By Danielle Graves. Last updated 9th April 2024. Welcome to our electrocution compensation claims guide. Damage caused by an electric shock or burn can inflict minor to life-altering consequences. Unfortunately, there are some situations where an electrical injury could inflict harm, and nobody is at fault. However, in some circumstances, a third party could neglect their duty of care, which, in turn, could result in a person becoming injured or harmed. If that is the case and negligence is to blame, the affected individual could have potential grounds to pursue a claim for compensation.
Within this guide, we’ll discuss how our panel of solicitors could assist those that have been affected by the negligence of a third party. If when reading this guide you have a question or would like to proceed with a claim, please contact us. Our excellent team of advisors are available 24 hours a day to take your call.
Jump To A Section
- Eligibility Criteria For Electrocution Compensation Claims
- Causes Of Electrical Injuries
- Workplaces Which May Have A Higher Risk Of Electrical Injuries
- Steps To Take After An Electrical Injury
- How Much Compensation For An Electric Shock Could I Receive?
- No Win No Fee Electrocution Compensation Claims
- Supporting Information
Eligibility Criteria For Electrocution Compensation Claims
If you have suffered an eclectic shock injury, to be able to make a personal injury claim, you will need to prove the following:
- You were owed a duty of care.
- This duty was breached.
- This breach caused you to suffer your injury.
A duty of care refers to someone’s legal responsibility to ensure your safety. For example, your employer owed you a duty of care while you are working under the Health and Safety etc. Act 1974. They must take reasonable steps to prevent you from coming to harm while in the workplace or performing your work duties. For example, they could provide you with sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) when needed.
Those in control of public spaces owe you a duty of care under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957. Per their duty of care, they must take steps and measures to ensure your reasonable safety while you are visiting that public space. For example, they could perform regular risk assessments and address any hazards they come across.
To see whether you may be eligible to make a personal injury claim if you suffered an electrocution injury, you can contact our advisors.
Causes Of Electrical Injuries
Many variants could contribute to an electrical injury. To further illustrate the various factors that could cause an electrical injury, we have provided a list:
- Faulty equipment.
- Damaged or frayed cords.
- Exposed parts of an electrical appliance making contact with the skin.
- Struck by lightning.
- Appliances coming into contact with water.
If your employer was responsible for your injuries or failed to prevent them according to their duty of care, grounds for electrocution compensation claims could be established.
Workplaces Which May Have A Higher Risk Of Electrical Injuries
You might be wondering whether or not you could sue for getting electrocuted at work, which is a justified question to ask. Unfortunately, there are specific industries where an accident involving electrocution could be more prevalent, which is simply due to the nature of the job. Examples might include;
- A farm accident
- Maintenance
- Forestry
- Those who work in underground services or explosive atmospheres.
The nature of the job role does not excuse an employer’s negligent actions. In the event you have been injured due to the negligence of an employer, you might be wondering if there are steps you could take? In the event you become injured, Citizens Advice recommends that you:
- Seek medical attention.
- Take photographs of the accidents caused.
- Report the incident to your employer.
- Ensure your incident is logged in the work-accident book (and keep a copy).
- Swap your contact details with those that witnessed the incident.
Steps To Take After An Electrical Injury
In the event you have been electrocuted, you might be wondering what to do next. It goes without saying that if you have sustained an injury, you should seek medical attention. But in the event you have been shocked and can move, you should try and:
- Let go of the electrical current.
- Call 999 and seek medical attention.
- Do not move unless you need to evacuate an area.
- If the shock was minor, consider seeing a doctor as soon as possible.
In the event another person has been injured, you could consider:
- Keeping the person warm.
- Seeking medical attention as quickly as possible.
- Turning off the electricity flow or removing them from the hazardous area.
How Much Compensation For An Electric Shock Could I Receive?
In this section, we are going to look at how much compensation for an electric shock could be awarded in a successful personal injury claim. Settlements could consist of both general damages and special damages.
General damages compensate for the physical pain and mental suffering caused by the injury. To help when valuing personal injury claims, legal professionals will use a document titled the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). It lists compensation guidelines for various types of injuries.
In our table below, we’ve provided figures from the 16th edition of the JCG. Please only use our table as guidance.
| Injury | Severity | Notes | Compensation Bracket - Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple Severe Injuries With Financial Harm | Severe | Compensation for suffering multiple injuries that are severe in nature and the financial harm they have caused, such as lost earnings and medical expenses. | Up to £350,000+ |
| Brain Damage | Moderate (i) | A moderate to severe intellectual deficit with an effect on sight and speech and no prospect of employment. | £183,190 to £267,340 |
| Chest | Traumatic Injury | Affecting the chest, heart or lungs that causes permanent damage and impaired function. | £80,240 to £122,850 |
| Facial Disfigurement | Very Severe Scarring | The cosmetic effect is very disabling with a severe psychological reaction. Usually applicable in case for those who are a teen to their early 30s. | £36,340 to £118,790 |
| Less Severe Scarring | A substantial disfigurement with a significant psychological reaction. | £21,920 to £59,090 | |
| Significant Scarring | Plastic surgery will have reduced the worst effects leaving behind some cosmetic disability. | £11,120 to £36,720 | |
| Scarring to Other Parts of the Body | Burns | Serious burns that cover over 40% of the body. | Likely to exceed £127,930 |
| Noticeable or Disfiguring Scars | Multiple noticeable laceration scars of a singular disfiguring scar to the hands, arms, legs, chest or back. | £9,560 to £27,740 |
Special Damages
Your electric shock claim amount could also include special damages. This compensates you for the financial losses you incurred due to your injuries. To be able to claim special damages, it is likely that you will need to present evidence regarding your expenses, such as bank statements.
Examples of what losses you might be able to recover include:
- Loss of earnings, including your past, present and future earnings.
- Medical expenses, such as the costs of therapy.
- Travel expenses, such as taxi fares to medical appointments.
- Domestic help, such as the cost of a carer.
If you would like a free valuation of your electric shock compensation claim, get in touch with our advisors.
No Win No Fee Electrocution Compensation Claims
If you’d like to learn more about the average compensation for an electric shock, we recommend talking to a legal professional. There are many benefits that can come with making a personal injury claim with the help of a solicitor; for example, a solicitor can talk to witnesses for you, and request CCTV and other video footage. They can also arrange for you to undergo an independent medical assessment, the results of which can be used to help prove your claim.
Our panel of solicitors work on a No Win No Fee basis through the means of a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). Under a CFA, your solicitor won’t ask you to pay for them to start work on your claim. Likewise, if you don’t make a successful claim, then you won’t pay for their services. If you do make a successful claim, they’ll deduct a small percentage of your compensation as their success fee.
Our team of advisors are here to help. If you’d like to learn more about making a personal injury claim after an electric shock, get in touch today. They can evaluate your claim for free, and could potentially pass your claim on to a solicitor.
To get started:
- Call us on 0161 696 9685
- Contact us online
- Use the live chat feature
Supporting Information
- Accident at Work – Could I make a claim against a negligent employer?
- Fatal Workplace Accident – Could I make a claim on behalf of a loved one?
- Shop Accident Claims – Does a shop owe me a duty of care?
- NHS – First Aid
Thanks for reading our electrocution compensation claims guide.
Guide by MN
Edited by REG