An Electrical Injury Can Change Your Life in an Instant. You Do Not Have to Face It Alone.

An electrocution injury happens when electric current passes through the body and causes harm. These injuries can include burns, heart rhythm problems, and nerve damage. Some shocks cause death.

If someone else’s carelessness created the danger, Florida law may allow the injured person or family to seek compensation.

Downtown West Palm Beach is busy. People walk Clematis Street, work on construction sites, and live in older homes and apartment buildings. Electrical hazards can show up in any of these places. It helps to know what to watch for.

What Happens to the Body After an Electrical Shock

Electric current can disrupt the heart’s rhythm. It can also affect the nerves that control muscles and breathing. It can burn tissue where the current enters and leaves the body.

Those entry and exit points are often the most visible marks.

Internal injuries may not show up at first. Some people feel fine right after a shock. Hours or days later, they may develop pain, weakness, confusion, or other symptoms.

This delay is one reason every shock deserves prompt medical evaluation. That is true even when the person seems okay.

Follow the care plan your doctors set. This includes any follow-up visits and tests.

This page gives general information about electrical injuries. It is not medical advice. It cannot replace the judgment of the doctors treating you.

Electrocution vs. Electrical Shock: What’s the Difference?

An electrical shock generally describes contact with electric current that does not cause death. Electrocution generally refers to an electric shock that causes death. Most injuries fall somewhere between these two terms.

The difference matters on paper. Hospital records, police or fire reports, and death certificates use these words in specific ways. Insurers and attorneys read those records closely when they review a claim.

A shock that does not cause death can still cause serious, lasting harm. Burns, nerve damage, and heart problems can affect work, daily life, and long-term health. The label on a record should never make a serious injury seem minor.

Everyday Electrical Hazards Around West Palm Beach

Common electrical hazards include damaged cords, faulty wiring, and water near electrical equipment. Knowing these warning signs can help you spot danger before someone gets hurt.

At home, watch for:

• Cracked extension cords
• Outlets that feel warm or spark
• Appliances used near sinks, pools, or wet floors

Improper wiring and do-it-yourself repairs are also common concerns in older buildings.

On job sites, several hazards create serious risks:

• Overhead power lines
• Unguarded electrical panels
• Temporary wiring
• Energized equipment

Workers near cranes, ladders, or metal scaffolding can touch a live line without warning.

Along the waterfront, boats, docks, and shoreline areas can sit close to power lines and wiring. Pools, outdoor lighting, and rental or commercial properties also need regular maintenance.

When an owner or manager fails to keep these systems safe, the people who use them can get hurt.

Who May Be Responsible for an Electrical Injury?

Several people or companies may share responsibility for one incident.

• Electrical hazards on a property can cause serious injuries, and a person hurt by one can talk with a lawyer about what happened.
• Contractors, subcontractors, and employers may be responsible when their work or safety practices created the hazard.
• Equipment makers may be responsible when a defect is alleged to have caused the shock.

Workers hurt on the job face a special rule. Florida’s workers’ compensation law is insurance that pays for injuries at work. Under § 440.11, an employer’s liability is exclusive in most cases.

There are exceptions. One example is an employer that fails to secure payment of compensation. A separate claim against a third party, meaning someone other than your employer, may also apply. This depends on the facts.

Federal workplace rules still matter. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) publishes employer responsibilities guidance for workers and employers.

Florida Deadlines and How an Electrocution Claim Moves Forward

Florida sets a deadline for filing personal injury lawsuits. That deadline applies to every case. Missing it can end a claim.

Contact a lawyer promptly after any electrical injury.

Florida also uses a fault rule that can reduce what an injured person recovers. Under § 768.81, in a negligence action, a party found greater than 50 percent at fault for his or her own harm may not recover any damages, but this does not apply to an action for damages for personal injury or wrongful death arising out of medical negligence pursuant to chapter 766.

Fault is measured by percentage, so the details matter.

Evidence fades quickly. Early steps often include saving:

• Incident reports
• Photos
• Damaged cords or equipment
• Maintenance records
• Medical records

Written witness names and contact details are also valuable.

Some cases settle, and some go to trial. No one can predict how a particular case will end. The process depends on the facts and the evidence.

When an Electrical Accident Is Fatal: Support for Families

Florida’s Wrongful Death Act lets certain family members seek damages after a death caused by someone else’s wrongful act or negligence. The Act is cited as § 768.16.

The Florida Wrongful Death Act is cited as §§ 768.16-768.26, and under § 768.20 the claim is brought by the decedent’s personal representative. This is the person appointed to handle the estate of the person who died.

The personal representative recovers for the survivors and the estate, under § 768.20.

Under § 768.20, the personal representative recovers for the survivors and estate all damages as specified in the Act; surviving spouses may recover for loss of companionship and protection under § 768.21. Minor children, all children if there is no surviving spouse, parents of a deceased minor child, and parents of an adult child if there are no other survivors may also have recoverable claims under § 768.21.

Families facing this loss have many questions. They deserve clear answers. These practical steps can help in the early weeks:

• Keep copies of the incident report, medical and funeral bills, and any letters from insurers or employers.
• Keep a simple log of expenses and missed work.

How CHG Personal Injury Lawyers Serves Families Throughout Florida

CHG Personal Injury Lawyers is a Florida-based personal injury firm. It represents people throughout Florida. That includes people who live in West Palm Beach and Palm Beach County.

Igor Hernandez is the responsible lawyer for this page. Our lawyers are admitted to The Florida Bar.

The firm handles personal injury cases of every severity. These range from everyday accidents to catastrophic injuries, severe burns, amputations, and wrongful death.

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

Talk With Our Florida Lawyers About Your Electrical Injury

If an electrical shock has left you facing medical bills and missed work, you do not have to sort out the next steps alone.

Keep following your doctors’ care. Keep your records while you decide what to do next.

Frequently Asked Questions