What Are My Options if I Sustain a Burn Injury at Work?

Everyone has experienced the pain of a burn at some point in their life. Maybe it was touching a hot pot handle or accidentally brushing up against a radiator. The pain is immediate and intense. The physical damage can result in blisters or even an open wound. For some, this injury will happen at work and could be covered under workers’ compensation. However, if there was negligence on the part of an employer, subcontractor, or another third party was responsible for the injury, workers burned on the job may be entitled to damages beyond worker’s compensation benefits. For this reason, it is important to contact an experienced personal injury attorney at Regan Zambri Long PLLC to understand your legal options. Our dedicated workers’ compensation lawyers can review your accident for negligence and help you seek compensation for your burn injury.

How Common Are Burn Injuries at Work?

According to the American Burn Association, burns cause 40,000 hospitalizations per year. While most of these injuries occur at home, many occur at work. The types of burns that commonly occur in the workplace are:

• Thermal: Thermal burns are burns caused by the heat from liquids (called “scalding” burns), open flames, hot objects, and explosions.
• Chemical: Chemical burns are the result of skin or eyes coming into contact with strong acids, alkaloids, or other corrosive or caustic materials that eat away or “burn” skin and deeper tissue.
• Electrical: Electrical burns are when electrical current travels through body and meets resistance in tissue, resulting in heat burn injuries.
• Radiation: A radiation burn is a result of overexposure to radiation such as ultraviolet light, thermal radiation, ionizing radiation, or radiofrequency energy. The most common form of radiation burn is a sunburn.

How Do Workplace Burns Happen?

Depending on the type of job you have, you may be exposed to one or more of these hazards. For example, thermal injuries can occur anywhere heat is generated such as in kitchens, auto shops, or assembly lines. Chemical burns can be found in janitorial services, pool maintenance work, or manufacturing environments. Electrical burns are common in construction, utility delivery, or while working on any job site with faulty electrical wiring. Radiation burns can be found in the healthcare sector or any work that takes place outdoors with exposure to the sun.

What Are the Different Types of Burns?

Burn severity is classified into first-, second-, or third-degree:

• First Degree: These burns involve the first layer of skin. They are characterized by red, painful skin with mild swelling.
• Second Degree: Second-degree burns cause damage to the first and second layers of skin. These burns will be accompanied by pain, deep reddening of the skin, blisters, a glossy appearance, and potential loss of skin.
• Third Degree: The most severe category of burn. These burns penetrate the entire thickness of the skin and permanently destroy tissue. Third-degree burns may also damage the underlying tendons, muscles and bones.

What Should I Do if I Am Burned at Work?

Immediately seek medical treatment for your burn. Most burns can be treated by applying cool water or a cool compress to the burn site, covering the wound with sterile gauze, and seeking pr medical care. For more severe burns immediate professional medical care is required. Do not attempt to treat your own severe burn injury.

After getting appropriate care, it is important to document the circumstances surrounding the injury. If possible, photograph the job site and location of the injury as well as the injury itself. Try to record any co-workers or customers that may have witnessed your burn. Note any surveillance cameras in the area that may have captured some or all of your accident. This information can be used by the injury lawyers at Regan Zambri Long PLLC to help them determine fault.

Seek Expert Legal Advice After a Serious Burn Injury at Work

The most important thing after suffering a burn injury at work is getting back to normal. That can be difficult when you may not have income during your recovery and the costs of burn accidents can add up fast:

• Ambulance trip
• Hospital bills
• Prescription medications
• Physical therapy
• Medical devices

Let the skilled workplace burn injury attorneys at Regan Zambri Long PLLC are ready to fight for you, allowing you to focus on getting better. Regan Zambri Long PLLC’s lawyers have over 100 years of combined experience and have recovered over $650 million dollars for their clients. Contact Regan Zambri Long PLLC’s experienced personal injury attorneys today to see how they can help get you compensated for your workplace burn injury.