The most common cause of an electric shock injury both in the workplace and home can be put down to faulty electrical equipment and wiring. An electric shock can be extremely serious and even life-threatening, depending of what voltage is involved. With this said, a low intensity electric shock can result in serious burns, scarring and difficulty breathing to name but a few effects of this type of workplace injury.

If you suffered an electric shock at work through no fault of your own and the incident happened in the last 3 years, you could be entitled to file an electric shock claim against a negligent employer. You could be awarded the level of compensation you deserve for the pain and suffering as well as any out of pocket expenses you incurred should your claim be successful.

Common Workplace Electric Shock Injuries

Electric shock injuries can be slight to a lot more severe with a jolt of 50 Volts resulting in the following:

• Burns from slight or very severe
• Muscle spasms
• Scarring
• A difficulty breathing
• Cardiac arrest
• An irregular heartbeat
• Tissue necrosis
• Spinal injury
• Brain injury
• Bone fractures
• Dislocated joints
• Death

The severity of an electrical shock injury would depend not only on the voltage involved, but also the circumstances surrounding the accident and whether dampness was involved. Other factors include the extent of time you were subjected to electric current flowing through your body and your age.

If you suffered an electric shock whether you sustained a minor burn, suffered muscle spasms or you had to be hospitalised, you should seek legal advice on how to file a personal injury claim against an employer you believe was negligent in their duty to keep you safe from harm while you were at work.

Can I Claim Compensation For An Electric Shock At Work?

Over recent years, the government introduced Acts and Regulations to protect employees from injury and harm in the workplace and all employers in the UK must abide to Health and Safety Executive at Work regulations. Employers have a duty to keep all employees safe from injury and harm in the workplace. The legislation sets out the law that protects all workers, whatever industry they are employed in.

Electrical contractors as well as construction workers must by law take out professional indemnity insurance to protect anyone who works with electricity. Failure to do so which results in you suffering an electric shock injury at work, could lead to an employer being held liable and they would be compelled to pay you the level of compensation you rightly deserve for all the pain, suffering and out of pocket expenses you incurred due to their negligence.

Who is Most At Risk of Suffering an Electric Shock in the Workplace?

People who work in specific environments are most at risk of suffering an electric shock injury which are as follows:

• Electrical maintenance engineers
• Electricians
• Construction workers
• Lighting specialists
• Hairdressers
• Office staff
• Cleaning staff
• Interior decorators
• Care and hospital workers

With this said, anyone is at risk of suffering an electric shock at work whether their injuries are slight or more severe. If you were injured at work when you handled anything electrical, you could be entitled to file an electric shock claim against your employer providing you can prove they were negligent in their duty to keep you safe from harm in the workplace.

If an employer fails to keep machinery and equipment well maintained or they fail to carry out the required risk assessments in the workplace and you suffer any sort of injury, your employer could be held liable which includes if you suffer an electric shock at work.

What Can I Include in an Electric Shock Claim Against my Employer?

The compensation you may receive because you suffered an electric shock at work would depend on the severity and complexity of your injuries. With this said, there are certain things that can be included in work-related personal injury claims which includes any that involve electric shock injuries. The things you can include in a claim are as follows:

• The pain and suffering you experienced as a direct result of your injuries
• Your loss of amenity (this covers your physical or mental capacity to do the things you used to do before you suffered an electric shock at work)
• Any loss of earnings you incurred during the time you were off work
• Any loss of future income should you not be able to work again
• Your medical expenses and this includes all your ongoing medical care should this be needed
• Your travel expenses which covers your expenditure to and from hospital or other medical facilities to receive treatment for your injuries
• Care costs should you not be able to carry out normal daily chores around the home

All of the above would be taken into consideration when calculating the amount of compensation you may be awarded in a successful electric shock injury claim against a negligent employer whether the amount is awarded by a court or by your employer’s insurers should they decide to offer you an out of court settlement.

Should I File an Electric Shock Claim Against my Employer?

If you suffered an electric shock injury at work through no fault of your own in the last 3 years and you were unable to work for a short or longer period of time, you have every right to file a compensation claim against your employer. If your employer failed in their duty to keep you safe from harm in the workplace, they could be deemed negligent and a court could rule that they have to pay the level of compensation you rightly deserve for the pain, suffering and out of pocket expenses you incurred.

It is worth noting that all employers in the UK are required by law to have insurance in place which covers them for any accidents that employees and other people may suffer in the workplace. As such, it would be your employer’s insurers who have to pay the compensation you may be awarded in a successful electric shock at work claim, bearing in mind that most work-related injury claims are settled before they even go before a judge.

Not being able to work can put you and your family under financial pressure. You may not be able to pay bills and other necessary expenses during the time you are unable to work. The electric shock injury compensation you receive in a successful claim could help avoid this type of financial worry and stress.

Can My Employer Fire Me for Filing an Electric Shock Claim Against Them?

The law prohibits your employer from treating you unfairly or firing you if you decide to file an electric shock injury claim against them unless there is a valid reason for them to do so. Should your employer fire you for no good reason, you would have every right to not only file an electric shock claim against them, but an unfair dismissal claim too.

What are My Rights Following an Electric Shock at Work?

Under UK law, employees must be kept from harm and injury in the workplace and if an employer fails in their duty of care and you suffer an electric shock injury as a direct result, you have certain rights following an accident at work which are detailed below:

• You receive an amount in compensation for the pain, suffering and out of pocket expenses you incurred as a direct result of your electric shock injury at work
• Your job is safe even if you file an electric shock compensation claim against your employer

If you suffer an electric shock injury at work through no fault of your own, your employer could be held liable and their insurance would cover the compensation you would be awarded in a successful personal injury claim.

Seeking Legal Advice on an Electric Shock Injury Claim

As with most work-related personal injury claims, it is best to seek legal advice if you are considering filing an electric shock injury claim against a negligent employer. For your claim to be successful, you would be required to provide as much evidence as possible which a solicitor would use to establish who is liable for your injury and whether you have a strong case against a negligent employer. Even if you think you may be partly responsible for your injury, you may still be entitled to claim compensation for the pain, suffering and out of pocket expenses you incurred.

The evidence required to prove your case would include the following:

• Proof that you reported the incident to a manager or your employer
• A record of the incident as noted in the Accident Report Book if there is one, and if there is not, you should have made a detailed record of the incident and your injuries and sent it to your employer, keeping a copy for your own records
• Photos of where the incident occurred
• Photos of your injuries
• Witness statements and their contact details
• A medical report of your injuries

Providing all of the above helps strengthen an electric shock claim and also goes a long way in helping a court decide how much compensation you may receive on a successful personal injury claim.

Is There a Time Limit to Electric Shock Injury Claims?

As with all personal injury claims that are work-related, you have 3 years from the date of the incident to file an electric shock injury claim against a negligent employer. The time limit begins from the date you suffered your injury at work or the date when you became aware of your injuries.

Working with a No Win No Fee Solicitor on Your Electric Shock Injury Claim?

Because of the 3 year time limit to electric shock injury claims, it is far better to seek legal advice sooner rather than later. The reason being that you would need to gather as much information and evidence relating to your electric shock injury at work to prove and strengthen your case. A solicitor would typically offer an initial free consultation which allows them the time needed to assess your case and to establish who could be held liable for your injuries.

Once this has been established, most solicitors would offer to work with you on a No Win No Fee basis which means you would not have to worry about finding the money to pay a solicitor an upfront fee or retainer. Once you have signed the Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) with the firm of solicitors, they can start working on your electric shock injury claim immediately, leaving you to concentrate on your recovery. The CFA you sign with a firm of solicitors would include the following:

• The terms and conditions of the agreement
• The percentage that you have agreed to pay the firm of solicitors on a successful electric shock claim, often referred to as a “success fee”

The amount you would pay the solicitor which was agreed in the CFA you signed, would be deducted from the amount of compensation you are awarded by the court, bearing in mind that the majority of work-related personal injury claims are settled “out of court” before even going before a judge. Should your claim not be successful, there would be nothing to pay for the legal representation you received on your electric shock injury claim.

If you suffered an injury, illness or developed a work-related disease, you may be entitled to file a personal injury claim against your employer providing the accident or incident occurred in the last 3 years and it happened through no fault of your own but rather through the negligence of your employer. As such, you would need to prove your employer failed to keep you safe from harm whilst you were at work by providing as much evidence as you can to a court for your claim to be successful.

However, there is a strict 3 year personal injury time limit associated with work-related claims and although it sounds like long enough, the time it takes to gather the proof and information required can result in you running out of time. If you leave it too late to file a personal injury claim against an employer, there is little you can do when it comes to claiming compensation for the pain, suffering and out of pocket expenses incurred through no fault of your own.

How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim Against My Employer?

As previously mentioned, you have 3 years from the date you were injured in the workplace or when you became aware of an illness or disease, to file a personal injury claim against a negligent employer. The earlier you file a claim, the more chance you have of obtaining the necessary witness statements and other information needed to prove your case in court. The sooner witnesses are contacted, the better their recollection of how your work-related accident occurred and of the injuries you sustained as a direct result.

Another reason to file your accident at work claim earlier rather than later, is that proving liability for a work-related injury, illness or disease, may prove challenging. In short, you may find that establishing your employer’s responsibility may be more difficult than first expected.

Time Limit for Adult Personal Injury Claims

If you are an adult and you were involved in an accident at work that left you injured and unable to work whether for a shorter period of time, a long period of time or that prevented you from ever working again, you have 3 years from the date of the incident or the day you became aware of an injury, illness or disease to file personal injury claim against an employer providing you can prove they were negligent in their duty to keep you safe from harm and injury in the workplace.

You would not be able to file a claim after this time because by law, you would be prevented from doing so. With this said, there are a few exceptions to the 3 year time limit although it is quite challenging to meet the criteria for this to happen. However, if you developed an illness, disease or suffered a work-related injury that resulted in a disability, the 3 year time limit for a personal injury claim would start from the time you were first aware of a medical condition following a diagnosis that was carried out by a medical professional.

Time Limit for Personal Injury Claims Filed by Workers Under the Age of 18

If you were under the age of 18 when you were involved in an accident at work that left you injured and unable to work, under the law the 3 year time limit would only start from the day you turn 18 years of age. This is the age that you would be considered an “adult”. However, a personal injury claim must be filed before you reach your 21^st birthday and if you fail to do so, legally you would not be able to file a claim from compensation against a negligent employer.

As with adult personal injury claims, it is far better to begin claim as soon as possible to avoid falling foul of the statute of limitation associated with this type work-related claim.

What Happens if I Die Before My Personal Injury Claim is Settled?

Should you have suffered catastrophic injuries as a result of an accident at work and you passed away before a personal injury claim is settled, your next of kin or executor has 3 years from the time of your death to begin proceedings against a negligent employer.

What Compensation Could I Be Awarded for an Accident at Work Injury?

The level of compensation you may be entitled to receive if you were involved in an accident at work that left you injured and unable to work whether for a short or long period of time, would depend on the complexity and severity of your injuries and whether you would be able to ever work again. Another factor that would determine the amount of compensation you may be awarded is how much your injury negatively impact other members of your family.

What Can I Include in an Accident at Work Claim?

There are specific things that can be included in your personal injury claim against a negligent employer which are detailed below:

General damages

• Pain and suffering both physical and psychological which you suffer as a direct result of being involved in an accident at work that left you injured and unable to work for a short or long period of time and whether you would be able to ever work again
• Physical injuries or impairment which you have to endure as a direct result of your injuries
• Loss of amenity and how your injuries negatively impact your daily life which could mean you have to depend on others to carry out normal chores and tasks
• Loss of companionship which covers damages for the loss of companionship to other members of a family due to the death of a loved one through an accident at work
• If your injuries are such that you cannot continue doing the work you normally do, you could be awarded damages for your loss
• Should your injuries prevent you from finding another career, you could be awarded damages to cover any mental anguish and physical pain you have to endure as a result

Special damages

• Any short-term and long-term medical expenses you incur as a direct result of having suffered an accident at work that left you injured and unable to work. This covers all the medical costs and other out of pocket expenses you incur for prescriptions, medication, hospital and other medical facility visits as well as diagnostic tests required to identify your injuries and how your recovery is progressing
• Travel expenses incurred as a direct result of your injuries which covers the cost of travelling to and from a medical facility and other places you need to go for treatments whether you go by car, taxi, train or bus
• Loss of earnings which also includes any perks or bonuses you may have missed out on as a direct result of being away from your job because of your injuries
• Loss of future earnings which covers the fact you may not be able to carry out your job again or find alternative employments
• Damages may be awarded should any of your personal effects be destroyed or damaged in the work-related accident that left you injured

It is worth noting that with special damages, calculating the amount you may be awarded in a successful personal injury claim is much easier than with “general damages”. The reason being that the calculation is based on all the “actual” out of pocket expenses you incurred as a direct result of your injuries.

Should I File a Personal Injury Claim Against My Employer?

You may that filing a work-related personal injury claim against your employer would put you at risk of being treated unfairly by both your boss and your work colleagues. You may even be worried about losing your job because you do so. However, you have every right to seek the compensation you right deserve having suffered an accident at work that left you injured and unable to work whether for a short or longer period of time.

Employers have a legal duty to keep you safe from injury and harm in the workplace. The must abide by all the Health and Safety Executive regulations that are in place and if they fail to do so, they would be help liable for the fact you were injured in an accident at work. You may even be entitled to seek compensation if you were partly responsible for the accident occurring. The best way to find out if this is so, is to contact a solicitor who specialises in work-related personal injury claims and employment law.

Making Sure You Do Not Run Out of Time

As previously mentioned, if you wait too long to file a personal injury claim against a negligent employer, you may not be able to seek the compensation you rightly deserve having suffered an accident at work injury through no fault of your own. Even if there are a few months left on your personal injury claim time limit, you may find that the time it takes to gather all the evidence, medical reports, witness statements and other vital information needed means you would run out of time.

Working with an Accident At Work Solicitor on a No Win No Fee Basis

As with all personal injury claims, an accident at work claim tends to be a complex legal process that has a strict 3 year time limit that must be adhered to. If you fall foul of the time limit, legally you would not be able to claim compensation even if you have enough proof and evidence that the accident occurred due to your employer’s failure to keep you safe from harm in the workplace which they are legally required to do.

Although 3 years seems long enough, the time it takes to gather all the information needed for an accident at work claim to be successful, can be a complicated and long drawn out affair. As such, the earlier you seek legal advice and legal representation, the less risk there is of running out of time to file a personal injury claim against a negligent employer.

The sooner you contact a solicitor the better chance you have of claiming the compensation you rightly deserve for the pain, suffering and out of pocket expenses you incurred. A solicitor who specialises in accident at work claims, would assess the strength of your case before offering to work with you on a No Win No Fee basis. This takes all the stress and financial pressure of finding the money to pay for legal representation off the table allowing you to concentrate on your recovery.

You would only have to pay the percentage that was agreed to  when you signed the Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) with your solicitor and this would only be due on a successful claim. The amount would be deducted directly from the amount you are awarded in a successful work-related personal injury claim. Should you lose your case, you would have nothing to pay the solicitor who represented you.