Electric Shock Solicitors.

Electricity can have a devastating effect on the body, causing injuries ranging from minor or moderate, to severe, and potentially even fatal. There are a number of different types of injury that could occur as a direct result of an electric shock, including:

• Electrical burns as the current passes through the tissue
• Thermal burns from the arc flash
• Muscle spasms
• Irregular heartbeat or cardiac arrest
• Damage to the central nervous system
• Breathing difficulties
• Bone fractures due to intense muscle spasms
• Fractures, sprains, and strains due to a slip, trip, or fall caused by the electrocution
• Damage to the internal organs
• Electrocution can also prove instantly fatal in some cases

If you or a loved one have suffered an electric shock injury due to somebody else’s negligence, please get in touch with us as soon as possible to find out how to claim the compensation you are entitled to, and access the support that you may need during your recovery.

If you have been involved in an electric shock accident, it is important to seek medical attention first and foremost, but there are also a number of things you can do which will later help your compensation case, including:

• Collect the contact details of anyone who witnessed the accident and may be able to provide evidence in support of your case.
• Obtain any CCTV footage, or take photographs of the scene of the accident, paying particular attention to whatever was responsible for the electric shock.
• Seek medical attention to ensure your injuries receive appropriate treatment, and obtain a copy of the doctor’s report to use as medical evidence in your case.
• As soon as possible after the accident, make a written record of your experience, including how it happened, the pain you experienced at the time, and also keep a note of any ongoing pain or health complications you are experiencing.
• Keep hold of the receipts for any expenses you have incurred as a result of the accident, such as transportation costs to attend medical appointments, any prescription medication you have had to purchase, and any private medical treatment or alternative therapies you have used as part of your recovery.

The final step is to contact us here at Lanyon Bowdler, and let us use the evidence you have collected, along with our expertise, to ensure you receive the maximum compensation award payable for your electric shock injury.

Any job which involves the use of electrical equipment could potentially expose employees to the risk of electrocution or an electrical fire if the equipment is faulty, if they have not been adequately trained to use the equipment safely, or if they have not been provided the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) for operating electrical machinery.

The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 were introduced in order to ensure that all workers are properly trained and given regular refresher training when working with electrical equipment, and employers must carry out regular risk assessments and ensure the work environment is safe. However, despite stringent precautions, there are still approximately 1,000 electric shock accidents in the workplace each year, according to figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), with around 30 of these accidents being recorded as fatal.

All employers have a duty of care to uphold the welfare and safety of their employees as far as is reasonably possible, and there are several health and safety regulations that they must adhere to, including the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992, and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

If you feel your electric shock accident occurred due to a breach in your employer’s duty of care to your safety, you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation. If you are unsure where you stand with regards to taking legal action against your employer, please get in touch with us. We understand it can put some employees in an awkward position, which is why we’re able to provide concise and discrete information, allowing you to make an informed decision about whether to pursue legal action or not.

If you have sustained an electric shock injury in a public place, such as a supermarket, retail store, restaurant, hotel, public library, or leisure centre during their trading hours, you may be entitled to claim compensation. However, if you are injured by electrocution after entering the premises outside of their publicised opening hours, for example if you were trespassing or breaking and entering, it is highly unlikely you would be able to sue the company for compensation.

Under the Consumer Protection Act 1987, the law requires manufacturers and retailers to supply electrical appliances that are safe to operate. Businesses must conduct regular risk assessments to ensure any potential hazards are identified and eliminated or minimised. Failure to do so puts them in breach of their duty of care towards the public, and they would then be liable for any ensuing accidents and injuries that occur.

The same law also applies to any contractors you may hire to work within your home, such as tradespeople or cleaners. If they act negligently whilst working in your home, which results in you or a member of your family sustaining an electrical shock injury, you may be able to make a claim for compensation.

If you’d like to find out more about your eligibility to make a claim, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our friendly and knowledgeable team of personal injury solicitors today, who will be more than happy to discuss your situation and offer advice.

It is difficult to estimate exactly how much compensation you will receive for your electric shock injury as each case is assessed on an individual basis, and your final compensation award will depend on a number of different factors. However, when we take on your case you can rest assured we will do our utmost to ensure you receive the maximum amount of compensation available for the type and severity of injuries you have sustained.

Each compensation award is divided into general damages, and special damages. General damages address the physical and psychological injuries that have occurred due to the accident, taking into account the severity of said injuries, and the impact they have had on your life. For example, in an electric shock incident you may have suffered electrical or thermal burns, heart problems, nerve damage, bone fractures, or organ failure, as well as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

You can also make a claim for special damages after an electrocution which take into account the financial impact of the accident. For example the costs involved with medical treatment, alternative therapies, additional care needs, and prescription medication necessary for your recovery. You will also be compensated for any loss of earnings incurred due to taking time off work, or having to give up your job after the electric shock accident.

If you have any questions about your electrocution compensation claim at all, please get in touch with us, and our team will be more than happy to help.

In general, the time limit for bringing an electric shock claim is three years from the date of the injury or the ‘date of knowledge’ of the injury (to cover situations where the impacts of an injury surface at a future time).

However, if a child sustains an injury, due to an accident caused by the actions or negligence of another party, the time limit will usually expire on their 21st birthday unless the child never gains mental capacity due to their injuries, in which case the time limits do not apply.

We can support your electric shock compensation claim through a range of funding options, including our No Win No Fee Injury Claim promise, as well as through private funding, and legal expenses insurance. Our Solicitors will consider whether we can handle your claim on a No Win No Fee basis at the point of an initial evaluation of the circumstance surrounding your injury.

If the claimant lacks the mental capacity to make the claim, you can act on their behalf. And finally, if you are making the claim after the death of a loved one, you have three years from the date of their death in which to begin the claim.

We will do our best to reach a settlement with the defendant out of court as this is often the most suitable route for all involved. However, in the event that your case does have to go to court, we will guide you through the process in order to ensure that everything goes as smoothly as possible for you.