Electrocution Attorney in San Antonio

Why Electrocution Victims Choose Marc LaHood Law

Electrical injury cases are rarely straightforward. Employers, subcontractors, equipment manufacturers, and property owners are often all in play. Resolving these cases requires an attorney who understands complex, multi-party litigation and isn’t afraid to press the claim all the way to a jury.

Marc LaHood prepares every case as if it will go to trial. That approach can signal to insurers and corporations that a quick, low settlement won’t end this case, and it means our clients are never caught underprepared if a case does reach a San Antonio courtroom. Marc is a member of the National Trial Lawyers and holds membership in the Mexican American Bar Association, the State Bar of Texas, and other professional organizations that reflect his commitment to serious advocacy.

We treat every client like a person, not a file. From the first conversation, we communicate honestly, explain your options in plain terms, and stay accessible throughout the process. If we don’t win your personal injury case, you don’t owe us anything.

What Electrocution Does to the Human Body

Electrical current doesn’t just burn the skin. When it passes through the body, it damages tissue and organs from the inside out. Thermal burns from an arc flash can reach temperatures exceeding 30,000 degrees Fahrenheit, penetrating deep into muscle and bone and requiring extensive skin grafts and reconstructive procedures.

The physical consequences extend well beyond burns:

• Cardiac trauma: Electrical current can trigger ventricular fibrillation, disrupting the heart’s rhythm and causing cardiac arrest
• Neurological damage: Disruption to the nervous system can produce long-term cognitive impairment, memory loss, and permanent motor function deficits
• Secondary injuries: The involuntary muscle contraction from electrical shock often causes falls, resulting in broken bones and traumatic head injuries that may be compensable

Texas personal injury law allows victims to pursue compensation for emergency care, surgeries, rehabilitation, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, and disfigurement. When an electrocution is fatal, surviving spouses, children, and parents may recover wrongful death damages, including loss of financial support, loss of companionship, and funeral expenses.

Common Causes of Electrical Accidents in San Antonio

Electrocution accidents arise from a wide range of circumstances, and the source of the hazard determines who can be held liable. Understanding where these accidents originate is the first step toward identifying every responsible party.

Workplace & Construction Site Failures

San Antonio’s sustained construction growth puts electricians, laborers, and welders in daily proximity to high-voltage hazards. Many work accidents trace back to violations of OSHA electrical safety standards, failure to implement lockout/tagout procedures, the federally required process for de-energizing equipment before maintenance, or work performed on live circuits without proper protective equipment. When an employer’s safety failures cause an injury, that can open the door to legal accountability.

Oil Field & Industrial Facilities

Industrial facilities and oil field operations across the San Antonio and South Texas region involve high-voltage equipment and multi-contractor environments. The complexity of these sites, where several employers may share a single worksite, increases both electrical hazard exposure and the number of potentially liable parties.

Power Company Negligence

Utility providers have a duty to maintain their lines and equipment in safe condition. When inadequate maintenance or a failure to address known hazards injures a worker or resident, the utility company may face liability for the resulting harm.

Defective Electrical Equipment

When an electrical tool, appliance, or piece of equipment causes injury due to a design flaw or manufacturing defect, the manufacturer, and potentially the retailer, may be liable under product liability law. These claims run separately from any employer-related fault.

Property Owner Negligence

Under Texas premises liability law, property owners, including apartment complexes, retail properties, and commercial venues, must maintain reasonably safe conditions. Exposed wiring, faulty outlets, and unmarked energized equipment are exactly the kinds of hazards that can give rise to a personal injury claim when a visitor or worker is injured on the property.

Texas Legal Framework for Electrocution Claims

How a claim proceeds in Texas depends significantly on the employment relationship and the circumstances of the injury. The following is general legal information, not legal advice for any specific situation.

Workers’ Compensation & Non-Subscriber Employers

Texas is the only state that allows private employers to opt out of workers’ compensation coverage. When an employer is a non-subscriber, an injured employee can sue the employer directly for negligence and can generally pursue a broader range of damages than workers’ comp would allow. When workers’ compensation does apply, it typically covers medical expenses and a portion of lost wages, but doesn’t compensate for pain and suffering.

Workers’ comp coverage doesn’t close off all avenues. Injured workers may still pursue third-party claims against contractors, equipment manufacturers, property owners, or other parties whose negligence contributed to the accident. These claims may recover the full range of damages workers’ comp leaves out.

Filing Deadlines & Notice Requirements

Filing deadlines matter. Most personal injury and wrongful death claims in Texas must be filed within two years of the injury or death. Claims involving government entities are subject to the Texas Tort Claims Act, which generally requires a formal notice of claim within six months of the incident, though some local governments, including the City of San Antonio, require notice in as few as 90 days. Missing the applicable deadline can bar recovery entirely, which is one reason why contacting an attorney promptly after an electrical accident is so important.

Steps to Take After an Electrical Accident in San Antonio

The actions taken in the days immediately following an electrocution can protect both the victim’s health and their legal options.

• Seek emergency medical care immediately: Internal injuries, cardiac arrhythmias, and neurological damage may not be visible or symptomatic right away. San Antonio is home to University Hospital’s Level I trauma center and the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center at Brooke Army Medical Center, both equipped to treat severe electrical injuries
• Report the incident: Notify the employer or property owner and document the scene through photos, written notes, and witness contact information
• Don’t sign or record anything first: Avoid giving a recorded statement or signing documents from an employer or insurer before speaking with an attorney
• Contact an attorney promptly: Companies and insurers move quickly to repair equipment and limit their exposure. Evidence that supports your claim, including breaker positions, equipment logs, and site conditions, can be altered or destroyed before you realize it’s gone. Cases in Bexar County civil courts move on their own schedule. Don’t let yours fall behind

Do not hesitate to get the help you need! Call us today at (210) 714-2625.