Electric shock and electrical accident claims

The impacts of an electric shock can be anything from minor to life-changing.

At Express Solicitors, we’ve helped to settle hundreds of electric shock injury compensation claims just like yours, and will go one step further to get you the settlement you deserve.

Get in touch with us today to see how we could handle your electric shock in the workplace claim on a no win, no fee basis.

What compensation can I claim for an electric shock

When you approach our expert electric shock at work solicitors, you may be able to claim for two types of electric shock injury. These are known as ‘general damages’ and ‘special damages’. General damages relate specifically to the injury itself, for example:

• Your pain and suffering
• Life-changing injuries e.g. paralysis
• Psychological damage.

Special damages, meanwhile, relate to the financial losses you’ve suffered because of your electric shock injury. These may include:

• Loss of earnings from time off work (including predicted time off)
• Medical expenses, present and future
• Transport expenses to your medical appointments
• Adaptations to your home or car.

How much can I claim for an electric shock at work?

How much compensation for an electric shock you can claim depends on your individual circumstances. There are no pre-set amounts, so our expert lawyers will assess the physical damage, your financial losses, and the long-term changes you may have to make. For example, if you suffer from long-term numbness in a limb, this may push your settlement amount up.

The Judicial Board Guidelines offer hypothetical amounts based on the site of injury alone:

• Brain damage can range from £12,000 to £34,000
• Hand injuries can range from £3,000 to £64,000
• Paralysis can range from £39,000 to £300,000.

However, less serious damage could be significantly less. We’ll leave no stone unturned when it comes to getting the biggest settlement possible.

How much compensation for electric shock claims depends on a number of factors, so we’ll assess your case on an individual basis to make sure you get the settlement you deserve. We handle the majority of our electric shock injury compensation claims on a no win, no fee basis, which means you won’t be financially liable if you lose your case.

How long does an electric shock injury claim take?

Your electric shock claim can take anything from a number of weeks to 18 months, depending on several factors. At Express Solicitors, we aim to settle all claims within six months, but this depends on your employer. For example, if they do not accept liability, your claim can take considerably longer. We will deal with the legal proceedings and keep you informed throughout the process.

Who can claim for electric shock compensation?

You can claim for an electric shock in the workplace in any circumstances, whether you’re an electrician or have simply suffered an accident in the office.

An electric shock injury can happen simply as a result of poor machinery maintenance or workplace training. You may be able to claim electric shock compensation if you work in occupations such as:

• Care work
• Cleaning
• Construction
• Engineering
• Hairdressing
• Mechanics
• Nursing
• Office work
• Theatre.

If you’ve suffered at the hands of poor training or badly maintained equipment, contact us for a no win, no fee electric shock compensation claim today.

What are the typical causes of electric shock injuries in the workplace?

There are many reasons you may suffer an electric shock in the workplace – and it’s not always related to your trade. Your employer has a duty of care and a legal responsibility to keep you safe. This includes carrying out risk assessments, electrical testing and training, as set out by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
If your employer has not met their safety regulations, this could lead to the following workplace injuries:

Power surges

In many workplaces, managers have to deal with circuit boards tripping, leading them to replace protective electrical equipment with higher rated versions. While this can solve the circuit board issue, it can also lead to power surges if the equipment is not suitable for this higher rating. In turn, this can affect the power supply to the building and any machinery, which may result in electric shocks.

Exposed electrical components

Common in the construction industry, exposed components such as wires, broken light switches or damaged plug sockets could lead to injury or death. If proper risk assessments have not been carried out, employers may miss these hazards.

Improper ‘earthing’

Earthing is the practice of connecting an electrical power system to the ground for safety. If this has not been done properly, exposed equipment may become ‘live’, resulting in potentially life-changing injury.

Danger from liquids

In some workplaces, electrical equipment can be exposed to the elements such as rainwater, which presents a hazard. For example, this can lead to a short circuit which cuts out the machinery and can cause electric shocks. This may also happen in environments where cleaning is common, for example, jet washers in the catering industry.

Poor maintenance

Any workplace with electrical equipment may be hazardous if your employer does not carry out maintenance and safety checks. This could include hazards such as exposed wires or loose connections, which could even result in fires. Equipment that does not pass safety checks should be replaced, and a record should be kept of all checks. If your employer cannot provide this, you may be able to make a no win, no fee electric shock compensation claim.

What are the symptoms of an electric shock injury?

Even a low voltage can result in an electric shock injury. Shocks from as little as 50 volts can interfere with electrical signals between the brain and muscles, which can affect movement.

Electric shock injury claims resulting in severe damage generally have bigger settlement amounts. The severity of the damage depends on the size of the voltage, how long the current flowed for, which parts of the body were affected, and whether or not your body was damp at the time. In extreme cases, this may result in death by electrocution.

If you’ve suffered an electric shock, you may notice:

• Burns
• Bone fractures and breakages or dislocation due to spasming muscles
• Breathing difficulties
• Injuries from being thrown by the electric current, or from a height
• Irregular heartbeat or even cardiac arrest.

If a loved one has died as a result of an electric shock at work, you may be able to make a claim on their behalf. (https://www.expresssolicitors.co.uk/personal-injury-claims/guides/fatal-injury-claims) Our expert solicitors will deal with your claim sensitively to help you get the compensation you deserve.

What are the regulations for electricity in the workplace?

There are many regulations for electrical safety in the workplace, but the two most important ones concern staff members and testing:

1. Staff members should only work on electrical installations and equipment if they are trained to do so.
2. Every piece of electrical equipment must be inspected, maintained and in good working order. Inspections will need to be more thorough for equipment on building sites and in factories, but the PAT test is a good place to start.

What is my employer’s duty of care?

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, your employer has a duty to keep you safe. This involves certain precautions such as adequate electrical equipment training, and making sure this equipment is not damaged. Examples of damage include frayed cords, damaged insulation or broken plugs.

Likewise, your employee must always provide appropriate personal protective equipment, such as insulated gloves.

Reporting through RIDDOR

Your employer must also report certain incidents by law. According to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR), the following workplace accidents and incidents should be reported:

• Serious accidents caused by electricity
• Accidents that cause death or serious enough injury to warrant three days off work
• Electrical overloads or short circuits that cause fires or explosions.

If your employer has reported your accident, this may help to strengthen your case. We will take all of the individual circumstances of your electric shock injury into account, from personal pain to loss of earnings. Get in touch to start your no win, no fee electric shock compensation claim.
Is my employer liable?

Your employer has a legal obligation to keep you safe at work, whether you’re full-time, a contractor, or simply visiting the site. Specifically, you may be able to make a claim if your employer does not meet these safety standards:

• The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999. This means employers must carry out risk assessments of all equipment and working environments.
• The Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at Work Regulations 1992 require employers to provide appropriate safety wear that is in working order. They must also train employees on how to use it effectively.
• The Electricity at Work Regulations 1998 offer employers guidelines on how to train staff members working with electricity. They also cover measures for protecting against hazards, including risk assessments.

If you’ve suffered an electric shock at work, we can help you to prove that your employer was at fault. Ask us about your no win, no fee compensation claim today.

How to claim compensation for an electric shock at home

Claiming for an electric shock injury at home follows a similar process to workplace electric shock injury compensation claims. You need to be able to prove that somebody else was at fault – in this case, the manufacturer of the appliance that caused your injury.

You may be able to claim based on the Consumer Protection Act 1987 if you believe your appliance was faulty. We can help you to prove these claims with our expert guidance.

Why Choose Express Solicitors?

At Express Solicitors, our expert electric shock injury solicitors offer decades of experience settling claims others won’t. We’ll look at every element of your case to get you the biggest compensation amount possible, and may be able to offer a settlement on a no win, no fee basis. This means you’re only liable to pay our charges if we win the case.

We’ve dealt with hundreds of claims just like yours and helped employees get their lives back on track. You deserve to feel safe at work, so our sensitive lawyers will listen to your case and make sure you get the pay-out you deserve.