Consequences of doing electrical work without a license

[reyamkram]

Throughout the years this is what I've Been Told I don't know if it's true or not if the municipality adopted the NEC then it's mandatory for manufacture the follow-up and if an unlicensed person does do electrical work and something happens it could be criminal charges and can the management be held accountable if something happens can they be held accountable for criminal charges and if you don't use listed or label products and something happens the insurance company to refuse to pay thank you for any and all information this is an Elgin Illinois

 

[Genepires]

on same note and with punctuation. I am curious about what the legal ramifications are for licensed sparkies who do side work and there is a fire years after, even if not electrical sourced.

As an apprentice, my journeyman warned me that if the insurance or fireman find that sparkies did side work on site, they auto blame it on that side work. Then we lose our state license and open to civil liability.

And another question, if the work done is unpaid, are we still held liable if there are issues?

i suppose it may depend on the state you are in.

 

[Sberry]

As an apprentice, my journeyman warned me that if the insurance or fireman find that sparkies did side work on site, they auto blame it on that side work. Then we lose our state license and open to civil liability.
They auto blame it| thats interesting.

 

[coffeebean]

Last in wins, but not in a good way

 

[Sberry]

You are always open to liability. If you drive without a lic you are guilty of driving without one. If someone runs a light in to you,,, they are at fault, you are still guilty of driving without lic. If you have a lic and run in to someone you are still guilty, you have insurance to offsdet the liability. If you are criminally negligent then you will probably face civil.
A licensed guy putting in flying splice is sposed to be "more negiligent",,, he has a licsense and training and is spoased to know better, now its not simple human error, he did it and knows better.

 

[Genepires]

As an apprentice, my journeyman warned me that if the insurance or fireman find that sparkies did side work on site, they auto blame it on that side work. Then we lose our state license and open to civil liability.
They auto blame it| thats interesting.

probably more about the old timer trying to save young buck from stupidity, whether right or wrong. They must have seen something in their years of work.

 

[infinity]

Not all electrical work requires a license. If the work is done incorrectly and someone is hurt or there is a fire then the person who did the work would likely be liable. That would apply to both licensed and unlicensed persons.

Here in NJ a licensed person would have liability insurance so there is a layer of protection when being sued. Also if the licensed company is a corporation then there are limits to personal liability. If you're unlicensed and doing side work just make 100% sure that the job is code compliant.

 

[Sberry]

A license is inviting a 3rd party to the work. You cant sue for unpaid work if you dont have it. It brings the state in and put the work in its jurisdiction so to speak. Says you have the right to contract and that you will follow the laws and the codes. The insurance is a contract, everyone agrees to hold them liable vs you provided you are not criminal.

 

[ramsy]

if something happens can they be held accountable for criminal charges

Criminal prosecution is less lucrative than damage awards.

Accident attorney’s leverage illegal traffic infractions to collect the lucrative punitive “damages,” well beyond the value of actual loss.

Illegal activity in other industries trigger un-insurable increased hazard, cancellation and non-renewal, which may confiscate the lifetime of premiums, without paying casualty claims.

Ignorance is bliss, until the mirror is turned, which showed your illegal activity coming.

 

[DBill64]

I would look at your state's electrical permitting and licensing requirements for electrical work. I know here in Washington the level of electrical work to be done by non-licensed persons is very limited, and the work that can be done by an unlicensed person with an electrical work permit exemption are even fewer (like-in-kind replacement of single breaker, control devices, single set of fuses, etc.). The penalties will also vary state-by-state.

 

[rc/retired]

You have to look at local laws. Anyone can be sued for any reason.

Ron

 

[Jraef]

If the work is done incorrectly and someone is hurt or there is a fire then the person who did the work would likely be liable. That would apply to both licensed and unlicensed persons.

This. But also you are not likely going to be able to get liability insurance without a license, so you are in essence, flying solo. If you mess up, it could cost you everything.