What Duties Does a Power Company Have?
Generally, the power company has an obligation, from contracts or regulations, to provide customers with adequate and continuous service. The power company must exercise reasonable care to fulfill its obligation. What Can I Do If I Suffer Injury Because of a Power Outage?
If you have had your power service wrongly interrupted, you can recover damages for physical injuries and injuries to property that are a direct result of the power outage. For example, you may recover for damages from looting or vandalism of your property during a power outage. You may not recover lost revenues, lost employee productivity, and other consequential damages. Contact your power company and ask about their claims process to see if it will repay you for your damages. What Might Limit my Recovery?In some places, the customer is required to show that the power company was negligent in some way before he can recover. The power company would not be liable if the power outage was caused by an uncontrollable event, such as a natural disaster. However, if the company negligently built or maintained its power structures so that a natural disaster, or other event, would lead to a power outage, the company may be liable. Should I Contact A Lawyer About a Power Outage?A lawyer can help you determine what damages you may recover from the power company. A lawyer can also help recover damages in a lawsuit if the power company refuses to pay you for your injuries or losses. |
