×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Shocked in Crawlspace

Shocked in Crawlspace

Shocked in Crawlspace

(OP)
Was leaving a crawlspace this morning and did not see an old electrical wire hanging down. It hit me in the neck and was apparently live. Snapped my head back from the shock, but other than that, no issues leaving. My neck is now stiff and it hurts to chew - geez. Anyhow, if this happens to turn into a major injury (hypothetically), would I have recourse against their homeowner's insurance? Just curious.

Thanks

RE: Shocked in Crawlspace

Actually, I believe yes, but talk to a lawyer.

When I was attempting to buy a house recently, the seller wanted me to hold him har(e)mless if any of the inspectors we used got hurt on the premises. I refused to sign and walked away as I had no homeowners to cover such a thing, but he should have.

Perhaps either he did not want to use it, or did not have it either.

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)


RE: Shocked in Crawlspace

(OP)
Thanks Mike

RE: Shocked in Crawlspace

Agree with Mike...but keep in mind that you have a limited time to make such a claim....in some areas as little as 14 days.

RE: Shocked in Crawlspace

Some industries require medical assessment for 24 hours after receipt of shock, or suspected receipt of shock. It'd be worth getting assessed for two reasons, firstly, to ensure that there are no unexpected following issues, and secondly, to allow for any medical reporting to be provided in support of a claim if needed.

RE: Shocked in Crawlspace

I hope you have taken whatever steps are necessary to have the hazard taken care of.

RE: Shocked in Crawlspace

(OP)
Thanks for everyone's advice. I showed the wire to the real estate agent. She is reportedly going to let the owner know.

RE: Shocked in Crawlspace

If you were there for a professional inspection as a structural engineer, charging for the work, it would be my opinion, you should have insurance to cover you for accidents/injuries sustained on the job.

If you were there, as a friend, checking out the structure of the house, then the individual's homeowner's policy should get a claim against it.

I see no problem requesting that the homeowner not be held liable for injuries incurred while someone is doing their job at their house. I would require any contractor who is doing roofing, or gutter cleaning, or some other professional activity to have their own insurance for injuries/accidents.

RE: Shocked in Crawlspace

(OP)

Quote (PEDARRIN2)

If you were there for a professional inspection as a structural engineer, charging for the work, it would be my opinion, you should have insurance to cover you for accidents/injuries sustained on the job.
I would agree with you if the incident was foreseen, but it was not. I would also expect a roofer to sue me if he fell through my roof due to an unforeseen structural problem.

RE: Shocked in Crawlspace

Quote (PEDARRIN2)

I see no problem requesting that the homeowner not be held liable for injuries incurred while someone is doing their job at their house. I would require any contractor who is doing roofing, or gutter cleaning, or some other professional activity to have their own insurance for injuries/accidents.

Right but that's if they drive a nail through their foot, fall off, or otherwise hurt themselves. If they hurt themselves by falling off stairs with no handrail (not related to the job) then it was an unsafe condition the homeowner created. I say it goes on the homeowners liability (but I'm no lawyer, just seems fair this way).

Professional and Structural Engineer (ME, NH, MA)
American Concrete Industries
www.americanconcrete.com

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources