How To Make An Electrocution Compensation Claim
By Danielle Graves. Last updated 28th April 2023. 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
- A Guide To Electric Shock Electrocution Compensation Claims
- What Are Electrical Injuries?
- Symptoms And Effects Of Electrical Injuries
- Long-Term Health Impact Of An Electrical Injury
- Causes Of Electrical Injuries
- Workplaces Which May Have A Higher Risk Of Electrical Injuries
- Workplace Electrical Injury Claims
- Electrical Injuries In A Public Place
- Steps To Take After An Electrical Injury
- How Much Compensation For An Electric Shock Could I Receive?
- Electrical Burn And Electrocution Compensation Calculator
- No Win, No Fee Electrical Injury Compensation Claims
- How Legal Helpline Could Help You Claim For An Electrical Injury
- Talk To Legal Helpline About Your Case
- Supporting Information
A Guide To Electric Shock Electrocution Compensation Claims
Electrical injury claims
This guide shall discuss personal injury claims that are in connection to electrocution-related injuries. Whether you are at your place of work, a shopping centre, or a restaurant, experiencing an electric shock can be an unpleasant surprise.
Unfortunately, there are some scenarios where an electrical injury could be a fluke incident where nobody is at fault. However, if a third party is directly responsible for an incident occurring, the injured individual could have grounds to claim compensation. Below, we’ll discuss how a negligent third party, such as an employer, could cause an accident of this calibre. In doing so, we will answer relevant questions about the claims process and provide information where applicable, such as:
- What is a personal injury claim?
- What is an electrical injury, and how are they caused?
- Could I make a claim against a negligent employer if they are to blame?
- What is a No Win, No Fee Agreement?
- How could Legal Helpline assist me when pursuing a claim?
If you have been injured due to the negligence of a third party and wish to make a claim, you should be aware of the personal injury claims time limit, as it could affect your ability to claim. For electrocution compensation claims, claimants have just three years from the date of the accident to issue a claim. If they fail to do so, they could be time-barred from claiming altogether. For this reason, we always advise that you seek legal advice as soon as possible. To discover whether your potential claim meets the personal injury claims time limit, please contact a member of our team today.
What Are Electrical Injuries?
From advancements in technology to revolutionising job industries, electricity has advanced many sectors of our lives and plays a crucial role in the modern world. But despite its importance, electricity is still an extremely dangerous utility that can cause severe injury and harm when mishandled. An electrical injury is caused by an electrical current flowing through the body. An electrical injury could be inflicted by a wide range of voltages, but the risk of injury and harm is often greater with higher voltages.
Symptoms And Effects Of Electrical Injuries
An electrical injury can cause a wide variety of injuries and harm, and the severity of the injury could be in direct relation to the voltage. From electrical burns, thermal burns to electric shock, there are various ways an electrical injury could cause harm. To further outline how the effects of an electrical injury could cause damage, we have outlined the different types of accidents that could occur and the effects they could have.
Symptoms And Effects Of An Electric Shock
The precise effects of an electric shock are often dependent upon various factors, such as the voltage, the dampness of the person, and the length of time in which the electrical current flows through the body. For example, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) states that a voltage as low as 50 volts can cause the electrical signals between the brain and the muscles to stop. In doing so, this could cause several health-related consequences, such as:
- Muscular spasms;
- Preventing the affected individual from breathing;
- Preventing the heart from beating at a conventional pace.
Symptoms And Effects Of Electrical Burns
An injury of this nature is often caused when an electrical current is passed through the body. Whilst the current moves around the body, it heats the tissue and causes the skin to burn, potentially inflicting serious damage. In many cases, the affected individual will most likely require major surgery and could be left permanently disabled.
Thermal Burn Injury Symptoms And Effects
A thermal burn injury is often connected to an overloaded, faulty, or short-circuited piece of equipment. Even low voltage batteries that could be found in a motor vehicle could overheat and may explode. People endure thermal burn-related injuries when they are near hot surfaces or if they are within proximity of an electrical explosion.
Long-Term Health Impact Of An Electrical Injury
The effects of an electrical shock could have devastating and life-altering consequences, especially if they aren’t treated immediately. In extreme cases, electrocution could cause the affected individual to fall into cardiac arrest, or in severe cases, it could cause a fatal outcome.
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;
- Farming / agricultural
- 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.
Workplace Electrical Injury Claims
In 2020, HSE reported that 1.6 million UK workers suffered work-related ill health. Of this statistic, 693,000 workers sustained non-fatal injuries. This resulted in a total of around 32.5 million working days lost.
Unfortunately, there are various ways an employee could become injured or ill within their place of work, and in some cases, this could be in connection to an accident. There are some cases where an accident in the workplace could be a fluke event, meaning nobody is at fault. However, there are some scenarios where a third party’s negligent actions could be to blame. Either way, an accident in the workplace is an unfortunate situation, and the severity of the event could range from minor to life-altering.
Employers have a duty of care to their employees to provide a safe and hazard-free working environment. For example, those that are exposed to electrical items with a high voltage should be aware of the dangers that are involved. To ensure they meet their duties, employers could perform preventative measures such as:
- Risk assessments
- Routine inspections
- Provide applicable training
- Provide suitable working equipment
Electrical Injuries In A Public Place
Unfortunately, an accident in a public space could happen at any potential moment and inflict a wide range of damages. Many of these can result in electrocution compensation claims being made. Example locations of accidents might include:
- Supermarkets
- Hotels
- Private land
- Retail stores
- Public libraries
- Public spaces occupied by the local council
If someone owes you a duty of care in a public location, they should perform the appropriate measures to ensure your safety has been assured. For example, if you were to endure an electrical injury in the supermarket due to a faulty piece of equipment, this could be the result of a breach in the supermarket’s duties of care. The HSE clearly states that the legal duty of a business is to evaluate the risk to employees, customers, or any other individual who enters their premises. A failure to perform this vital task could create hazardous risks, making them liable in the event of an accident.
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 | Notes | Compensation Bracket - Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Chest Injuries (a) | The claimant suffers with serious heart damage along with the total removal of one lung. There is serious and prolonged pain, suffering and significant permanent scarring. | £100,670 to £150,110 |
| Chest Injuries (b) | The claimant suffers permanent damage to their chest. lungs and heart causing function impairment, disability and lift expectancy reduction. | £65,740 to £100,670 |
| Chest Injuries (f) | The claimant has suffered collapsed lungs but made a full and uncomplicated recovery. | £2,190 to £5,320 |
| Burns | Significant burns covering more than 40% of the body. | Likely to exceed £104,830 |
| Significant facial scarring | The claimant has visible scars at a conversational distance. The worst effects have been or are expected to be reduced by plastic surgery. If there was a psychological reaction, it has diminished to relatively minor proportions. | £9,110 to £30,090 |
| Very severe brain damage (a) | The person requires full-time care. | £282,010 to £403,990 |
| Epilepsy (a) | Established Grand Mal | £102,000 to £150,110 |
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 Electrical Injury Compensation Claims
If you have a valid electrocution compensation case against a negligent party, a solicitor from our panel could offer to handle your potential claim under a No Win, No Fee agreement. If you are wondering what a No Win, No Fee agreement entails, it essentially serves as a contract between the solicitor and you as the claimant. This agreement ensures that you do not have to pay any fees upfront or during the claim, and if your case is successful, you will not have to pay any of the fees your solicitor has incurred in pursuing your case.
If your claim is successful, your solicitor may seek a small contribution toward their fees. This contribution is known as a success fee and would be deducted from the compensation awarded at the end of the claim. Don’t worry, the success fee is legally capped and will be confirmed within the No Win, No Fee agreement before you begin your claim.
If you have any questions regarding claims of this nature, please speak with a member of our team today.
How Legal Helpline Could Help You Claim For An Electrical Injury
It is more than understandable to be unsure of your legal position after being injured, especially if a negligent third party is to blame. Nobody expects to be involved in an accident that could affect their health and well-being, but unfortunately, that doesn’t prevent incidents from occurring.
In the event you have been hurt by third-party negligence, you could have grounds to make electrocution compensation claims. If that is the case, Legal Helpline could help support you.
We work with a distinguished panel of solicitors that are well versed in personal injury law. They have decades of experience in handling claims of this nature and understand what it takes to make a successful claim. Crucially, they strive to ensure they achieve the maximum compensation possible and will guide you through the claims process expertly, explaining legal jargon and procedures along the way.
Talk To Legal Helpline About Your Case
If you have been injured due to the fault of another, you might be wondering whether or not you could make a claim? If that is the case, why not speak with a member of our team? Our advisors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They can offer free, no strings attached legal advice for electrocution compensation claims and will answer any questions that you might have. In addition to our phone lines, you could enquire online through our online form.
To speak with an advisor, please call us on 0161 696 9685.
If you wish to enquire about your potential claim online, please click here.
Electrocution Compensation Claims FAQs
Here are some brief answers to frequently asked questions about electrocution compensation claims.
What is the average payout for a personal injury claim UK?
As personal injury claims are valued according to the extent of each claimant’s suffering, there is no such thing as an average payout. For a free assessment of how much you could be entitled to, please contact Legal Helpline today.
Can you sue for getting electrocuted at work?
If you suffered an electric shock as a result of your employer’s failings to uphold your safety, you could have grounds to make a claim. To see if you could be entitled to compensation, please contact Legal Helpline today for a free consultation.
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