Burn Claims

Have you suffered a burn injury due to the fault of someone else? Perhaps it has caused great distress and as well as the physical implications, has meant time off work, and even caused you to lose your job? If this describes you then you could be eligible to make a compensation claim.

Burns can be a very painful injury to suffer – and can be one of the most permanent, because of physical disfigurement, scarring or amputation. Burn victims may have to live with reminders of their injury for the rest of their life; injuries which might not just be physical but emotional and psychological too. These factors and more will all be taken into account when making a burn injury accident claim.

Unfortunately burning and scalding injuries are quite common. We are constantly surrounded by hot objects, whether at home, in the office or at work on a construction site. They may vary in danger from a hot kettle to boiling hot tar but both should be taken seriously and both can cause serious injuries. Although the more minor injuries can be treated at home without the need to go to hospital, severe burns can affect muscle tissue, nerves, bones and blood vessels.

It’s important to remember that burns can also be caused by the cold, electricity, various chemicals (such as strong acids), radiation, sunlight, steam and friction. Subsequently there are also the side effects of burns such as smoke inhalation leading to respiratory conditions, shock and distress as well as infection. Therefore, burn injuries can prove to be some of the more complex and complicated injuries to claim compensation for.

Normally burns are classified by whether they are first, second or third degree, which dictates the severity.

Some injury statistics regarding burns may surprise you. Approximately 112,000 people visit Accident and Emergency every year with a burn, while over double this number visit local GPs with burn related injuries. Almost 8000 people are admitted to hospital or burn units every year, of which 200 people will die. Almost 50% of all burn and scald cases happen to under 5 year olds, and 50% of these happen in kitchens.

Claiming compensation for a burn should be made when the injury is a result of someone else’s fault or negligence. Examples could include electrical burns that might have happened to an office worker due to faulty electrical equipment. Chemical burns are most likely if you work in a laboratory, and sunburns (including heatstroke) could occur if your job often requires you to work in the sun. If you aren’t given correct advice and protection from the potential causes of a burn then your employer is being negligent and you have good cause to claim against them.

If you think you have a case to make a compensation claim for a burn injury then call National Accident Helpline™ to speak to a specialist solicitor who will help guide you through the claims process, keeping you informed at every step along the way.