Electrical malfunctions occur when there are unintended short circuits, overloading of electricity, or power surges. These incidents can cause fires and other property damage as well as injuries to people nearby. Electrocution is a real risk and such accidents happen often, but there are ways to limit the causes of it happening again.
Why Do Electrical Malfunctions Happen?
Electrical malfunction accidents happen for many reasons. Most of them are due to simple human error or carelessness on behalf of the person who made the mistake. Common causes include faulty wiring and power surges. If you find yourself working near an electrical panel, make sure to be careful when touching any wires that could have been damaged by water. These accidents can happen anywhere, but they are most common in the home. The best way to prevent an accident from happening is by having properly installed and maintained wiring with no exposed wires and unplugging power cords when not in use.
What Are Causes of Electrical Accidents in a Home?
It is important to understand what causes electrical malfunctions in a home.
- Overloaded circuits
- Over-strained extension cords
- Loose connections
- Damaged insulation on wires or cables.
- Defective Wiring
- Contact with High Voltage Power Lines
- Defective Appliances/Products
Faulty installation or inadequate property care can result in damaged or exposed electrical lines in both commercial and residential properties, including apartments, condominiums, houses, workplaces, hotels, and retail shopping complexes. Failure to construct or maintain suitable outlets near sources of water, such as swimming pools, kitchens, and restrooms, is also one of these incidents. Contact or use of an electrically powered item such as a refrigerator, heater, washing machine, or any other large or small appliance is a leading cause of injury and death in both adults and children every year. During the winter, faulty electrical heaters are a leading cause of house fires.
Electrocution accidents happen when an electric current passes through the body, typically because of contact with exposed wires or other conductive materials. These currents can cause:
- Tissue damage
- Heart problems
- Lead to death/ serious injuries
How Can I Prevent Electrical Malfunction Accidents From Happening?
There are many ways to prevent these accidents from happening in your home. Here are some steps you can take:
- Be sure all wires are properly grounded before installation
- Check for worn out wiring
- With wet hands or when standing in water, never touch anything electrical
- Pull on the plug rather than the cord
- Don’t plug in anything with a missing prong or use frayed or broken cords
- Get switches to be tested on a yearly basis
Electrical malfunctions are not uncommon in homes. You can prevent these accidents from happening by being proactive and taking the necessary precautions to keep your home safe.
Electrical damage or death can sometimes occur as a result of unexpected accidents that spontaneously resulted. Other times, these incidents are the result of one or more individuals or businesses failing to exercise reasonable care. Homeowners, landlords, retail owners, apartment managers, maintenance firms, utility providers, product producers, and a variety of others may fall within this category. According to California tort law, if a person or entity acts or fails to act reasonably and causes harm or death, that person or entity may be held liable for medical bills, lost earnings, and mental distress as a result of their carelessness.
Contact a Los Angeles Attorney Today To Get the Get The Help You Need
If you or someone you know of is in need of an attorney due to an electrical malfunction, please feel free to call our law firm at 310.943.1171, where our specialized attorneys are more than happy to help you with your case.