Utility companies provide essential services, including electricity, water, and sewage, without which modern life would be impossible. However, their facilities and equipment can pose a significant danger to the public. These companies are not permitted to recklessly expose individuals to hazardous conditions. They can be held liable if someone is harmed as a result of their negligence. Serious injury or death can result from the negligent installation or maintenance of exposed equipment and fixtures, particularly power lines. Please continue reading as we explore what you should know about these matters and how our experienced Prince George’s County Personal Injury Lawyers can help you fight for the justice you deserve.
Can I Sue a Utility Company for an Electric Shock Injury?
Electricity, while a constant presence in daily life, demands careful handling due ot its inherent dangers. Direct electrical contact can result in catastrophic injuries, including brain damage, burns, paralysis, or even death. Therefore, all electrical products, outlets, and access points must be designed and maintained with safety as a top priority.
Depending on the specific circumstances of an electrical injury, liability could rest with an employer, a utility company, a building owner, or a product manufacturer due to negligence. A qualified personal injury attorney is best equipped to offer guidance on all potential avenues for recovering compensation for your losses.
When Are Utility Companies Responsible for Damages?
Electricity companies are obligated to take reasonable precautions to prevent harm to others. The extent of this duty is determined by the legal concept of foreseeability, where negligence applies if a foreseeable risk exists. In such cases, the utility company is responsible for mitigating the risk or taking adequate precautions to protect others from potential harm. For electricity companies, this includes insulating live lines, posting warnings about live lines, and deactivating malfunctioning or downed lines that could cause devastating injuries.
A common challenge in these cases is establishing whether a utility company had a duty to act, which often depends on the relationship between the company and the injured party. Additionally, the injured party’s actions may be considered potentially leading to partial fault and affecting the plaintiff’s ability to recover damages. It’s important to note that Maryland is a contributory negligence state. This means that if you contributed to the cause of your injuries in any way, you will face the absolute bar of recovery. These technicalities are just a handful of examples of the complexities frequently encountered in such cases, highlighting the need for a seasoned personal injury attorney to assess the merits.
For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact an attorney at Timian & Fawcett, LLC.
