Electrocution Lawyers in Reading, PA
Wrongful Injury Attorneys Serving Berks County Since 1959
Electrical accidents can permanently alter a life in seconds. At Liever, Hyman & Potter, we represent electrocution victims and their families throughout Berks County. Our four attorneys handle only wrongful injury and death claims. No real estate, no business contracts, nothing else. Virtually all of our 115-plus combined years of practice have been devoted to that single purpose. The legal community knows our record. We’re called “The Lawyers’ Lawyers” because a significant portion of our clients come to us through referrals from other law firms. If you think you may have a claim, a free consultation costs you nothing.
If you or a family member has suffered an electrical injury in Reading or any of the surrounding areas, call (610) 885-1991 to discuss your case at no charge.
What Electrical Injuries Actually Do to the Body
Electrocution injuries aren’t limited to visible burns. Current passing through the body can cause cardiac arrest, nerve damage, brain injury, and muscle and tissue destruction. Internal damage can be severe even when external injuries look minor. Delayed symptoms are common, which is why prompt medical evaluation matters even when someone feels relatively okay in the hours after an incident.
Secondary injuries often compound the harm. A strong shock causes sudden, involuntary muscle contraction. Victims can fall from ladders, scaffolding, or elevated work surfaces, adding broken bones, spinal cord injuries, or head trauma to the primary electrical injury. When the exposure is severe enough, electrocution is fatal.
Common causes of electrocutions include:
- Faulty or improperly installed wiring
- Defective electrical equipment and tools
- Fallen or poorly maintained power lines
- Unsafe construction site conditions
- Lack of required safety training
- OSHA electrical safety violations by employers or contractors
Who Can Be Held Liable for an Electrocution Injury in Pennsylvania?
Identifying every liable party is one of the most important steps in an electrical injury claim. Depending on the circumstances, responsible parties may include property owners who failed to maintain safe electrical conditions, general contractors or subcontractors who created dangerous wiring or work environments, utility companies that neglected power line maintenance, manufacturers of defective electrical equipment, or landlords who ignored known electrical hazards.
Workplace electrocutions add complexity. Pennsylvania’s workers’ compensation system covers medical expenses, a portion of lost wages, and rehabilitation costs regardless of fault. But workers’ compensation bars a direct lawsuit against the employer. It doesn’t, however, prevent a third-party personal injury claim when a contractor, equipment manufacturer, or another non-employer contributed to the injury. That distinction matters because a third-party claim can recover pain and suffering damages that workers’ compensation doesn’t cover.
When electrocution is fatal, surviving family members may pursue a wrongful death claim for funeral costs, lost financial support, and loss of companionship, along with a survival action on behalf of the estate.
Pennsylvania Laws That Affect Your Electrocution Claim
Two legal rules have direct bearing on what you can recover and whether you can recover at all. Pennsylvania follows modified comparative negligence under 42 Pa. C.S. §7102, often called the “51% bar.” A victim who is 50% or less at fault may recover, but the award is reduced by their share of fault. A victim found 51% or more at fault recovers nothing. Insurance carriers routinely attempt to push a claimant’s fault above 50% to eliminate the claim entirely. Preserving evidence early makes that tactic harder to execute.
The statute of limitations for a personal injury claim in Pennsylvania is two years from the date of the injury. For wrongful death, the deadline is two years from the date of death. Missing either deadline generally bars recovery entirely. For minor victims, the clock may not begin until the victim turns 18, though that exception has limits. Consulting an attorney promptly can help protect your options regardless of which deadline applies.
Documented Results & Credentials Across Wrongful Injury Cases
Our track record spans thousands of awards and settlements since 1959, more than any other firm located in the Berks and Schuylkill County area. In a recent three-year period, our attorneys recovered more than 500 awards and settlements, including numerous million-dollar and multi-million-dollar results. Published figures from our practice include a $12.75 million settlement for failure to diagnose brain disease, a $6.5 million settlement for a teenage client who suffered a brain bleed resulting in hemiplegia, a $3.5 million trucking crash settlement, and a $3.265 million drunk-driving wrongful death settlement. Past results in one case don’t predict outcomes in any future case.
Lead attorney John R. Badal has been a member of the Pennsylvania bar since 1978 and was admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1991. He holds membership in both the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, national recognition tied to documented results at those dollar thresholds. He has served as Chairman of the Civil Litigation Section and the Workers’ Compensation Section of the Berks County Bar Association. Every case we accept is reviewed and assigned to a Civil Trial attorney qualified to handle it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Should I Do Right After an Electrocution?
Get a medical evaluation immediately. Electrocution injuries can cause internal damage with no visible symptoms early on. If it’s safe, document the scene with photos, witness contact information, and any identifying details about the equipment or conditions involved. Report the incident to the appropriate party (employer, property owner, or utility company). Don’t provide detailed statements to insurance representatives before speaking with an attorney.
Start With a Free Consultation
If you’re dealing with the aftermath of an electrical injury in Reading or the surrounding area, we’re ready to review your case. There are no fees and no case expenses until we recover money for you. That applies to every client and every case, without exception.
Call Liever, Hyman & Potter at (610) 885-1991 to schedule your free consultation and find out where your claim stands.
What Our Clients Say
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Working with Liever, Hyman & Potter Law Firm was an excellent experience from start to finish.Christie
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Andrew Fick and his team helped me with everything I needed in pursuing a personal injury case.Carlos A.
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I would highly recommend Liever, Hyman & Potter.Vanessa S.
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Andy Fick and his Liever, Hyman & Potter team fought hard for me.David D.
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He is a well-spoken and passionate attorney who actually cares about his clients.jeffrey r.
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He has always been responsive and professional, taking the time to review my issues.Howard J.
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Not only are the attorneys at this firm dedicated in obtaining successful results, more importantly, they also care about the personal well-being and health of their clients.Kevin B.
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Attorney John Badal represented me and did an outstanding job. The firm is very honest and upfront and does not blow smoke.Roxanne M.
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John went above and beyond to help me.Sean B.
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Between Stacey (paralegal) and Mike, they kept me up to date with emails, phone calls, and in-person meetings; making the entire process seamless.Blayne H.
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Andy gets the job done; he went above and beyond, exceeding my expectations.Nancy K.
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Everyone was thorough, professional, and supportive.Wendy B.
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My friend was impressed by the firm's compassion and genuine concern for his son's well-being.SARA P.
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The professionals of Liever, Hyman & Potter have a robust team of professionals who vigorously and diligently advocate.Adam N.
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Contacted me back very quickly, very professional.P N.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What Kind of Lawyer Do I Need?
The legal world is a complicated environment with countless nuances to take into account. As a result, there is a wide range of specialized attorneys dedicated to specific legal areas, such as criminal lawyers who handle criminal defense. With so many fields, it can be difficult to determine which kind of lawyer is best suited for your circumstances. If you call Liever, Hyman & Potter, P.C. and offer an overview of your situation, then they can help narrow down what kind of personal injury lawyer is best suited to handle your case. Our law firm was founded in 1959 and is knowledgeable in numerous areas of personal injury law.
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Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer?
After sustaining a severe injury, you will need to pay medical bills for treatment, potentially miss time at work, and experience pain and suffering. With a qualified and skilled lawyer’s assistance, it is possible for you to receive fair and full compensation for these damages. A knowledgeable attorney will increase your chances of reaching an acceptable settlement agreement and receiving more compensation than you would on your own. Additionally, personal injury lawyers can help settle a liability dispute to determine who is responsible for an accident.
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How Will I Know I Have a Case?
No one has to make this important decision by themselves. Contact Liever, Hyman & Potter, P.C., and set up a free consultation to go over your situation in detail. Our attorneys will be able to identify who you can sue and what you can expect to gain based on the facts of the accident and the laws in Pennsylvania. In most scenarios, you’ll have a case if it can be proven that someone acted carelessly and caused injuries. Applying this standard is more complex than it may initially appear, which is why it is important to consult us.
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When to Call a Lawyer After a Car Accident?
If you’ve sustained severe injuries in a car accident, you should reach out to a lawyer shortly after the crash takes place. Not only will a professional car accident attorney help you gather vital evidence before it is lost to help your case, but they can also handle communications with your insurance company and deal with the careless driver’s insurance company.
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What Should I Do if an Attorney or Insurance Adjuster Calls Me?
You should never speak with insurance adjusters for someone else involved in the accident. While they may sound friendly and sympathetic to your case, they are almost certainly trying to get statements from you that would reduce or eliminate the liability of their insured. This is also true when an attorney for another person contacts you.
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How to File a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit?
As previously mentioned, filing a medical malpractice lawsuit starts with contacting a lawyer. However, it is crucial that we have sufficient information before filing the claim because malpractice claims can be significantly more complicated than other lawsuits. Our dedicated attorneys will collect all of your medical records and thoroughly review them.
Your medical malpractice attorney must determine whether the case warrants a lawsuit before they file with the court. If we do go forward, we will rely on highly qualified doctors who will be able to explain why you or your loved one were wrongfully harmed by medical treatment.