Electrocution

April 21, 2014

Miami Swimming Pool Accident Attorney :: 7-Year-Old Electrocuted in North Miami Family Pool

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A faulty pool light is the center of an investigation into the death of a 7-year-old Miami boy who was electrocuted as he swam while under the care of a longtime nanny.

Police quickly determined that the 7-year-old was electrocuted on April 13 after receiving a severe jolt that catapulted him out of the water as he raced across the backyard pool at his home.

However, police claim the investigation is far from over, as they need to determine what exactly caused the accident.

The light in question is a single circular beam in the deep end of the family’s Keystone Point pool, which is now empty and without power. After the tragic accident, the light was found encased in steel that is rusted and burned.

The boy’s father told police that he noticed the pool light was not turning on about nine months ago. He apparently hired a contractor to fix it.

According to a city spokeswoman, North Miami requires permits and inspections on pool electrical work that is more complicated than simply changing a light bulb. According to city building department records, no permits were pulled and no inspections were done at the family’s home in the past year.

According to family members, electricians that inspected the light switch to the pool said that it didn’t seem to be grounded properly, meaning power that should have been averted from the pool was instead likely going directly into it. The power source could have been as much as 120 volts.

The 7-year-old and his 22-year-old brother were in the pool when the older man felt a shock and jumped out of the pool, yelling at his brother to do the same. The boy was apparently underwater and did not hear his brother.

Neighbors raced to the home and performed CPR on the boy before Miami-Dade paramedics took over.

As this case shows, electricity near the water presents many problems. Electric shock cannot only cause serious physical problems, but can lead to near-drowning or drowning accidents. All residential pools, as well as public swimming pools and other locations that often use electrical equipment in and around the water must be inspected on a regular basis to ensure they do not pose any risks to swimmers or other people in the area.

April 25, 2013

Florida Injury Attorney :: Man Seriously Injured in Orlando Electrocution Accident

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A man was severely injured early Thursday morning after he was electrocuted in an apparent industrial accident in the 8000 block of Presidents Drive.

According to Orange County Fire Rescue, the man was working close to power lines where a warehouse stands around 10 a.m. The contact apparently ignited a fire.

Sheriff’s deputies closed the roadway. The man was taken to the hospital with what officials described as serious injuries.

No other details regarding the man’s status were immediately available.

Many electrocution accidents result in severe and catastrophic injuries. Electric shock can not only badly burn the skin, but result in damage to the nervous system, the heart and even the brain. Severe electrocution can also result in wrongful death. When an injury of this nature is sustained, your medical bills can increase rapidly, not to mention the excruciating amount of pain you may be suffering. It is very important to seek full compensation from any negligent parties for your treatment, both now and in the future.

January 4, 2013

Gainesville Workplace Accident Lawyer :: Family of Man Killed in Electrocution Accident Files Lawsuit Against GRU

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Gainesville, FL – The family of a drilling company worker who died in 2011 after being electrocuted after he struck an underground power line has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Gainesville Regional Utilities.

The 27-year-old man was excavating with an auger at a Gainesville apartment complex on Aug. 22, 2011 when he struck a 120-volt underground line.

The man’s mother filed a claim against GRU in October of 2012 seeking damages in excess of 15,000.

The suit claims that before any work began at the location, GRU was contacted to provide the workers with the locations of any underground electric lines. The company apparently did not mark any underground utilities in the area where the man was working.

GRU has not made any comments regarding the wrongful death suit.

Losing a family member is never easy. Losing someone close to you because of a work accident can be sudden and devastating, making your loss even harder to accept. You could find yourself facing financial impacts from your loss as well as emotional pain and suffering. Fortunately, you do not have to deal with a loved one’s work-related death alone. A Gainesville Workplace Accident Attorney can explain all of the options that may be available to you and your family.

At Whittel & Melton, we help families who have lost loved ones in workplace tragedies. We are dedicated to helping families recover full compensation for their losses. While we know that there is no amount of money that can make up for losing someone close to you, a successful wrongful death claim can provide you with the funds you need to cover bills, funeral and burial costs and take care of your family in the future.

December 29, 2011

Florida Holiday Product Liability Lawyers Whittel & Melton Discuss the Dangers with Holiday Decorations

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Most people consider holiday decorations a central part of celebrating the season. While decorating your home may be a festive tradition, when holiday adornments have product defects the aftermath can be anything but jolly and leave you and your loved ones with serious personal injuries.

With the holiday season officially here, it is always a good idea to check with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to check out if any of your holiday embellishments have been recalled due to product defects. The CPSC works to decrease and prevent injuries related to hazardous holiday decorations by censoring the Internet and marketplace for unsafe holiday trimmings and any other products that may potentially hurt shoppers.

According to the CPSC, more than 10,000 people make a trip to the emergency room every year for holiday decorating injuries, including burns, cuts and abrasions, electric shock and slip, trip and fall accidents. Moreover, candles are found to be responsible for an estimated 150 deaths every year, whereas Christmas trees are the culprit behind nearly 400 fires every year, causing 20 deaths, 70 injuries and more than $15 million in property damage.

Ultimately, it is essential to speak with a Florida Product Liability Lawyer at Whittel & Melton to ensure that your legal rights are protected if you or a family member has suffered injuries related to holiday ornaments or any other type of defective product. By consulting with a Product Liability Lawyer, you may be able to file a product liability claim and seek compensation for any injuries.

Determining Fault When a Defective Decoration Ends in Injury

If you have been injured from a defective decoration, a Florida Product Liability Lawyer can organize an investigation to determine who the negligent party is – the manufacturer, distributor, retailer or possibly all three. Sometimes establishing blame can be difficult. The manufacturer will most likely try and prove that the product is safe and may assert that the injured party did not use the product as it was intended. This is not usually the case and your Florida Product Liability Lawyer will be responsible in showing how a defective decoration caused your injuries. Other parties that could be responsible for defective products besides the manufacturer, distributor and retailer include the manufacturer, distributor or seller of any defective component of the decoration that added to your injuries.

Recovering Damages in a Product Liability Claim

After the negligent party has been identified in a Florida product liability claim, damages need to be determined. Damages may include loss of past and future wages, emotional distress, past and future medical bills, pain and suffering and any other expenses relevant to your injuries. It is extremely important to have an experienced attorney on your side to protect your best interests when it comes to a defective product because most of these cases involve large companies that will have aggressive attorneys working on their side that will try to get you to accept low settlements. At Whittel & Melton, LLC, we can guide you through the process of a product liability claim and make sure you recover the compensation you rightfully deserve. We can provide you with a complimentary consultation any time, day or night. Contact the Florida Product Liability Lawyers at Whittel & Melton, LLC today.

What Makes Holiday Decorations Dangerous?

There have been several holiday decoration recalls from previous years and the following examples can give you an idea how holiday décor can be disastrous.

• Candles and candle holders that pose a fire hazard.

• Christmas lights that pose a fire hazard due to a nonexistent fuse.

• Candles with the wrong wick size that caused flames to burn irregularly.

• Christmas lights with exposed wires that pose a risk for a fire or electrocution hazard.

• Christmas lights with undersized wires that have the potential to cause a fire or electric shock.

The Florida Product Liability Lawyers want you and your family to enjoy a safe and happy holiday season this year. Follow these safety tips when decorating the inside and outside of your home and remember, always use your best judgment.

Light Safety:

1. Make sure all lights have fused plugs that meet safety standards.

2. Make sure outdoor lights are sanctioned to be used outdoors.

3. Check all sets of lights (indoor and outdoor) for cracked bulbs, exposed or frayed wires and damages sockets.

4. Turn off lights when not at home or asleep.

5. Installing timers for your lights can not only save energy, but can prevent a deadly fire.

6. The CPSC recommends using only three standard-size sets of lights per extension cord.

Tree Safety:

1. If using an artificial tree, make sure it is fire resistant.

2. Trees should be kept away from fireplaces and other sources of heat as well as doorways.

Decorating Safety Tips:

1. Always use flame-resistant decorations. Those made of plastic or nonleaded metals are highly encouraged.

2. Place candles somewhere out of a child’s reach.

3. Never place candles near the tree or any other holiday decorations.

4. Make sure sharp or fragile holiday décor is placed where a child cannot easily grab it.

Ladder Safety Tips:

1. Make sure a ladder is placed on a dry and sturdy surface before climbing.

2. Do not lean too far on either side of the ladder.

3. Always have someone hold the ladder for you. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over a three year period, almost 18,000 people were taken to the ER due to falls from holiday decorating. Make sure to make safety your number one concern when participating in any kind of holiday decorating!

The Florida Personal Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton are committed to keeping you and your family safe for the holiday season. We always advise following simple safety precautions and urge you to install working smoke alarms in your home in case an emergency happens to erupt.