Houston Electrocution Attorneys

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Causes of Electrocution & Electrical Injuries in Houston

Electric shock and electrocution injuries occur when a person comes into contact with an electrical current strong enough to harm the body's vital systems. Even brief exposure to high-voltage electricity can cause severe burns, internal organ damage, cardiac arrest, or death. Survivors often face challenges that affect every aspect of their lives. 

These devastating injuries are almost always preventable—with proper safety procedures, adequate training, and regular equipment maintenance.

Electrical Hazards in Houston's Leading Industries

Houston's economy is powered by industries that rely heavily on electrical systems: construction, manufacturing, oil and gas, petrochemical refining, shipping, and energy production. Unfortunately, these same sectors are also among the most dangerous for electrical injuries and electrocution accidents. 

At construction sites across the Greater Houston area—from commercial towers downtown to roadwork along I-10—workers frequently encounter live wires, temporary power setups, and poorly grounded equipment. In refineries and chemical plants, high-voltage systems control pumps, compressors, and automated valves; one faulty connection can trigger an explosion or arc flash. Manufacturing facilities and warehouses pose similar dangers through aging electrical infrastructure, conveyor systems, and heavy machinery that requires continuous power.

Even beyond the workplace, electrical hazards threaten the public. Downed or floating power lines after Gulf Coast storms, malfunctioning transformers, and faulty consumer appliances can all result in catastrophic electrocution injuries. Apartment complexes, hotels, and other properties that fail to maintain electrical systems or pool lighting have also been linked to serious accidents throughout the Houston area.

Common Causes of Electrocution Accidents

Electrical injuries in Houston often occur in situation such as:

• Construction Accidents: Exposed wiring, faulty installations, or contact with overhead power lines.
• Downed/Floating Power Lines: Especially after hurricanes or flooding, where water increases conductivity. 
• Faulty Appliances or Tools: Manufacturing defects or lack of grounding can turn everyday devices deadly.
• Damaged or Frayed Cords: Worn electrical cords can cause fires, sparks, or shocks at home or at work.
• Improper Wiring or Installation: National Electrical Code (NEC) are remain a leading cause of fires and injuries. 
• Water & Electricity Contact: A common hazard in homes, hotels, and construction sites near the Gulf.
• Lightning Strikes: Though rare, they can cause direct injury and extensive property damage.

Across Houston, workers depend on their employers to protect them through OSHA compliance, consistent inspections, and ongoing electrical safety training. When companies cut corners or neglect these duties, the results are catastrophic. 

At Arnold & Itkin, our Houston electrical injury attorneys have seen the toll these incidents take—both on the job and in everyday life. We fight to hold negligent employers, contractors, and property owners accountable for the harm their inaction causes, ensuring injured workers and families get the justice and financial support they deserve.

What to Do After an Electrocution or Electrical Accident in Texas

The moments after an electrocution or electrical accident can be chaotic, frightening, and confusing. Whether the incident happens on a construction site, at a refinery, or in your home or a public place, what you do next will directly affect your health, your safety, and your ability to pursue justice. Acting quickly can preserve crucial evidence and protect your rights if negligence played a role.

In Houston, electrical accidents often occur in industrial facilities, warehouses, and construction zones where heavy equipment and live currents are common. Many of these incidents involve contractors or large corporations that immediately deploy risk management teams to minimize their own liability. For this reason, it's essential to take steps early that prioritize both medical care and documentation. 

If you or a loved one has suffered an electrocution injury in the Houston area:

• Call 911 immediately. Even if the person appears conscious, internal injuries may be hidden and life-threatening. Be sure to notify emergency responders that an electrical current was involved.
• Do not touch the victim if they're still in contact with the electrical source. Turn off power at the breaker or use a non-conductive object (like a dry wooden pole) to move them away from danger. 
• Get emergency medical care at a Houston-area hospital equipped to handle electrical burns and trauma, such as Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, Ben Taub Hospital, or Houston Methodist.
• Report the incident immediately. Notify your supervisor, property owner, or local utility company so the hazard can be documented and contained. Keep a record of your report for future reference.
• Preserve evidence. Try to take photos of the scene, visible burns, and any equipment involved. If possible, record witness contact information and keep copies of incident reports. 
• Avoid giving official statements. Do not sign paperwork, recorded statements, or waivers from insurance companies or employers without consulting a knowledgeable attorney first. 
• Contact an experienced Houston electrocution injury lawyer. A legal team can investigate the cause, secure expert testimony, and work to ensure negligent companies are held responsible.

Electrical injuries are often the result of preventable safety failures—like poor grounding, faulty wiring, or untrained personnel working on live equipment. We've represented countless workers, residents, and families across Texas and nationwide who were harmed because someone failed to follow basic electrical safety protocols. Whether we're pursing claims against property owners, manufacturers, or employers, we're committed to demanding accountability. 

Long-Term Consequences of Electrical Injuries

Surviving an electrical accident is only the beginning of a long and often painful recovery. Unlike many other types of injuries, electrocution affects the body in ways that are not always visible. The electrical current can burn tissue deep beneath the skin, disrupt the heart's rhythm, and cause nerve or brain damage that worsens over time. In severe cases, victims face amputations, organ damage, or permanent paralysis. 

Electrical burns are among the most complex and difficult injuries to treat. Patients frequently undergo multiple surgeries, skin grafts, and painful rehabilitation to regain even partial function. Some survivors struggle with chronic pain, muscle weakness, and limited mobility for the rest of their lives. Damage to the nervous system can also lead to emotional and psychological effects such as anxiety, memory loss, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

In Houston, survivors often require treatment at major trauma and rehabilitation centers like Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, TIRR Memorial Hermann, and Houston Methodist Hospital, all of which specialize in severe burn and nerve injuries. Even with advanced care, recovery is physically emotionally, and financially draining. Long hospital stays, missed work, and ongoing therapy costs can overwhelm families already coping with trauma.

That's why pursuing compensation isn't just about financial compensation—it's about ensuring you have the resources for long-term recovery. 

Our Texas electrical injury firm fights for comprehensive compensation that covers:

• Medical Expenses: Emergency care, surgeries, hospital stays, and rehabilitation. 
• Future Treatment: Prosthetics, reconstructive surgery, or long-term therapy.
• Lost Wages & Earning Capacity: For time off work or permanent disability. 
• Pains, Suffering & Emotional Distress: The lasting impact of trauma and loss.

Our trial attorneys have won billions of dollars for clients whose lives were changed in an instant. We’ve stood up to some of the largest corporations and insurance companies in Texas—and won—because we believe people deserve justice when preventable negligence causes harm. For electrical injury survivors in Houston, our goal is to ensure you get not just compensation, but the opportunity to rebuild and move forward.

Results & Recent Cases Filed: Electrical Injuries

Our Houston-based attorneys have handled some of the most complex electrical accident cases in Texas and beyond, securing life-changing recoveries for individuals and families impacted by these preventable incidents. 

Our notable electrical injury and electrocution case results include:

• $12.5 million for a Corpus Christi refinery worker who suffered severe electrical burns due to his employer’s failure to follow lockout/tagout procedures. Despite claims that his injuries had healed, Arnold & Itkin proved the truth and ensured he would never have to return to dangerous refinery work.
• $12.5 million for the family of a Texas man electrocuted by a fallen power line, holding a major utility company accountable for failing to maintain and inspect its electrical infrastructure.
• $11 million for an electrician who was electrocuted on the job, where our team uncovered evidence that the electrical plan was dangerously flawed before he ever arrived on site.
• Additional multimillion-dollar results for workers injured in electrical explosions, oilfield incidents, and utility failures—including $6.5 million, $4.7 million, and $3 million settlements for victims across Texas.

At the end of the day, I'm glad that I had Arnold & Itkin there to fight for me…With the fact that I was able to get what I did…it's not just about the here and now. It's about actually securing me and my wife's future."  

- Chris, work accident survivor

We continue to take on new and challenging electrical injury cases. We've recently filed on behalf of:

• The family of an electrical worker who was killed on the job. 
• A truck driver who was electrocuted at a construction site. 
• Multiple oilfield workers who sustained catastrophic electrical injuries. 
• A woman seriously injured in a Houston-area parking lot due to exposed wiring.

Laws & OSHA Standards for Electrical Accidents in Houston, Texas

When it comes to electrical accidents, two primary frameworks typically apply: federal standards enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and state/local electrical codes adopted in Texas and Houston. 

OSHA Regulations & Electrical Hazards

OSHA has long identified electrical hazards as a serious risk across all industries, particularly construction. In construction, the “Fatal Four”—falls, struck-by incidents, caught-in/between accidents, and electrocutions—are responsible for about 65% of all fatalities.

OSHA's standards for electrical work include specific provisions regarding:

• Grounding requirements
• Lockout/tagout procedures
• Safe work practices around energized equipment

When companies fail to follow these regulations, injured workers and their families may have strong grounds for a claim. 

Texas & Houston-Specific Codes & Liability

In Texas, builders and property owners must comply with the National Electrical Code (NEC), ensuring safe installation and maintenance of electrical systems. Violations of the NEC or City of Houston electrical and building code can serve as evidence of negligence in an electrical injury lawsuit. Workers are also free to report unsafe working conditions or pursue workers' comp without fear of retaliation by way of demotion, termination, or other mistreatment by their employers.

Texas law also allows injured employees or surviving family members to pursue claims beyond workers' compensation, especially if negligence can be proven. Many Houston-area employers are non-subscribers, which means they do not carry workers' comp insurance and may be sued directly for on-the-job electrical injuries. For electrocution victims in Houston, that means holding employers, property managers, equipment manufacturers, and utility companies accountable when they fail to uphold electrical safety standards. 

Attorneys Representing Victims of Houston Arc Flash Accidents

Arc flashes are electrical phenomena where a current leaves its designated path and travels elsewhere. If a worker is hit directly by an arc flash or stands nearby, severe injury or death may result. Arc flashes represent some of the most dangerous electrical incidents, releasing intense energy in milliseconds and reaching temperatures capable of melting metal. Many factors contribute to arc flashes, from human error to faulty wire installations.

At sites throughout Houston, industrial electricians and utility workers face the risk of arc flash injuries if equipment is overloaded, not properly grounded, or maintenance schedules are not followed. Major industrial plants along the Houston Ship Channel enforce strict safety monitoring to prevent catastrophic failures or multiple injuries. Awareness and prevention of arc flashes not only protects worker safety but also supports safe business operations.

Common causes of arc flashes include:

Arc flash injuries, because of their explosive force, can cause severe burns and additional injuries from debris, sound, and toxic fumes. Employers in Texas must help prevent arc flash accidents by setting clear protocols and ensuring workspaces meet the highest safety standards.

Consult with a Houston Electrocution Accident Attorney at Arnold & Itkin

Electrical accidents change lives in an instant—causing catastrophic burns, nerve damage, cardiac trauma, and, too often, wrongful death. When these tragedies happen, the difference between recovery and ruin often comes down to the experience and determination of your legal team. At Arnold & Itkin, we've stood up to some of the largest power companies, construction firms, and industrial employers in Texas and across the nation, winning more than $20 billion for people whose futures were put at risk by negligence. 

Our firm is headquartered in Houston, giving us deep insight into the city's industries and the dangers they pose—from refineries and shipyards to construction sites and electrical utilities. We know how to uncover violations of OSHA and NEC standards, expose unsafe work practices, and demand accountability from every responsible party. We've secured record-setting results for victims of electrocution and electrical injuries, including eight-figure recoveries for workers and families devastated by preventable incidents. 

If you or a loved one has suffered a serious electrical injury in Houston or anywhere in Texas or the nation, you don't have to face this alone. Our Texas electrocution attorneys are ready to fight for the care, stability, and justice you deserve.

Call (888) 493-1629 or fill out a free case evaluation form. It's time to find out how a Houston electrocution injury lawyer at our firm can help you find answers, rebuild, and move forward.

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