Electric Shock Personal Injury Investigation:

How Discovery Engineering Provides Neutral Testimony for Legal Teams

Electric shock injuries present a serious and complex challenge in personal injury cases. From workplace electrocutions to residential electrical accidents, understanding the cause, severity, and impact of such incidents requires a deep technical background.

Discovery Engineering provides unbiased litigation support for these cases by offering the insights of an experienced electrical engineer expert witness. Whether the incident involves faulty devices, non-compliant installations, or industrial equipment failures, a proper investigation backed by standards such as the NEC and NFPA codes is critical to determining liability.

Understanding Electric Shock Injuries

Electric shock injuries occur when an electrical current passes through the human body, potentially causing burns, cardiac arrhythmias, neurological deficits, and even death. These injuries are typically classified based on voltage exposure, with low-voltage shocks often causing superficial injuries and high-voltage exposures resulting in deeper tissue damage and systemic complications.

Common causes include contact with exposed wiring, malfunctioning electrical devices, workplace equipment, and even lightning strikes. In many cases, these shocks also lead to mechanical trauma from involuntary muscle contractions or falls, further complicating medical outcomes.

Understanding Electric Shock Injuries

Electric shock injuries occur when an electrical current passes through the human body, potentially causing burns, cardiac arrhythmias, neurological deficits, and even death. These injuries are typically classified based on voltage exposure, with low-voltage shocks often causing superficial injuries and high-voltage exposures resulting in deeper tissue damage and systemic complications.

Common causes include contact with exposed wiring, malfunctioning electrical devices, workplace equipment, and even lightning strikes. In many cases, these shocks also lead to mechanical trauma from involuntary muscle contractions or falls, further complicating medical outcomes.

Technical Factors That Influence Injury Severity

Understanding the technical mechanics behind electric shock injuries is crucial in assessing the full scope of damages. Key variables include current, voltage, and resistance – components defined by Ohm’s Law. Current, measured in amperes, is proportional to voltage and inversely related to resistance. The body’s tissues vary in resistance: nerves have the least, while bone and fat have the most. As current follows the path of least resistance, internal damage may be more extensive than external injuries suggest.

Duration of contact also matters. Victims often cannot release a live source due to the ‘let-go threshold’ – a point where involuntary muscle contractions prevent detachment. Alternating current (AC), commonly found in homes and businesses, tends to cause more muscle stimulation, whereas direct current (DC), found in batteries and vehicles, requires more amperage to inflict similar damage.

The Role of an Electrical Engineer Expert Witness

Discovery Engineering plays a key role in personal injury litigation through the services of a qualified electrical engineer expert witness. These experts provide comprehensive evaluations to determine whether an electrical injury was caused by product defects, faulty installations, or code violations. They interpret incident data, analyze equipment design, and deliver objective findings to assist both plaintiffs and defense teams.

Expert testimony is often critical in personal injury litigation. Our experts break down complex technical topics into courtroom-friendly language, aiding jurors and judges in understanding fault and responsibility. All investigations are measured against industry benchmarks, including the NEC and NFPA codes, ensuring that findings stand up under legal scrutiny.

Technical Factors That Influence Injury Severity

Understanding the technical mechanics behind electric shock injuries is crucial in assessing the full scope of damages. Key variables include current, voltage, and resistance—components defined by Ohm's Law. Current, measured in amperes, is proportional to voltage and inversely related to resistance. The body’s tissues vary in resistance: nerves have the least, while bone and fat have the most. As current follows the path of least resistance, internal damage may be more extensive than external injuries suggest.

Duration of contact also matters. Victims often cannot release a live source due to the 'let-go threshold'—a point where involuntary muscle contractions prevent detachment. Alternating current (AC), commonly found in homes and businesses, tends to cause more muscle stimulation, whereas direct current (DC), found in batteries and vehicles, requires more amperage to inflict similar damage.

The Role of an Electrical Engineer Expert Witness

Discovery Engineering plays a key role in personal injury litigation through the services of a qualified electrical engineer expert witness. These experts provide comprehensive evaluations to determine whether an electrical injury was caused by product defects, faulty installations, or code violations. They interpret incident data, analyze equipment design, and deliver objective findings to assist both plaintiffs and defense teams.

Expert testimony is often critical in personal injury litigation. Our experts break down complex technical topics into courtroom-friendly language, aiding jurors and judges in understanding fault and responsibility. All investigations are measured against industry benchmarks, including the NEC and NFPA codes, ensuring that findings stand up under legal scrutiny.

Common Scenarios Requiring Investigation

Product Liability

Consumer devices like appliances, phone chargers, and power tools can be sources of electric shock if poorly designed or manufactured. Discovery Engineering provides failure analysis to determine whether a design flaw or material defect contributed to the injury. In such cases, legal teams may pursue product liability claims.

Workplace Electrocutions

High-voltage equipment used in industrial and construction settings can lead to severe injuries or fatalities. Improper lockout/tagout procedures, missing GFCI protection, or outdated wiring are frequent issues. Discovery Engineering’s evaluations often focus on OSHA compliance and electrical safety standards.

Lightning Strike Claims

Lightning injuries are rare but dramatic. Discovery Engineering investigates damage pathways to identify whether proper grounding, bonding, and surge protection were in place. These cases require unique expertise in electrocution investigations, especially when infrastructure design or weatherproofing is in question.

Residential Incidents

In-home injuries, such as shocks from faulty outlets or overloaded circuits, may result from improper installations or code violations. Our investigations frequently examine circuit breaker performance, outlet wiring, and the presence of safety mechanisms like AFCIs or GFCIs.

Common Scenarios Requiring Investigation

Product Liability

Consumer devices like appliances, phone chargers, and power tools can be sources of electric shock if poorly designed or manufactured. Discovery Engineering provides failure analysis to determine whether a design flaw or material defect contributed to the injury. In such cases, legal teams may pursue product liability claims.

Workplace Electrocutions

High-voltage equipment used in industrial and construction settings can lead to severe injuries or fatalities. Improper lockout/tagout procedures, missing GFCI protection, or outdated wiring are frequent issues. Discovery Engineering’s evaluations often focus on OSHA compliance and electrical safety standards.

Lightning Strike Claims

Lightning injuries are rare but dramatic. Discovery Engineering investigates damage pathways to identify whether proper grounding, bonding, and surge protection were in place. These cases require unique expertise in electrocution investigations, especially when infrastructure design or weatherproofing is in question.

Residential Incidents

In-home injuries, such as shocks from faulty outlets or overloaded circuits, may result from improper installations or code violations. Our investigations frequently examine circuit breaker performance, outlet wiring, and the presence of safety mechanisms like AFCIs or GFCIs.

Data and Evidence Analysis

Effective investigation of electric shock cases requires meticulous technical analysis. Discovery Engineering examines site conditions, damaged equipment, wiring configurations, and environmental factors like moisture or grounding. In cases involving severe trauma, we may also reconstruct the accident pathway – mapping the current flow from entry to exit points.

This process may include the use of electrical meters, diagnostic software, and visual inspections to evaluate compliance with the NEC and NFPA safety guidelines. Findings are documented in expert reports that detail code violations, design defects, or improper usage.

Legal and Regulatory Considerations

In personal injury cases involving electricity, legal teams must understand how safety codes and engineering standards influence liability. Discovery Engineering references relevant sections of the NEC and NFPA codes to support or refute claims of negligence.

We also assist with discovery requests, deposition preparation, and expert reporting that aligns with Daubert and Frye admissibility standards. With Discovery Engineering’s insights, attorneys can better evaluate the technical merits of their case and anticipate opposing arguments.

Data and Evidence Analysis

Effective investigation of electric shock cases requires meticulous technical analysis. Discovery Engineering examines site conditions, damaged equipment, wiring configurations, and environmental factors like moisture or grounding. In cases involving severe trauma, we may also reconstruct the accident pathway—mapping the current flow from entry to exit points.

This process may include the use of electrical meters, diagnostic software, and visual inspections to evaluate compliance with the NEC and NFPA safety guidelines. Findings are documented in expert reports that detail code violations, design defects, or improper usage.

Legal and Regulatory Considerations

In personal injury cases involving electricity, legal teams must understand how safety codes and engineering standards influence liability. Discovery Engineering references relevant sections of the NEC and NFPA codes to support or refute claims of negligence.

We also assist with discovery requests, deposition preparation, and expert reporting that aligns with Daubert and Frye admissibility standards. With Discovery Engineering’s insights, attorneys can better evaluate the technical merits of their case and anticipate opposing arguments.

Why Choose Discovery Engineering

Clients choose Discovery Engineering for our technical credibility, litigation experience, and clear communication. We bring a multidisciplinary approach to every case, supporting attorneys across a range of issues from accident reconstruction to product design evaluation.

With decades of experience, our team has provided expert support in claims involving everything from consumer electronics to utility infrastructure. Whether dealing with a high-profile injury or an industrial accident, our expert testimony is trusted in both state and federal courts.