines for injury lawsuits.

Florida’s deadlines come from its limitations statute. This is the law that sets how long you have to file. The deadline depends on the type of claim and who is responsible.

Deadlines apply. Waiting can cost you the right to file.

Some claims involving government entities, such as an action for money paid to a governmental authority by mistake or inadvertence, are listed in Florida’s limitations statute. Florida’s sovereign immunity statute allows certain claims against government bodies. It also sets recovery limits.

Sovereign immunity means government bodies are protected from lawsuits, except where the law allows them. A city or a government-owned utility may have different requirements.

Florida also uses shared-fault rules. Under Florida’s comparative fault statute, a court enters judgment against each liable party. The judgment is based on that party’s percentage of fault. In a negligence action, a person found more than 50 percent at fault for their own harm may not recover any damages. Fla. Stat. § 768.81 reads: “This subsection does not apply to an action for damages for personal injury or wrongful death arising out of medical negligence pursuant to chapter 766.”

Because of these rules, the facts of how the shock happened matter a great deal.

Next Steps After an Electric Shock: Talk With Our Team

Get medical care right away. Document the scene. Speak with a lawyer before you give a recorded statement to an insurance company.

These practical steps can protect a claim:

• Seek medical evaluation, even if you feel okay.
• Photograph the outlet, wiring, appliance, or equipment, and the area around it.
• Save damaged items. Do not throw them away.
• Keep receipts, medical bills, and records of missed work.
• Write down the names and phone numbers of anyone who saw what happened.

An insurance adjuster may ask for a recorded statement soon after a shock. Talk with a lawyer first.

Going up against an insurance company alone can feel overwhelming. You do not have to face it by yourself.

CHG Personal Injury Lawyers offers a free, confidential first consultation, with no obligation to continue. The firm charges no attorney’s fees and no case costs unless there is a recovery.

If you or a family member were shocked, burned, or hurt by electricity in Pembroke Pines, contact CHG Personal Injury Lawyers now. A prompt call helps preserve evidence while the facts are fresh.

Frequently Asked Questions