Electrical Injury Workers' Compensation Settlement Guide
Quick Answer
California electrical injury workers' compensation settlements typically range from $60,000 to over $250,000 due to the invisible internal damage electrical current causes. Unlike other injuries, electrical trauma affects multiple body systems simultaneously - cardiac, neurological, muscular, and vascular - often with delayed symptoms appearing weeks or months after exposure. Settlement value depends on voltage level, current pathway through the body, cardiac effects, nerve damage, psychological trauma, and whether OSHA safety violations contributed to the accident. Severe high-voltage injuries can result in settlements exceeding $500,000-$1,000,000 when permanent disability affects multiple systems.
Key Takeaways
- Typical settlement range: $60,000–$250,000+ (severe cases can exceed $500,000)
- Internal damage from electrical current often far exceeds visible surface burns
- Cardiac monitoring required for years after electrical injury - heart rhythm problems can develop later
- Neurological damage may be delayed, with symptoms appearing months after the injury
- Even 'minor' shocks can cause permanent nerve damage and chronic pain
- OSHA violations (inadequate lockout/tagout, live work, lack of training) strengthen claims
- Common in electricians, construction workers, utility workers, and industrial maintenance
- Arc flash burns cause severe thermal injury in addition to electrical tissue damage
Typical Settlement Range
$60,000–$250,000+
Overview
Electrical injuries are among the most complex and dangerous workplace injuries because electrical current damages tissue from the inside out, destroying muscle, nerve, and blood vessel tissue along the path of least resistance through the body. The severity of electrical injury depends not just on voltage, but on current (amperage), pathway through the body, duration of contact, and tissue resistance. Even relatively low voltage (120V household current) can cause serious injury or death if the current path crosses the heart or brain. High-voltage industrial accidents (above 1000V) typically cause massive tissue destruction requiring amputation, extensive debridement, and reconstruction. What makes electrical injuries particularly challenging for workers' compensation claims is that much of the damage is invisible - a worker may have only small entry and exit wounds on the surface while suffering extensive muscle death, nerve damage, and vascular injury internally. Symptoms may be delayed: cardiac arrhythmias can develop weeks or months later, peripheral nerve damage may progressively worsen, and psychological trauma including fear of electricity (electric phobia) is common. Insurance companies often undervalue electrical injury claims based solely on visible burns, ignoring the systemic and neurological damage.
Common Symptoms
Entry and exit burn wounds
Small, deep thermal burns at points where electricity entered and exited the body - these often appear deceptively minor compared to internal damage
Cardiac arrhythmias and palpitations
Irregular heartbeat, rapid heart rate, chest pain, or feeling of skipped beats - can occur immediately or develop over weeks/months
Muscle pain and weakness
Deep muscle damage along the current pathway, causing pain, weakness, and possible muscle death (rhabdomyolysis)
Nerve damage and neuropathy
Numbness, tingling, burning sensations, or loss of function in extremities from peripheral nerve injury
Cognitive and memory problems
Difficulty concentrating, memory loss, confusion, or personality changes from electrical effects on the brain
Chronic pain syndromes
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and other chronic pain conditions developing after electrical injury
Vision and hearing problems
Cataracts (developing months/years later), retinal damage, tinnitus, or hearing loss from electrical trauma
Psychological trauma
PTSD, anxiety, fear of returning to electrical work, hypervigilance around electrical equipment
How Electrical Injurys Happen at Work
- Contact with energized electrical panels, wires, or equipment
- Failure to de-energize equipment before maintenance (lockout/tagout violations)
- Arc flash from short circuits or equipment failure
- Contact with overhead power lines by cranes, ladders, or equipment
- Defective electrical tools, cords, or equipment
- Working on live circuits without proper training or protection
- Wet conditions creating unexpected electrical pathways
- Inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE) for electrical work
- Missing or damaged ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI)
- Insufficient clearance distances from high-voltage sources
Treatment Options Covered by Workers' Comp
Emergency cardiac monitoring and stabilization
Immediate ECG monitoring, cardiac enzyme testing, and rhythm monitoring for 24-48 hours minimum
Typical timeline: 1-3 days hospitalization for monitoring, longer if arrhythmias detected
Surgical debridement and wound care
Removal of dead muscle and tissue damaged by electrical current, often requiring multiple procedures
Typical timeline: Multiple surgeries over first 2-8 weeks
Fasciotomy
Surgical release of muscle compartments to prevent compartment syndrome from tissue swelling
Typical timeline: Emergency procedure within hours of injury if compartment syndrome develops
Amputation
Removal of limb when electrical burns cause non-viable tissue and infection risk
Typical timeline: Performed when tissue death is extensive, typically within first 1-2 weeks
Neurological evaluation and treatment
Assessment of nerve damage, peripheral neuropathy, and cognitive effects with ongoing monitoring
Typical timeline: Initial evaluation within days, ongoing monitoring for 12-24 months
Physical and occupational therapy
Rehabilitation for muscle weakness, nerve damage, and functional limitations
Typical timeline: 6-12 months or longer depending on severity
Pain management
Treatment for chronic pain, neuropathic pain, and complex regional pain syndrome
Typical timeline: Ongoing as medically necessary, may require pain specialists
Psychological counseling
Treatment for PTSD, anxiety, depression, and specific electrical phobia
Typical timeline: Ongoing as needed, may continue for years
Cardiac follow-up
Long-term cardiac monitoring for delayed arrhythmias and heart damage
Typical timeline: Regular cardiology follow-up for 2-5 years or longer
Electrical Injury Settlement Values by Severity
| Injury Type | Settlement Range |
|---|---|
| Low-voltage shock (<600V) without cardiac effects Minor shocks with pain, numbness, or temporary symptoms; no major organ damage | $30,000–$75,000 |
| Low-voltage with cardiac monitoring required Shocks requiring hospitalization and cardiac monitoring; possible arrhythmias | $60,000–$150,000 |
| High-voltage (>1000V) with tissue damage Extensive internal burns, muscle damage, fasciotomy, reconstruction | $150,000–$400,000 |
| Arc flash with severe thermal burns Combination of electrical and severe thermal burns from arc blast | $200,000–$500,000+ |
| Electrical injury with amputation Loss of limb or digits from electrical tissue destruction | $250,000–$750,000+ |
| Electrical injury with cardiac damage Permanent heart rhythm problems, pacemaker requirement, or heart muscle damage | $200,000–$600,000+ |
Factors That Affect Your Settlement
Voltage and current level
High-voltage injuries (>1000V) typically cause more extensive internal damage and higher settlements
120V household shock may settle for $30,000-$100,000, while 13,000V utility line contact can exceed $500,000
Current pathway through body
Hand-to-hand or hand-to-foot paths crossing the heart are most dangerous and result in higher settlements
Electrical path crossing the chest has higher risk of cardiac damage than current confined to one limb
Cardiac effects and monitoring needs
Heart rhythm problems, whether immediate or delayed, substantially increase settlement value and future medical needs
Workers requiring pacemakers or ongoing cardiology monitoring receive significantly higher settlements
Extent of tissue destruction and amputation
Loss of limbs or extensive muscle damage requiring reconstruction dramatically increases settlement
Electrical injuries requiring finger or limb amputation typically settle for $200,000-$500,000+
Neurological and cognitive damage
Peripheral nerve damage, cognitive impairment, or brain injury from electrical trauma increases permanent disability
Peripheral neuropathy causing chronic pain and numbness can add $50,000-$150,000 to settlement
OSHA violations and employer negligence
Serious safety violations (no lockout/tagout, inadequate PPE, live work on energized equipment) can support serious and willful misconduct claims
OSHA citation for lockout/tagout violation can increase recovery by 50% through serious and willful claim
Delayed symptoms and long-term effects
Cataracts, progressive nerve damage, and late cardiac problems increase future medical needs
Delayed cataracts developing 1-3 years after electrical injury are recognized complications requiring ongoing coverage
Tips for Filing Your Electrical Injury Claim
- Report the electrical injury immediately even if you feel fine - cardiac and neurological symptoms can be delayed
- Demand immediate medical evaluation including ECG and cardiac monitoring - do not let employer minimize the injury
- Document the voltage level, equipment involved, and whether safety procedures were followed
- Preserve evidence of the accident scene, particularly OSHA violations like missing lockout/tagout procedures
- Request copies of equipment maintenance records, safety training documentation, and incident investigation reports
- Keep detailed records of all symptoms, even minor ones - nerve damage and cardiac problems may worsen over time
- Follow all recommended cardiac monitoring and neurological evaluations - gaps in treatment hurt your claim
- Report any delayed symptoms immediately (new numbness, heart palpitations, vision changes)
- Request evaluation by specialists: cardiologist, neurologist, and pain management if needed
- Do not settle until at least 12-24 months post-injury - many electrical injury effects are delayed
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Declining medical treatment or cardiac monitoring because you 'feel fine' - damage may not be immediately apparent
- Accepting settlement offers within the first year before delayed neurological or cardiac symptoms appear
- Failing to document OSHA violations that contributed to the electrical exposure
- Not pursuing serious and willful misconduct claims when employer violated lockout/tagout or other safety rules
- Underestimating long-term needs - electrical injuries often require lifetime cardiac and neurological monitoring
- Missing specialist appointments (cardiology, neurology) which weakens proof of ongoing injury
- Accepting insurance adjuster claims that 'the burns aren't that bad' when internal damage is the real issue
- Failing to claim psychological injury (PTSD, electrical phobia) which is common after serious shocks
- Not preserving evidence of defective equipment or inadequate PPE that failed to protect you
- Settling before cataracts or other delayed complications develop (cataracts can appear 6 months to 3 years later)
Related Injuries
Related Articles
Electrical injury cases are routinely undervalued by insurance companies who focus only on visible burns and ignore the extensive internal damage. Don't accept early settlement offers before delayed cardiac, neurological, and vision problems have been fully evaluated.
Electrical Injury Workers' Comp by City
Electrical Injury FAQ
Why do electrical injuries often settle for more than they look like they're worth?
Electrical injuries cause extensive internal damage that is not visible from the outside. A worker may have only small entry and exit wounds but suffer massive muscle death, nerve damage, and vascular injury between those points. The electrical current follows the path of least resistance through the body, destroying tissue along the way. This internal damage often requires extensive surgical debridement, reconstruction, or even amputation. Additionally, electrical injuries affect multiple body systems simultaneously - cardiac, neurological, vascular, and musculoskeletal - resulting in higher permanent disability ratings than injuries affecting only one area. Insurance adjusters who focus only on visible burns drastically undervalue these cases.
Do I need cardiac monitoring even if I feel fine after an electrical shock?
Yes, cardiac monitoring is medically necessary after any significant electrical shock, even if you feel completely normal. Electrical current can cause heart rhythm abnormalities that don't appear immediately but develop hours, days, or even weeks later. Delayed cardiac arrhythmias are a recognized complication of electrical injury. Standard medical practice requires ECG monitoring for 24-48 hours minimum after electrical exposure, and longer monitoring if any abnormalities are detected. If your employer discourages you from seeking medical care or the workers' comp adjuster questions the need for cardiac monitoring, push back - this is established medical protocol. Failure to diagnose cardiac injury early can be life-threatening and also weakens your workers' comp claim.
Can I get workers' comp for nerve damage that appeared months after my electrical injury?
Yes, delayed neurological symptoms are a recognized consequence of electrical injury. Peripheral neuropathy, nerve pain, numbness, and motor weakness can progressively worsen or appear for the first time months after electrical exposure. This is because electrical current damages nerve tissue in ways that may not manifest immediately. Report any new or worsening neurological symptoms to your treating physician immediately and request referral to a neurologist. As long as the nerve damage is causally related to the work-related electrical injury, it is covered even if symptoms appear later. Do not let the insurance company argue that delayed symptoms are unrelated - this is well-documented in medical literature. This is another reason not to settle electrical injury cases too quickly.
What if my employer says I violated safety rules by working on energized equipment?
Even if you violated safety rules, you are still entitled to workers' compensation benefits. Workers' comp is a no-fault system in California - you receive benefits regardless of whether you were following proper procedures. However, the more important question is whether your employer provided adequate training, equipment, and safety protocols. Many employers claim workers violated lockout/tagout procedures, but fail to mention they never properly trained the worker or provided adequate de-energization equipment. OSHA regulations require employers to establish comprehensive electrical safety programs, provide proper PPE, ensure qualified persons perform electrical work, and enforce lockout/tagout procedures. If your employer cut corners on training, PPE, or safety procedures, this can support a serious and willful misconduct claim that increases your recovery by 50%. Consult a workers' comp attorney before accepting blame.
How long do I need to wait before settling an electrical injury case?
Electrical injury cases should not be settled for at least 12-24 months due to the high risk of delayed complications. Cardiac arrhythmias can develop months after injury, cataracts typically appear 6 months to 3 years post-exposure, progressive nerve damage may worsen over time, and chronic pain syndromes often emerge later. Insurance companies will pressure you to settle within 6-12 months, but this is far too early for electrical injuries. Wait until you have completed all recommended cardiac and neurological monitoring, cataracts have been ruled out or treated, any necessary reconstructive surgery is complete, and your permanent disability rating accounts for all body systems affected. Your attorney should consult with medical experts to ensure all potential delayed complications are considered before settling.
Can I sue the electrical contractor or equipment manufacturer in addition to workers' comp?
Yes, third-party liability claims are common in electrical injury cases. If defective electrical equipment, inadequate warnings, or a third-party contractor's negligence caused your injury, you may have a personal injury lawsuit in addition to workers' compensation. Common third-party defendants include equipment manufacturers (defective tools, circuit breakers, GFCI devices), electrical contractors, property owners, and utility companies. For example, if a circuit breaker failed to trip due to a manufacturing defect, the manufacturer can be sued. If an electrical contractor created a hazardous condition that injured you, they may be liable. Third-party claims can recover damages not available in workers' comp, including full lost wages, pain and suffering, and punitive damages. Consult a personal injury attorney to evaluate third-party liability.
What is arc flash and how does it affect my claim?
Arc flash is an explosion of electrical energy that occurs when high-voltage current travels through the air between conductors or to ground. Arc flash produces intense heat (up to 35,000°F), blinding light, pressure waves, and vaporized metal that causes severe thermal burns and blast injuries. Arc flash injuries combine electrical damage with severe thermal burns, often affecting the face, arms, and upper body. These injuries typically result in very high settlements ($200,000-$500,000+) because they cause both electrical tissue damage and extensive thermal burns requiring skin grafts and reconstruction. Arc flash incidents also typically indicate serious OSHA violations - employers are required to conduct arc flash hazard analysis, provide arc-rated PPE, and label electrical equipment with arc flash boundary warnings. Failure to provide this protection strengthens claims of employer negligence.
Will I develop cataracts from my electrical injury, and are they covered?
Cataracts are a recognized delayed complication of electrical injury, particularly when current passes through or near the head. Electrically-induced cataracts typically develop 6 months to 3 years after injury, though they can appear even later. These cataracts are covered by workers' compensation as a consequence of the industrial electrical injury. You should have regular ophthalmologic examinations for at least 3-5 years after electrical injury to monitor for cataract development. If you settle your case with a Compromise and Release (C&R) before cataracts develop, you may lose coverage for this delayed complication. Consider structuring your settlement to keep medical treatment open, or at least wait 2-3 years to ensure cataracts have not developed before accepting a final settlement. Report any vision changes immediately to your treating physician.
Can I get workers' comp for fear of electricity after a serious shock?
Yes, psychological injuries resulting from electrical trauma are compensable in California. Many electrical injury survivors develop specific phobia of electricity (electric phobia), anxiety around electrical equipment, PTSD from the traumatic incident, or fear of returning to electrical work. Because these psychological conditions directly result from the physical electrical injury, they are treated as a consequence of the industrial accident and do not face the stricter requirements for standalone psychiatric injury claims. Request referral to a psychologist or psychiatrist who can diagnose and treat these conditions. Psychological injury adds value to your overall claim and may justify vocational rehabilitation if you can no longer work around electrical equipment. Treatment including therapy and medications is covered by workers' compensation.
What should I know about lockout/tagout violations in electrical injury cases?
Lockout/tagout (LOTO) refers to OSHA-required procedures for de-energizing electrical equipment before performing maintenance or repair. Employers must establish written LOTO programs, train workers on proper procedures, provide lockout devices, and ensure equipment is de-energized and verified before work begins. Violations of LOTO requirements are among the most serious OSHA violations and are frequently cited in electrical injury cases. If you were injured while working on energized equipment, and your employer failed to establish proper LOTO procedures, failed to train you, or pressured you to work on live circuits, this constitutes serious employer misconduct. Document whether you received LOTO training, whether lockout devices were available, and whether there was pressure to work on energized equipment. LOTO violations can support serious and willful misconduct claims increasing your recovery by 50%, and also strengthen third-party claims against contractors or other responsible parties.
Legal Notes: Electrical injury claims must be filed within one year of the injury date, but the statute of limitations for delayed complications (cataracts, cardiac problems developing later) may begin when the complication manifests. California Labor Code Section 4553 allows for increased recovery (up to 50% more) if the employer's serious and willful misconduct caused the injury - OSHA lockout/tagout violations, failure to provide required electrical PPE, or forcing workers to work on energized equipment can support serious and willful claims. Third-party liability should always be evaluated in electrical injury cases, as equipment defects, contractor negligence, or utility company errors often contribute to these incidents. Consider whether product liability claims against equipment manufacturers exist if protective devices failed. For official benefit information, see the DIR Workers' Comp Benefits Overview.
Medical Notes: Maximum medical improvement for electrical injuries typically requires 12-24 months minimum due to delayed complications. Cardiac monitoring should continue for at least 2 years, with ongoing cardiology follow-up if arrhythmias are detected. Neurological evaluation should be repeated at 6, 12, and 24 months to assess progressive nerve damage. Ophthalmologic examination for cataracts should continue for 3-5 years. The AMA Guides rate electrical injuries based on multiple body systems - cardiac, neurological, musculoskeletal, and integumentary (skin) - resulting in combined ratings that often exceed 50% permanent disability. Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a recognized complication of electrical injury and should be evaluated if chronic pain develops. Future medical care must account for cardiac monitoring, neurological treatment, potential cataract surgery, and ongoing pain management.
How Much Is Your California Work Injury Case Worth?
Get a free, confidential case evaluation from our experienced attorneys. No obligation, no fees unless we win.
We respond within 15 minutes during business hours