Electrical Accident at Work – A Guide to Claiming Compensation

You don’t need to be an electrician to be at risk of an electrical accident at work. Most workplaces will use devices, equipment, heating or lighting powered by electricity. As such, employers have a legal responsibility that such devices are correctly fitted to try and prevent staff from becoming injured. In this guide, we explain when an electrical accident in the workplace could see an employer sued for compensation if you’ve suffered injuries.

Our team can help if you are thinking of claiming compensation for an electric shock at work. We provide an initial consultation on a no-obligation basis. That means you can ask questions and receive free legal advice to find out if you have a feasible claim. If you do, and you wish to proceed, you could be partnered with one of our No Win, No Fee solicitors who’ll manage your claim from start to finish.

To discuss an electrical accident or electric shock at work with a specialist, you can:

• Call us for free on 0333 241 2519.
• Use our free live chat service.

There’s plenty of information to follow but please get in touch if you need to know anything else.

What Are Electrical Accidents at Work?

An electrical accident at work refers to any incident involving electricity that leads to injury or harm occurring in the workplace. These accidents can vary in severity from minor shocks or burns to serious injuries or fatalities. Electrical accidents at work can happen due to various reasons, including:

• Failure to conduct regular PAT tests on electrical devices.
• Poorly maintained electrical equipment.
• Failure to use a qualified electrician for repairs or new electrical installations.
• Inadequate safety training.
• A lack of personal protective equipment (PPE).

You might suffer an electric shock at work because of any of the following reasons:

• Poor Installation: If electrical devices are not fitted properly and in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines.
• Poor Earthing: Electrical devices must be earthed properly otherwise electricity could flow through anybody who touches them
• Exposed Wires: Damaged wires should always be repaired to try and prevent the risk of electric shock.
• Water Exposure: Devices should not be used if affected by leaks or spillages due to the increased risk of electrical shock where water and electricity mix.

Whatever type of electrical accident at work you’ve been involved in, if you believe your injuries resulted from your employer’s negligence, please get in touch and we’ll assess your case for free.

Can I Claim Compensation for an Electrical Accident at Work?

In a personal injury claim, you will always need to prove that you were owed a duty of care by the defendant in your case. Usually, for work-related electric shock accidents, this is quite easy to do. That’s because, aside from any other relevant legislation, all employers have a legal duty to keep staff safe because of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

Therefore, you could be entitled to claim for an electrical accident at work if:

• Your employer owed you a duty of care at the time you were injured.
• An electrical accident in the workplace occurred as a result of your employer’s negligence; and
• You have sustained injuries in the accident.

If you’d like us to check if you could be entitled to compensation for an electric accident at work, please call our legal advisors today.

Can I Lose My Job by Starting an Accident at Work Claim?

There is nothing to worry about if you make a personal injury claim against your employer for a genuine injury. That’s because legally, they cannot fire you, demote you, discipline you, pick on you or single you out in any way as a result of your claim. Doing so could make them liable for unfair or constructive dismissal.

Types of Electric Shock Injuries at Work We Can Help With

Electric shock injuries occur when electricity passes through two places in the body. Here are a few of the most common injuries linked to an electrical shock at work that we can help with:

• Internal Burns: These can affect tissues, nerves and muscles.
• External Burns: You might suffer burns at work at the point electricity exits the body.
• Heart Problems: Such as cardiac arrest if a high-voltage electric shock disturbs the heart’s normal rhythm.
• Muscle Spasms: The tensing of muscles following an electric shock can lead to further injuries caused by falls and other types of accidents.
• Breathing Problems: Electrical shocks can affect the respiratory system, leading to difficulty breathing. This can occur if the shock impacts the nervous system, disrupting the signals that control the muscles involved in breathing.
  

An electrical accident at work can be made worse depending on the length of exposure to the electrical source, the voltages involved and the presence of water at the accident scene.

In the very worst scenarios, an electric shock at work can be fatal. This is referred to as electrocution. Later on, we’ll explain when you could claim compensation if you’ve lost a loved one in a fatal electrical accident at work.

What Evidence Can Be Used for Electric Shock at Work Claims?

If you decide to claim for a work-related electric shock, you’ll need to prove 1) how the electric shock at work happened, 2) that your employer caused your injuries and 3) how your injuries have affected you. Therefore, you’ll need to present various forms of evidence to prove liability. This could include:

• Photographs: These could show the cause of your accident i.e. any obvious workplace defects. Also, you should photograph any visible burns, scars or other injuries.
• Witness Statements: To help prove your version of events in case they are contested.
• Medical Records: These can be obtained from the hospital that treated you to help prove the type of injuries you’ve suffered and any treatment that was performed.
• Video Footage: You can ask your employer for copies of any relevant CCTV footage if your electric accident was caught on camera.
• Accident Reports: Investigation reports and accident report forms could both help to prove the cause of your accident.

If you have any evidence to support your electric accident at work claim, please call our legal advisors for free advice now.

How Long Do You Have to Claim for an Electrical Accident in the Workplace?

If you’ve suffered from an electrical accident at work and intend to make a claim for compensation, there is a general time limit within which you need to start legal proceedings. This time limit is set at three years. This means, in most cases, you have three years from the date of the accident or from the date you became aware of your injury (which could be later) to make a claim.

If the person involved in the electrical accident suffers from mental incapacity, there might not be a time limit, or it may start from the time they regain capacity.

We would suggest that it’s best to begin the claims process as soon as you can to avoid missing out on any compensation due. That’s because it takes some time to prepare your case. If it is filed too late, the claim would become statute-barred which could lead to it being rejected.

What Compensation Can I Claim for an Electric Shock at Work?

If you successfully sue your employer following an electric shock at work, you will receive a compensation payout. This will be formed of two heads of loss: general and special damages.

General damages cover the pain and suffering your injuries have caused. Additionally, they could cover any loss of enjoyment if your normal hobbies or activities are impacted by your injuries.

To confirm the extent of your injuries, your solicitor will arrange a medical assessment with an independent specialist. They’ll examine you and discuss how you’ve suffered before preparing their report. This report, along with your medical records, can help when valuing the amount of compensation you’ll claim.

Special damages aim to compensate you for any costs linked to your electrical accident at work. They could cover:

• Medical expenses.
• Travel costs.
• The cost of support and care while you’re injured.
• Lost income and future lost earnings.
• The cost of adapting your home if you’re left permanently disabled by your injuries.

To find out how much compensation you could receive for an electric shock injury, please call today.

Can I Claim for a Fatal Electrical Accident?

No amount of compensation will make losing a loved one any easier. However, it could help with the financial implications of your loss.

A claim for a fatal accident at work can be made by you if you were financially dependent on the deceased or on behalf of the deceased’s estate. Compensation for an electrocution at work can cover:

• The cost of a funeral and other related expenses.
• Any pain and suffering the deceased endured before they died.
• Your reliance on the deceased’s income, benefits or pension.

We know how difficult it will be to discuss your loss so our legal advisors are specially trained to be compassionate and they won’t put any pressure on you during your free consultation.

Can I Claim Compensation if I’m Not a Full-Time Employee?

Employers have the same duty of care toward employee safety regardless of the type of employment contract a member of staff holds. That means you could claim for an electric shock at work if you work on a zero-hours contract or are self-employed, an agency worker, a consultant or a subcontractor.

So long as your accident and injuries can be linked to your employer’s negligence, you could sue them for compensation. If you’d like more information about how to do so, please call our legal team now.

Do You Need a Solicitor for Electric Shock at Work Claims?

You don’t have to instruct a solicitor when claiming compensation for an electric shock at work. However, the personal injury claims process can be complex and might involve difficult medical and legal questions.

As such, you might find it easier if you take on specialist legal representation. Using an accident at work solicitor should reduce your stress levels when claiming and could also improve your chances of being compensated fairly.

If your electric accident at work claim is managed by one of our No Win, No Fee solicitors, they could:

• Manage your claim from beginning to end.
• Ensure your claim is filed on time and correctly.
• Negotiate on your behalf and use their legal skills to fight your corner.
• Keep you up to date with the progress of your claim.
• Aim to secure the right level of compensation to cover your suffering.

To see if you could be represented by one of our solicitors, please get in touch today.

How Do No Win, No Fee Claims Work?

If your claim is accepted by one of our solicitors, they’ll use a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) to provide a No Win, No Fee service. This means that you:

• Don’t need to pay your solicitor upfront for their work.
• Won’t pay a penny for your solicitor’s efforts if the claim is lost.
• Will have a success fee deducted from any compensation you receive.

Success fees are an agreed percentage of any settlement paid. So that you don’t lose too much of your compensation, the maximum success fee percentage (when a CFA is used) is 25 per cent.

To see if you could make a No Win, No Fee electric accident at work claim, please call today.

Will I Have to Go to Court?

It is rare, in our experience, for electric shock claims to end up in court. It is far more likely that your solicitor and your employer’s insurance provider will try to settle your case amicably.

However, your solicitor might decide to take the case to court if:

• They believe that your claim is strong enough to win; and
• Your employer won’t accept liability for your accident; or
• The settlement offered by your employer is thought to be too low.

If your claim is scheduled for a court hearing, it is still possible for an out-of-court settlement to be achieved before the hearing date.

Contacting Us About an Electrical Accident at Work Claim

We’re here to help if you’d like to check whether you have a valid electric shock compensation claim. You can request a free initial consultation to discuss your options by:

• Calling our team on 0333 241 2519; or
• Connecting to our 24/7 live chat service.

Our initial advice is free and there’s no obligation to take legal action against your employer. However, all accepted electrical accident at work claims are processed on a No Win, No Fee basis for your peace of mind.