How To Calculate Compensation For Workplace Electric Shock Claims

Last Updated On 29th January 2026. Electric shock claims can compensate you for the physical and mental injury as well as any incurred financial losses. However, in order to have the best chance of being awarded electric shock compensation, you will want to instruct a solicitor to help with the claims process. You might be eligible to work with one of the solicitors from our panel. Our panel provides their services on a No Win No Fee basis, which means that you won’t have to pay solicitors’ fees upfront or while the claim progresses.

As with all personal injury claims, you will need compelling evidence that proves your version of events in order to make an electric shock compensation claim. This is another step of the process that an experienced solicitor can help you with. It is an especially important step because it can affect your payout as well as how long it takes the claim to progress.  Additionally, the claim process usually needs to be started within 3 years of the date of the accident.

At Compensation Calculator UK, we do not expect you to face the prospect of claiming alone. The first step to finding out if you have a valid claim for electric shock compensation is to speak to one of our friendly advisors. They’ll go through what happened to you, estimate how much you could claim, and if you have strong grounds to make an electric shock compensation claim, they can connect you to a solicitor from our panel.

 

Jump To A Section 

1. Compensation Calculator For Electric Shock Claims
2. Special Damages In Electric Shock Claims
3. Who Can Make Workplace Electric Shock Claims?
4. Case Study: Electric Shock At Work
5. Time Limits For Making An Electric Shock Compensation Claim
6. What Do You Need To Claim For Electric Shock Injuries?
7. How Our Panel Of Solicitors Can Help Your Electric Shock Claim
8. Why Claim For An Electric Shock At Work On A No Win No Fee Basis?
9. Read More About Electric Shock Claims

Compensation Calculator For Electric Shock Claims

Compensation in a successful personal injury claim is calculated by looking at two heads of loss. General damages, the first head of loss, compensate the person for the pain and suffering caused by the accident and injuries. This can include psychological injuries and/or physical injuries.

Those responsible for calculating general damages can consult a medical report that give an in depth look at the damage caused by an electric shock in the workplace. If you decide to instruct a personal injury solicitor from our panel, they can help arrange an independent medical assessment for you, if necessary, which can generate this report.

In addition, reference can be made to a publication called the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This provides a list of guideline valuation brackets for various injuries based on how severe they are.

Compensation Guidelines

Below, you can find a selection of figures from the JCG that are relevant to electric shock claims. However, these are not guaranteed compensation amounts and act only as a guide. Every electric shock injury claim will be different. Also, the top entry is not from the JCG.

After looking at the table, you can use our compensation calculator to get an estimate of what you could potentially be owed for your injuries.

Area of Harm	Severity	Notes	Guideline Award Brackets
Multiple Severe Injuries and Financial Losses	Severe	Cases here reflect multiple severe injuries and the costs associated through loss of earnings, domestic help and medical expenses.	Up to £1 million plus
Brain Damage	(b) Moderately Severe	The injured person has a very serious disability that's either cognitive or physical in nature. They are substantially dependent on others and require constant care from a professional.	£267,340 to £344,150
	(c) Moderate (i)	Moderate to severe intellectual deficit, a change in personality, an effect on the senses, a significant epilepsy risk and no employment prospects.	£183,190 to £267,340
Chest	Injury to the Chest, Lung(s), and/or Heart	There is permanent damage, function impairment, physical disability, and a reduced life expectancy.	£122,850 to £183,190
Scarring to Other Parts of the Body	Serious	Burns that cover 40% or more of the body.	Likely to exceed £127,930
Facial Disfigurement	(a) Very Severe Scarring	Cases where the cosmetic effect is very disfiguring and the psychological reaction is severe for younger claimants.	£36,340 to £118,790
	(b) Less Severe Scarring	Cases of disfigurement that is substantial and the psychological reaction is significant.	£21,920 to £59,090
	(c) Significant Scarring	This bracket covers cases where the most extreme effects have (or will be) reduced by cosmetic/plastic surgery leaving some cosmetic disability and a lesser psychological reaction.	£11,120 to £36,720

Special Damages In Electric Shock Claims

Your electric shock compensation award may also include special damages. Special damages is a second head of claim that compensates for any associated financial losses. However, to recover these expenses, you will need to submit documentation that proves your losses, such as payslips, receipts and invoices.

Loss Of Earnings

Following an electric shock, you will likely need time off work to recover from the subsequent injuries. You can recover your lost wages, pension contributions and other workplace benefits. If you cannot return to a full-time position or need to take early retirement as a result of the electric shock, the difference can also be recovered.

Medical Costs

Whether this is for private treatment following an electric shock, physical therapy, mental health treatment or even just prescription costs, these can be recovered.

Domestic Care And Support

You may have required a visiting nurse to help care for you, or help with your domestic duties, such as cleaning, cooking and child care. All of these costs, whether provided by professionals or friends and family can be recovered as part of the electric shock claims process.

Home Adapations

You may have required temporary or permanent changes to your home as a result of your electric shock injuries. For example, you may have suffered damage to your heart. As a result you may struggle with balance and require handles to be installed throughout your home.

Mobility Aids

An electric shock can affect your balance and heart. As a result you might need a wheelchair or walking stick.

Miscellaneous Costs

As every personal injury claim is different, you may have different expenses. These can be recovered as part of your electric shock compensation if you can prove them.

Our advisors can estimate the value of electric shock claims that consider special damages. They can also discuss what items may be included in your specific electric shock compensation claim and how you can prove these costs. Get in touch today to find out more.

Who Can Make Workplace Electric Shock Claims?

In order to make an electric shock claim for an accident at work, you will need to prove employer negligence. Under Tort Law, ‘negligence’ has 3 components, which we explore below. 

1. You Were Owed A Duty Of Care

A ‘duty of care’ is a legal obligation that is owed from a liable party (in this case, your employer) to another party (you) to take reasonable care to not cause foreseeable harm. What this means for an electric shock at work claim is that your employer is legally obligated to take reasonably practicable steps to ensure your health and safety in the workplace under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.  

2. That Duty Of Care Was Breached

You must be able to demonstrate that this duty was breached. For an accident at work, your employer will need to take steps to prevent an electric shock. However, your physical workspace as well as the nature of the job will impact what these steps look like. If they fail to carry them out, though, it is said that your employer breached their duty of care.  

3. You Suffered An Injury Or Illness

Even if your employer breached this duty, but you didn’t suffer a physical or mental injury, you would not have a valid reason to seek electric shock compensation. Your electric shock compensation is paid for the damages suffered as a result of the accident.

An advisor can go through the electric shock claims eligiblity criteria with you and assess whether the accident you suffered could qualify for compensation.

What Steps Should An Employer Take To Reduce The Risk Of An Electric Shock At Work?

In addition to HASAWA, which is the central piece of workplace health and safety legislation, the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 was enacted to ensure employers take precautions against the risk of death or injury from activities involving electricity at work.

According to the Health and Safety Executive, an independent regulator for workplace safety and health in Great Britain, there are several hazards involved with working with electricity. Examples include electric shocks and burn injuries resulting from contact with live parts, injury from exposure to electricity jumping from one circuit to another, fire from faulty electrical equipment and explosion due to using unsuitable equipment.

There are also certain actions employers must take, including making sure that competent people are tasked with the work and carrying out a risk assessment. The risk assessment should identify:

• Who could be at risk of harm.
• The level of risk and how this has been established.
• The actions taken to control the risks, such as providing personal protective equipment or training.

Failure to meet these health and safety standards could result in an electric shock causing different injuries, such as scarring, nerve damage, heart damage, and brain damage.

Find out when electric shock claims are possible by calling an advisor on the number above. They can also advise on the steps involved in claiming compensation.

Case Study: Electric shock At Work

In this case study, which has been created for illustrative purposes, Mr Roberts received £100,000 in compensation for an electric shock at work. Mr Roberts’ employer was aware of an exposed live wire in the office but took no steps to address the risk this posed to employee safety. One day, Mr Roberts accidentally touched the wire while he was plugging in his computer. He suffered a severe electric shock, which caused nerve damage in his hands.

The claimant received £70,000 in general damages for serious damage to both of his hands. His compensation also included £30,000 in special damages. This covered lost income due to time taken off work, physiotherapy to treat the injury and adaptations made to his home.

Speak with our advisors today to learn more about electric shock at work compensation cases. You can also use this opportunity to discuss your own potential claim and find out whether a solicitor from our panel could take your case forward. 

Time Limits For Making An Electric Shock Compensation Claim

Under the terms of the Limitation Act 1980, there is a time limit of three years that normally applies to personal injury claims. This can begin from the date of the accident. However, there are circumstances where this can vary. For instance:

• People under 18 cannot start a claim themselves so the time limit is paused. The courts may appoint a litigation friend to launch a case for them. If no claim has been made, the person has three years starting from the date of their 18th birthday to claim themselves.
• Claimants who lack the mental capacity to launch a personal injury claim themselves have the time limit paused indefinitely. However, they can also have a litigation friend appointed during this type. Should mental capacity return, the three-year time limit will commence from the date of recovery.

For further guidance on the time limits for electric shock claims, call an advisor on the number above.

What Do You Need To Claim For Electric Shock Injuries?

To give electric shock claims their best chance of success, it’s important to gather evidence that proves employer negligence. Therefore, you should consider taking the following steps when building your electric shock compensation claim:

• Try to obtain any CCTV footage that clearly shows the incident.
• Keep a diary that details any medical treatment that you needed. Also, record the emotional and/physical
• Get copies of medical reports and medical records.
• Take photos of your electric shock injuries and the electrical hazard that caused them.
• Get the contact details for any witnesses. A supporting statement collected at a later date could help your case.
• Obtain a copy from the workplace accident book.

Collecting supporting evidence is something that a solicitor could help with. If you are interested in obtaining legal representation, you can call our team.

If you have a valid claim, they can connect you to one of the personal injury solicitors on our panel with the expertise to guide you through every stage of the electric shock claims process.

How Our Panel Of Solicitors Can Help Your Electric Shock Claim

A solicitor from our panel could help with your electric shocks claim by using their years of legal training and experience to guide you through each stage. Their services include:

• Assisting you with the collection of evidence that will strengthen your chances of success
• Explaining any aspects of the claims process that you are unsure of
• Corresponding with any other parties on your behalf
• Arguing for your electric shock at work compensation to reflect the full experience of your injuries

If you think you could benefit from working with one of our solicitors, speak to an advisor today. They can address any concerns you may have about proceeding and confirm whether you are eligible to proceed.

Why Claim For An Electric Shock At Work On A No Win No Fee Basis?

You might benefit from instructing a solicitor to help with your claim for an electric shock injury.

The solicitors on our panel are able to provide expert services to eligible claimants via a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This is a type of No Win No Fee contract and it extends the following advantages:

• Firstly, upfront solicitors fees are not applicable. Similarly, no fees apply for the solicitor’s services as the claim moves forward.
• Should the claim have an unsuccessful outcome, under this arrangement the solicitor asks for no fees for completed services on your case.
• Electric shock injury claims that see a successful outcome require a success fee to be paid. This is a percentage of the compensation and is deducted after you receive the award. To ensure that you receive the majority of your settlement, the percentage solicitors are allowed to take is capped by law.

For more information about working with a No Win No Fee solicitor, get in touch with an advisor. They may be able to connect you with a solicitor from our panel if your claim is eligible. Simply:

• Call our dedicated team on 0800 408 7826.
• Contact us online.
• Use the live chat function below

Read More About Electric Shock Claims

You may find these other guides from us useful:

• Here is a complete guide to calculating compensation for bodily injury claims.
• This guide explores how much you could claim for a personal injury after an accident.
• Find out how serious injury compensation is calculated.

Also, here are some external resources:

• Advice about electric shocks in a first aid guide from the NHS.
• Information on Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) from GOV.UK.
• Guidance and advice about electrical safety at work from the HSE.

Thank you for taking the time to read this guide on compensation calculations for electric shock claims. If you have any other questions, please contact an advisor on the number above.