Making a Burn Injury Claim

Anybody that has suffered from a burn injury will know how painful it is. If you are one of the fortunate ones you may have escaped with minor scars. However if the burns are particularly extensive, this can lead to great distress for the individual. Serious burns can lead to permanent scarring, nerve damage, or even death. The traumatic experience can haunt the victim for the rest of their life.

As we all use hot objects daily that could potentially be harmful to us, it is quite easy to make a mistake and get burned. In our day to day lives we are surrounded by objects that can easily become our enemies such as hot irons, and kettles. Burn injuries can occur anywhere, whether at home or at work. If the burns are relatively minor they can be treated at home. However, if the burns are severe they can affect muscle tissue, bones and blood vessels.

It is important to note that burns can be caused by a wide range of substances, not just the most obvious ones. For instance, you can get burned by radiation, sunlight, and strong chemicals. There are also other side effects of burns such as smoke inhalation leading to respiratory problems. In other words, burn injuries can be more complex than you think, and complicated to claim for.

Burns are usually classified as first, second or third degree burns, each one outlining their individual severity.

Being burned at work

Your employer is responsible for your health and safety when you are at work, especially when you are working with dangerous materials. You may think you are working in a relatively safe environment. Think again. At work you can still be at risk from getting burns from kettles, or other electronic equipment.

Your employer should provide you with adequate safety equipment if you are working with materials, and you should have undergone some health and safety training on how to keep yourselves safe.

Being burned in a road accident

The most common form of injuries that most people associate with road accidents are whiplash or broken bones. However, many road accidents can also lead to the victims suffering from burn injuries. For instance if the motor vehicle catches fire due to a collision or a fault within the car itself.

Being burned at other public places

Sometimes people suffer terrible burn injuries when they are out with friends or family at a cafe or restaurant. Surrounded by plates of hot food and drinks, a fatal spill can lead to burn injuries. Even a member of staff could accidentally slip and spill a hot drink all over a customer.

Claiming compensation for a burn

You can make a claim for compensation if you can prove that your burn injuries occurred as a result of somebody else's negligence. For instance if your employer failed in providing you with the correct safety equipment, you could have a good cause to claim against them. Our solicitors should be able to assess your case and advise you on your next course of action.

Author: Ayesha Salim is a law graduate who works fulltime with the UK Lawyers Network researching and writing about legal topics

 

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