Burn Injury Compensation
Further Information
Severe Burns are unfortunately a common result from work place, industrial accidents, accidents in public and can cause extreme pain, scarring and other long term effects. Burn injuries can also result from road traffic accidents or even extreme cold or chemical exposure. They can be caused by electricity – electrical burns – with potentially serious effects but the most common type of burns injuries are caused by exposure to flames or coming into contact with hot surfaces or liquids. If you have suffered burn injuries that were caused by a work related accident or road traffic accident then you need to contact a burns claims solicitor. CompareTheSolicitor.com will put you in the hands of a professional No Win No Fee solicitor with the expertise to get the compensation that you deserve.
Many occupations are at risk of burn injuries and accidents. These include kitchen workers, steel workers, chemical engineers and electricians. However, any occupation and workplace is at potential risk of burn injuries. It is an employer’s responsibility to ensure to the best of its ability that employees are safe. Ensuring the safety of employees is a company’s legal obligation and this includes assessing the risks of an accident or incident that can result in burn injuries and taking all possible precautions to avert it. In the case of an accident, employers and authorities have insurance in place to provide compensation to people who have suffered a burn injury. As well as severe pain, burn injuries can result in scarring, psychological issues and long term disabilities. This may lead to an enforced period of absence from work and in certain circumstances can bring an end to a career. Burn injury compensation through a burn claims solicitor can help you through any hardships you have faced.
Burns and scalds are very painful injuries and even a small burn or scald can remain painful for a long period of time. More serious burns and scalds can cause nerve damage, tendon, ligament or muscle damage, permanent scarring or even death. Scarring can also contract and cause reduced mobility and psychological distress.
As any part of your body can be burned or scalded the severity of the injuries and the treatment needed often depends on the part of the body affected. For example if a limb is very badly burned it may be amputated. Plastic or cosmetic surgery with skin grafts may also be needed.
Types of Burn Injuries
Burn injuries can range from minor household burns and scalds to very serious injuries. There are various types of burn injury, including:
- Chemical burns – these can occur when the skin comes into contact with caustic or corrosive chemicals.
- Thermal burns – if the skin is exposed to extreme heat, for example in a fire or explosion or from touching a hot, metal object, this will result in thermal burns.
- Electrical burns – when a person receives an electric shock there will often be burns to the skin, however the majority of the damage is usually internal.
- Friction burns – when the skin is dragged against a surface, particularly if the surface is abrasive, this may cause a friction burn. Friction also generates heat, so some additional thermal burning may occur.
- Cold burns / frostbite – prolonged contact with cold substances, such as snow and ice, or any contact with chemicals like liquid nitrogen or dry ice that are extremely cold, can cause a cold burn (also known as frostbite).
- Scalds - a scald is a burn caused by contact with very hot liquid or vapour, for example boiling water, coffee or steam.
- Radiation burns – the most common type of radiation burn is sunburn, either from exposure to natural sun or through sunbed use. Radiation burns can also occur following radiotherapy treatment (often used for cancer patients) or other sources of radiation.
- Inhalation burns – if a person inhales very hot air, say in a fire, or certain chemical fumes, they may suffer burns to their upper airways, nose and mouth and even damage to the lungs.
Burn Classifications - First Degree Burns
First Degree burns are the most minor burns. They will normally cause the skin to appear red and although there will be some pain, it should not last too long depending on the size of the area affected. With first degree burns only the very top layer of skin is damaged (the epidermis) therefore there should be no blistering of the skin.
Second Degree Burns
Second degree burns are more serious than first degree burns and will generally be more painful (unless the nerves have been destroyed). As deeper layers of the skin are affected, the skin will look bright red and blistering will probably occur which can lead to risk of infection once they have burst. As fluids from the body will be lost through the site of the burn, the skin may look wet. If the burn covers more than 10% of the body the burn victim may go into shock due to fluid loss.
Third Degree Burns
Third degree burns (or full thickness burns as they are sometimes known) are the most serious of the three main categories of burns. The skin will be completely burned away and damage may have been caused to the muscles, ligaments and tendons beneath. As the nerves will have been destroyed the victim may feel no pain but even so will be at a risk of death if the burned area is large. Third degree burns take a long time to heal and will almost always leave permanent scarring - skin grafts from unaffected areas may also be required.
Fourth Degree Burns
A further classification, fourth degree burns, refers to burns so severe that all layers of the skin are destroyed and there is damage to the muscles, tendons and ligaments. These burns are extremely serious and are often fatal. There are classifications of fifth and sixth degree burns but after suffering these burns the most often result is death and will only be used in post-mortem examination.
Effects of a Burn Injury
The immediate effects of a burn injury can include:
- Pain
- Blistering
- Swelling
- Peeling skin
- Redness
- Inflammation
- Respiratory problems (in the case of inhalation burns, smoke inhalation)
- Shock - a major factor in burn injuries, caused by a loss of fluid from the body
- Infection - the skin is the protective barrier used by the body to keep out germs, so when it is damaged the risk of infection is high.
- Kidney failure – with very serious burns, the stress on the body from infection or loss of fluid can be such that the kidneys are unable to function.
Minor burns and scalds can often be treated at home, however if a person has sustained a burn that is deep, larger than the size of their palm, or there is blistering or charring, they should be taken to hospital immediately. The same applies if they are having difficulty breathing, they seem disorientated or unwell or the burns are affecting the face, hands, feet or genitals.
Dependent upon the severity of the burn injury, in the long term the injured person may suffer some of the following effects:
- Scarring – the scarring left by a burn may be limited to a small area of skin that is slightly different in appearance to that surrounding it, or it may be more severe, affecting large areas of the body and causing disfigurement.
- Skin sensitivity – where new skin has formed after a burn injury has healed, or skin grafts have been used, the affected area can be left more sensitive and delicate than before.
- Photosensitivity – skin that has been burnt in the past will usually be more sensitive to sunlight and should always be protected by sunscreen as it is susceptible to sun damage.
- Restricted movement – scar tissue does not have the elasticity of normal skin and so extensive scarring can be restrictive, particularly if it is over a joint.
- Trauma /emotional injuries – a person who has been left with scarring from a burn injury, or who sustained burns in a distressing incident may be left with psychological injuries.
- Loss of confidence – burn victims may feel less confident or self conscious if their injury has caused extensive scarring or disfigurement. Burn injuries can also result in varying degrees of disability, leaving the person unable to do things that they could do before.
Following a serious burn injury, there may be a need for lifelong treatment, both to deal with the physical and emotional effects.
If you or someone you know have suffered a burn injury due to an accident or act of negligence please don’t hesitate to call one of our advisors for more information. Alternatively contact us on the form below providing some details of your case.
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