Electrocution injuries can have lifelong effects.
Man Hits Power Line While Trimming His Neighbor’s Tree, Dies from Electrocution
According to a KSAT News report, a man died while trimming his neighbor’s trees on the West Side this morning.
SAFD reported getting the call at around 8 a.m. Wednesday, July 30th, to a home on the 800 block of South San Dario Avenue in a West-Side neighborhood. The man, identified as 40-year-old Alex Quintanilla, was found hanging from his safety harness when firefighters arrived. The initial report stated that Quintanilla likely struck a power line with a pole saw while trimming his neighbor’s tree. SAFD’s Technical Rescue team recovered Quintanilla after CPS Energy workers arrived and de-energized the power line. He was pronounced dead at 9:25 a.m.
Did You Know?
Roughly 30,000 people are injured by electric shock in the United States each year.
Injured While Volunteering? What Texas Law Says About Your Rights
When someone gets hurt while volunteering, it can raise difficult questions—especially when the person was only trying to help. Unlike employees or contractors, volunteers often aren’t covered by workers’ compensation or formal workplace protections. But that doesn’t mean they’re left without legal options.
Whether you’re helping a neighbor, assisting at a church, or lending a hand in your community, Texas law still protects your right to safety.
Premises Liability and the Homeowner’s Duty of Care
In Texas, premises liability law determines what property owners must do to keep their guests safe. Even unpaid guests, like volunteers, are protected under the law.
Here’s how it works:
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Invitees (e.g., customers, contractors): Property owners owe them the highest duty of care.
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Licensees (e.g., social guests and volunteers): Property owners must warn them about any known hazards that pose an unreasonable risk.
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Trespassers: Only minimal duty—typically to avoid intentional harm.
If a volunteer is injured due to a known but unaddressed hazard—like low-hanging power lines, hidden electrical wiring, or unsafe terrain—the homeowner could potentially be held liable for failing to provide adequate warning or take proper precautions.
Could Other Parties Be Responsible?
Depending on the situation, multiple parties could share legal responsibility for a volunteer’s injury:
1. Utility Companies
If an injury involves a power line or electrical equipment that was improperly installed, maintained, or marked, the utility provider may share liability.
2. Product Manufacturers
If a tool or safety device malfunctions—such as a pole saw, harness, or ladder—you may have a claim under Texas product liability law. For example, a manufacturer may be liable if the equipment lacked necessary safety warnings or failed under normal use.
3. Property Managers or HOAs
If a third party (like an HOA, property manager, or landlord) is responsible for maintaining the property or arranging safe working conditions, they too could be held accountable if their negligence contributed to the injury.
Do Volunteers Have Legal Rights After an Injury?
Yes. Volunteers have the same legal right to a reasonably safe environment as any guest or licensee under Texas law.
If you’ve been injured—or lost a loved one—while volunteering on someone else’s property, you may be eligible to file a personal injury or wrongful death claim. Compensation may include:
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Medical bills
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Funeral and burial costs
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Pain and suffering
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Emotional distress
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Lost income (if the person was also a wage earner or contributed to household support)
Working Near Power Lines? Know the Risks.
Volunteering often involves physical work—tree trimming, roof repairs, fence building—and that can mean exposure to serious risks, especially electrical hazards.
If you’re working near power lines, it’s critical to:
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Call your local utility provider before starting the job.
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Request a temporary shutoff or ask if professionals can assist.
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Use properly insulated tools and never assume power lines are safe to touch.
Many Texas utility companies, including CPS Energy, offer safety services and guidance for projects near overhead lines.
Injured While Volunteering? Call Shaw.
If you or someone you love was seriously injured while volunteering—on private property, at a nonprofit, or anywhere else—you may have more legal options than you think. These cases can be complex and emotional, but you don’t have to navigate them alone.
Call Shaw today at 800-862-1260 for a free, confidential case review. We’ll listen to your story, explain your rights, and help you take the next steps with confidence and clarity.
No fees. No pressure. Just the expert legal guidance you deserve.
We look forward to serving you.