No Win, No FeeElectric shock occurs when electricity passes through the body, with the severity of injuries depending on factors such as the affected area and the voltage involved. Electrocution, a severe form of electric shock, is often fatal or causes significant harm. If you or a loved one has suffered an electric shock or electrocution due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation by filing an electric shock claim against the responsible party.
Whether you’ve suffered an electric shock from a defective product or an electric shock at work, we’re ready to help you claim compensation. Our team of specialists offer a free consultation in which the merits of your claim will be assessed. After you’ve been given free legal advice, we could put you through to one of our personal injury solicitors if your case is strong enough. They’ll represent you on a No Win, No Fee basis if your claim is accepted meaning you’ll only have to pay them if you receive compensation.
Please call us on 0800 652 1345 to discuss an electric shock claim. Otherwise, please continue reading to find out more about how claims are processed.
Am I Entitled to Compensation for an Electric Shock?
Our team of personal injury lawyers want to help as many people who’ve been injured by electric shock through no fault of their own to get access to the justice they deserve. As such, before accepting a claim, they’ll check whether it has a realistic chance of success. To do this, they’ll check whether:
- The claimant was owed a legal duty of care by the defendant; and
- The defendant was negligent in some way and caused an accident; and
- As a direct result of the accident, the claimant suffered injuries caused by electric shock.
You don’t need to be too concerned about proving a duty of care as this is something your solicitor will verify before accepting your case. It suffices to say that there are many ways this can be proven. For instance, employers have a legal duty to keep their employees safe whilst they are working. Similarly, product manufacturers have to meet safety guidelines for any products they sell.
Common Examples of Electric Shock Claims
Electric shock accidents can occur in various settings and often result from negligence. If you’ve suffered an electric shock injury, you may be entitled to compensation. Here are some common scenarios:
- Faulty workplace equipment: An employee was injured by an electric shock in the workplace because of poorly maintained or defective electrical tools, machinery, or appliances.
- Exposed wiring: Accidents caused by uncovered or damaged electrical wiring in workplaces, public places, or rental properties due to poor maintenance or inadequate safety measures.
- Improper installation: Injuries resulting from incorrectly installed electrical systems or appliances, often due to unqualified or negligent electricians.
- Lack of personal protective equipment (PPE): Electricians and workers handling live circuits must be provided with appropriate PPE, such as insulated gloves or footwear. Failing to supply this can lead to serious injuries.
- Wet environments: Electric shocks in areas where water and electrical systems are not properly segregated, such as wet floors near power outlets.
- Public place hazards: Exposed wiring or faulty electrical systems in public areas, such as parks, shopping centres, or gyms, can result in injuries to visitors or staff.
- Faulty home appliances: Electric shocks caused by faulty or defective products, such as kitchen appliances or chargers, may entitle you to claim against the manufacturer or retailer.
If you’ve suffered an electric shock due to someone else’s negligence, we may be able to help you claim compensation. Contact us today to discuss your case.
What Types of Electric Shock Injuries Can I Claim For?
Electric shock injuries can range from minor to severe, with some leading to long-term or life-threatening consequences. Common injuries that may result in compensation claims include:
- Burn injuries.
- Nerve damage.
- Cardiac problems.
- Muscle injuries.
- Psychological trauma.
Electric shocks can lead to short-term injuries that resolve in weeks or months. However, severe cases may result in life-altering conditions requiring extensive treatment. If your claim is handled by one of our solicitors, they’ll work to secure the maximum compensation to cover your suffering and future needs.
What Evidence Do I Need for an Electric Shock Claim?
Providing proof to corroborate your claim is essential if you’re to be compensated. You must be able to demonstrate how the electric shock occurred, who caused it and what injuries you had to endure because of it. The types of proof you could use include:
- Medical records: Seeking professional medical assistance is vital in electric shock or electrocution compensation claims as not all injuries are visible. After treatment at a hospital or minor injuries unit, you could request a copy of your medical notes to help prove how seriously injured you were.
- CCTV footage: If your accident was recorded on camera, you are entitled to ask for a copy of the relevant footage. This should be requested quickly as it will probably be deleted within a month or so.
- Witness details: You should calmly ask anyone else who was present to give you their contact details. If necessary, they might be asked to provide a statement of the events they witnessed at a later date.
- Photographic proof: If you’re able to do so safely, you should take pictures of the cause of your accident on your phone. The best time to do this is right after the accident and before anything is replaced, repaired or removed.
- Accident reports: It’s important to report any public place or workplace accident. By doing so, you should be given a copy of the accident report that could be a good way of proving when and when you were electrocuted.
You may also wish to keep a diary of events if you decide to claim. This can be a good way to help prove what impact your electric shock injury has had. For example, you could record expenses, lost income and details of any events you missed while injured.
What Is the Time Limit to Make an Electric Shock Injury Claim?
As you might already know, personal injury claims have a 3-year time limit in the UK. For an electric shock injury, this will begin from the date of your accident in most cases.
We would suggest that while 3 years is a long time, you shouldn’t wait too long before starting the claims process. This will allow you plenty of time to collect proof to support your case and it might also mean the defendant in your case could make an interim payment so that you can receive private medical treatment before your case is settled.
Crucially, you won’t need to worry about the time limit for electric shock injuries involving children as parents can take action at any time before the child turns 18 years old.
How Much Compensation for Electric Shock Can I Claim?
When you seek compensation following an electric shock, you need to explain a) how you’ve suffered (general damages) and b) what costs you’ve incurred because of your injuries (special damages). Consequently, when evaluating the value of your electric shock compensation claim, your solicitor will consider:
- How much pain your injuries have caused.
- What effect your injuries have had on you psychologically.
- Any impact on your social life or hobbies (compensation for loss of amenity).
- The cost of replacing any personal property damaged during your accident.
- Medical expenses.
- Care costs if a friend or relative spent time supporting you while you were injured.
- The cost of modifying your home if electrocution has left you permanently disabled.
- Travel expenses you’ve incurred because of your injuries.
Our solicitors are experienced in electric shock and electrocution claims and will try to secure the maximum amount of compensation for you if your claim is accepted.
Can I Claim for Loss of Earnings Due to Electric Shock?
If you’ve suffered an electric shock injury, it may be possible to claim back any earnings you’ve lost as a result. This includes income lost while recovering or attending medical appointments. Additionally, if your injury has caused you to miss out on overtime, bonuses, or other earnings, these can also be included in your claim.
To prove your losses, you’ll need to provide evidence such as recent pay slips, bank statements, or confirmation from your employer about lost opportunities.
If you’ve sustained long-term injuries caused by the electric shock, you might also be entitled to claim for future loss of earnings if your ability to work has been permanently affected.
Will I Need a Solicitor to Claim Electric Shock Compensation?
We believe it’s best to have a personal injury solicitor on your side when claiming for any type of injury. Don’t be put off by the cost of employing a legal representative though as our solicitors provide a No Win, No Fee service for any electric shock compensation claim they take on.
That means you’ll only pay for your solicitor’s work if they win the case for you. Before you both agree to work together, you’ll both sign a contract called a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This will show you what percentage of your settlement will be deducted as a ‘success fee’ if you are compensated.
Legally, solicitors can’t take any more than 25% of your compensation to cover the cost of their work when using a CFA.
To check if you could use one of our No Win, No Fee solicitors, you can arrange a free claim consultation here.
Electric Shock Claims Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Claim Compensation for a Fatal Electric Shock?
We know that compensation won’t make things better if you’ve lost a loved one following electrocution. However, it could help with any financial implications their loss has caused. Firstly, a claim for wrongful death could be bought by the executor of their will to cover the deceased’s pain and suffering prior to death.
Additionally, you could claim compensation if you were financially dependent on the deceased’s income, pension or other benefits. Finally, it might be possible to claim back any other costs (including funeral expenses) that you have incurred. Please call an advisor if you’d like to know more.
Will I Be Sacked for Claiming Electric Shock Compensation?
If you’ve suffered an electric shock at work due to your employer’s negligence, it is within your rights after an accident at work to seek compensation. Many employees worry about the consequences of suing their employer, but employment laws are designed to protect you from unfair treatment.
Your employer cannot legally fire you, demote you, deny promotions, or limit overtime opportunities simply because you’ve made a legitimate personal injury claim.
If your employer does retaliate in any way because of your claim, you may have grounds to pursue further legal action for unfair or constructive dismissal. Seeking advice from a solicitor from our panel can help ensure your rights are fully protected.
Start an Electric Shock Compensation Claim Today
Hopefully, this article has explained everything important that you need to know about claiming compensation for an electric shock. If you’ve decided to start the claims process, you can contact our team for free legal advice on 0800 652 1345. If your claim is suitable, we’ll appoint a No Win, No Fee solicitor to try and secure the maximum compensation possible for your injuries.
If you have any further questions on electric shock compensation claims, please feel free to connect with us via live chat.
