Can You Get Workers' Comp for an Electrical Shock Injury on the Job in California?

 Posted on April 22, 2026 in Workers' Compensation

Getting hurt by electricity at work can happen in an instant. A shock, a burn, or a fall caused by a jolt of current can keep you out of work for weeks or months. Many workers in California do not know they are at risk until something goes wrong. If you were hurt in an electrical accident at your job in 2026, you may have the right to workers' compensation benefits. A Hollister, CA workers' compensation attorney can look at your case and explain what you may be owed.

What Kinds of Electrical Injuries Do California Workers Suffer on the Job?

Electrical injuries do not just happen to electricians. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as analyzed by the Electrical Safety Foundation International, there were 5,180 non-fatal workplace electrical injuries involving days away from work in 2023 and 2024 combined. That was a 59 percent increase compared to the two years before. That means thousands of people across many different jobs are getting hurt badly enough to miss work each year. Farm workers, warehouse staff, construction crews, and maintenance workers all run into electrical hazards on a regular basis.

The most common types of injuries include:

• Electrical shock: When current moves through the body, it can affect the heart, lock up muscles, and damage nerves. Even a low-voltage shock can cause problems that last a long time.
• Electrical burns: These burns often go much deeper than they look on the surface. They can happen at the point of contact or across the skin from an arc flash.
• Arc flash injuries: An arc flash sends out a powerful burst of heat and light. It can cause severe burns, eye damage, and hearing loss.
• Falls from electrical shock: A shock at height can throw a worker off a ladder or scaffold. The fall can break bones or cause a head injury on top of the shock itself.

Any of these injuries can be serious enough to require surgery, long-term care, or time away from work – and all of them can support a workers' compensation claim in California.

What Does California Law Require Employers To Do To Prevent Electrical Injuries at Work?

California employers must protect workers from electrical hazards by law. Under Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations, Section 2940, employers must provide safety devices and safeguards to keep the workplace as safe as the job reasonably allows. They must check safety equipment often enough to make sure it works properly.

Any unsafe tool or device must be repaired or replaced. Workers must also be trained to inspect their tools and equipment before each use. Even if an employer fails to follow these rules, an injured worker can still usually get workers' compensation benefits because the system does not depend on fault.

Does California Workers' Compensation Cover Electrical Shock and Burn Injuries?

Under California Labor Code § 3600, workers' comp usually covers injuries that happen while you are doing your job and are related to your work, no matter who was at fault. If electricity hurts you at work through a shock, a burn, or a fall, you will usually qualify for benefits. These benefits can pay for medical care and part of your lost wages while you recover.

If your injury causes lasting limitations, you may also receive permanent disability benefits. If you cannot return to your job and your employer does not offer other work, the Supplemental Job Displacement Benefit may help pay for retraining.

What Should California Workers Do After an Electrical Injury at Work?

What you do right after an electrical injury can affect your whole workers' comp claim. First, get medical care right away, even if you feel fine. Electrical damage can be inside the body and may not show up for hours or even days. Second, tell your employer about the injury in writing within 30 days, as California law requires. Third, collect as much information as you can: photos of the area, the equipment involved, and the names of anyone who saw what happened. Do not give a recorded statement to any insurance company before you talk to an attorney.

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Hollister, CA Workers' Compensation Attorney

Electrical injuries are among the worst a worker can suffer, and insurance companies often fight hard against these claims. That is where the experienced San Benito County, CA work injury lawyer at Raul Martinez Injury Law Firm comes in. With over 15 years of legal experience, attorney Raul Martinez offers free consultations to injured workers. Call 408-848-1113 today.