Electric Shock Injury Compensation: Electrical Accidents & Electrocution Claims

Have you or a loved one suffered an electrical injury whilst at work that wasn’t your fault?

Electric Shock Accidents range from relatively minor electric shocks to incidences where people suffer a life-threatening injury caused by electrocution. Thankfully,  accidents and injuries involving electrical currents are, for the most part, infrequent in terms of their occurrences to the public. 

For those working closely with electricity, it is clear that the potential for risk and injury increases significantly. It is vital that employers and contractors protect workers against the potentially life-threatening effects of electrocution.  

All employers have a legal responsibility to safeguard workers, and in situations and environments where there is a risk of electric shock, corners should never be cut with regards to safety measures.

Our Work Accident Claim specialists have seen first-hand the consequences of electric shocks. These include immediate injuries such as burns, or long-term nerve damage. We’ve also helped families of workers who have died from electrocution to claim compensation.

We’ve represented and been successful in securing injury compensation for people from all walks of life. We know how important injury compensation and rehabilitation can be when it comes to rebuilding lives and alleviating financial stress for those coming to terms with an injury, no matter how severe.

Whether you or a loved one have suffered an injury due to exposure to an electrical current while simply going about your daily business, or in a workplace environment, SDS has the experience and determination to help you claim the maximum compensation you deserve for your injuries and distress.  

The size of our team and network of partner agencies means we are able to offer you expert help wherever you are in England & Wales and we handle all cases on a No Win No Fee Injury Claim basis, So there’s no financial risk to you at all, in the unlikely event of a claim proving unsuccessful. 

Talk to our friendly team of expert injury claim solicitors today, we will listen to what has happened and tell you how we can immediately support and help.

Electric shock injuries

The effect an electric shock has on a person can vary due to a variety of circumstances such as the strength of the voltage, which parts of the body are in contact with the electric current, whether the person is damp or wet and the length of time the current flows or stays live.

A voltage as low as 50 volts, if applied between two parts of the body can cause an electric current to flow, since the human body is a good conductor of electricity. This current can then block the vital electric signals between the brain and the muscles which can have the following effects:

• Stopping the heart from beating properly can result in cardiac arrest
• Stopping the person from breathing properly
• Muscle spasms can cause broken bones and fractures
• Muscle, nerve, and tissue destruction
• Thermal burns

Clearly, the effects of an electric shock can be extremely severe and in non-fatal cases, the recovery time from both the physical injuries and the post-traumatic stress can be long and arduous. The resulting impact on the person’s life is undoubtedly significant, which is why it is important to seek proper recompense if the accident suffered was as a result of someone else’s negligence.

Electrocution in the workplace: causes and statistics 

The main hazards for humans with electricity are:

• Contact with live electrical parts resulting in electric shock or burns
• Electrical faults, which can cause fires
• Fire or explosion in a flammable or explosive atmosphere where electricity is the source of ignition

An electrical accident at work is defined as an accident that exposes the user to a direct, live electrical current. This exposure can lead to electric shock ranging from mild to severe. A mild electric shock will likely only cause a mild tingling sensation, while a moderate shock can cause the muscles to contract, making it difficult to pull away from the electrical current.

Severe electric shocks can lead to heart failure, meaning fatal injury can often be the result of high-voltage electrocution accidents. 

Due to the real danger and risk to life from electrical accidents, there are stringent regulations for employers and employees whose work brings them in close contact with electricity: Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. Workers must be properly trained in safe working practices with regular refresher training being required for compliance. Work tasks and areas should be properly and regularly risk assessed.

Despite the most stringent precautions, however, accidents do still happen. In fact, every year roughly 1000 accidents involving electric shock at work are reported to the Health and Safety Executive, with around 30 of these eventually recorded as fatal.

If you or a loved one has been injured, or worse in a workplace electrical accident and you believe it was the result of someone else’s negligence, then you may be entitled to pursue a claim for financial compensation.

As a first step contact one of our expert work injury solicitors today for a free, initial consultation. They will listen to your story and give you an honest view of whether there is a case to be answered.

You will find our approach at Sheldon Davidson is warm and compassionate. We pride ourselves on this and believe it sets us apart from other personal injury law firms and it is why we are a leading personal injury law firm in Greater Manchester. We receive lots of feedback from satisfied clients to this effect, so please pick up the phone and let us guide you through the process and support you on your quest for justice.    

Pursuing an injury claim following electrocution

In building a case for financial compensation one of our personal injury experts will seek to find as much evidence as possible for review by the courts to prove that there was negligence on the part of a third party i.e. an employer.

For financial damages to be awarded there has to be a liable party i.e. the party to blame and whom the court will deem liable to pay the damages. The onus is for our personal injury expert to prove that the accident was unequivocally the result of negligence.

Types of evidence that could be provided to support this claim could include:

• Photographic evidence
• Accident book records
• Witness testimonies
• Medical treatment records immediately after the accident
• Testimonies regarding working practices, standards, and training
• PPE Guidelines
• Evidence of regular and up to date PAT testing (Portable Appliance Testing)

Obviously, we understand that for you this process may be traumatic and so we will approach it with the utmost sensitivity and do our best to minimise the burden on you. Inevitably though, there will be questions you will need to answer. We are confident however that you will feel like you have gained an ally and that we genuinely have your back.

At Sheldon Davidson, we are passionate about the law and justice and we make it our business to ensure that justice is done for all our clients who have suffered through no fault of their own. Once a decision is made by the court and it is confirmed that negligence played a part in the accident a sum of damages is awarded. This sum is considerate of two types of damages:

General Damages: this sum is awarded for pain, suffering, and the impact on the injured person’s everyday life looking into the future, such as being unable to pursue hobbies once enjoyed, or being able to return to a career they have worked hard to build.

Special Damages: this sum is awarded for out-of-pocket expenses and is therefore much easier to calculate. It is intended to reimburse the injured person for things such as medical costs, loss of earnings, adaptations to the home, etc. It is largely intended to put the injured person and their family back in the financial position they would have been in, had the accident not occurred.

How much compensation can I claim for electric shock?

The value of a compensation settlement for an electric shock is based predominantly on the severity of the injuries sustained and the impact the accident has on the person’s life.

The Judicial College sets out guidelines for the compensation values of different types of injury. Needless to say, the greater the severity of the accident the more you will be compensated for your injuries.

In addition to the compensation calculated for your pain and suffering, a second figure will be determined to cover any loss of earnings, medical treatments or travel expenses etc.

An experienced personal injury solicitor will be able to grasp the full implications of your accident and incorporate both general and special damages to maximise your pay out.

Why choose us?

Established in Manchester in 1997, we are a leading specialist personal injury, accident and medical negligence law firm acting for claimants who are victims of non-fault incidents.

Our team of Accident at Work Claims Solicitors in Manchester, act regularly for clients across Greater Manchester including Ashton, Bury, Bolton, Radcliffe, Prestwich, Middleton, Failsworth, Rochdale, Oldham and Whitefield.

Our Injury at Work Lawyers, experienced in electric shock accident claims, can support your needs wherever you live in Wales, England & Northern Ireland. 

We specialise in no win no fee personal injury compensation claims, which means if you don't win, you won't have to pay.

Call our Manchester Personal Injury Solicitors for free now using the number at the top of the page or complete the online contact form and a member of our team will get back to you.

Sheldon Davidson Solicitors are a Lexcel accredited law firm. The Lexcel standard is only awarded by the Law Society to firms who meet the highest standards of practice management and customer service. With Sheldon Davidson Solicitors in Whitefield, Manchester you can be confident that your claim is in safe hands.