Burn Injury Solicitors - Accident Compensation Claim Lawyers

LAWYER HELPLINE: 1800 339 958

Our specialist lawyers operate the no win no fee scheme. If they don’t succeed in getting compensation for you they don't get paid. Our burn injury solicitors have the expertise and experience necessary to maximize a personal injury compensation claim. If you have been injured in an accident and you want to make a compensation claim for personal injury and loss just complete the contact form, email our lawyers offices or use the solicitors helpline. Our burn injury solicitors offer free advice without further obligation. If we deal with your burns claim it will be on a no win no fee basis, compensation is paid in full and you do not have to fund or finance your car accident compensation claim.

Catastrophic Injury

Catastrophic injuries are severe, life-threatening injuries that typically occur suddenly as the result of an accident. These are injuries which require immediate and extensive medical treatment and are likely to permanently affect the victim's life.

Severe burn injury is a type of catastrophic injury, often resulting from a work accident, that can result in lifelong disabilities and impairments, such as loss of sensation and movement, as well as damage to the victim's cognitive and communicative abilities. All of the body's systems can be damaged by a severe burn, including the respiratory, circulatory, nervous and gastrointestinal systems. The physical complications and side effects of severe burns include :-

  • scarring
  • increased risk of infection
  • dehydration
  • disrupted blood circulation
  • shock

Dealing with the immediate and long-term side effects of catastrophic injuries such as burns requires the collaborative efforts of a burn compensation solicitor and a team of medical specialists, including physicians, nurses, therapists, counselors and consultants.

Work Injury

Industrial accidents can result in a number of different types of catastrophic injuries, one of which is severe burns. A work accident can involve explosions, chemical spills, electrocution, superheated liquids, molten metals or superheated gases, all of which can result in serious burns to those involved in the accident. These burns can be life-threatening, and those who survive will still face years of rehabilitation and painful surgeries.

Work injury as a result of an accident are not uncommon. Tragically, many of these industrial accidents could have been avoided with the proper safety measures. Some of the most common causes of severe burn injuries in the workplace are :-

  • fires and explosions at oil refineries
  • boiler accidents
  • contact with hazardous chemicals
  • fuel delivery accidents
  • faulty temporary electrical wiring at a construction site
  • defective welding tools
  • lack of proper safety shields

Diagnosing Burns

The severity of a burn is diagnosed by evaluating specific factors, including the size, depth and location of the burn as well as the patient's age. The doctor will also consider the amount of swelling, signs of infection and the patient's degree of pain.

One of the most important factors in diagnosing the severity of a burn is determining the total body surface area (TBSA) that has been burned. To do so, a doctor utilizes a diagnostic tool known as the 'Rule of Nines'.

The Rule of Nines divides the body up into various sections, each of which represents 9% of the surface area of the body. A major burn is considered to be anything larger than 10% of the total body surface area.

For children, a separate chart, called the Lund-Browder chart, is used to determine TBSA because the surface areas of certain body areas are smaller in children than adults.

Burns are placed into one of three categories: first degree, second degree and third degree. Below are the characteristics of the different types of burns :-

  1. First Degree Burns: only the outer layer of the skin, called the epidermis, is affected; the victim will experience pain, redness and sensitivity at the site of the burn.

  2. Second Degree Burns: the depth of the burn extends to the second layer of the skin, called the dermis; the victim will experience pain, redness, swelling and blisters (which may ooze) at the site of the burn

  3. Third Degree Burns: the epidermis, dermis and hypodermis (where blood vessels and nerves are located) are affected, and the victim’s bones, tendons and muscles may also be damaged; the burned area will appear charred, leathery or pale; most third degree burns result in extensive scarring.

The most serious burns result in scarring, and burn scars fall into one of three major categories: contractures, hypertrophic and keloid. Each type of burn differs in its appearance and location :-

  • Contracture Scars: permanent tightening of the skin that can limit mobility at the site of the scarring due to its effects on the underlying tendons and muscles

  • Hypertrophic Scars: red, raised and thick scars that develop at the site of the burn

  • Keloid Scars: overgrowth of scar tissue which extends past the site of the burn; initially red or pink but eventually become a dark tan color

Compensation Claims

Severe burns and scalds are some of the most painful types of personal injury often resulting in scarring and disfigurement. Serious burn injuries can be life threatening particularly if they are extensive or affect vital organs. Victims of burns and scarring can also suffer emotional and psychological problems. Dependent on the extent and severity of the injury and the long term effects, a burn injury compensation claim can result in a very substantial damages award.

Burn Injury Solicitors

If you have suffered burns and scarring in an accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to compensation for the physical and psychological effects of your injury. Our burn injury solicitors provide legal help to those who have suffered deep second degree burns, third and fourth degree burns and inhalation injuries caused by hot liquids and gases. Our specialist lawyers can help you to assert your legal rights and get the compensation you deserve. We can advise you on the estimated value of your claim and answer any questions you may have. Speaking with one of our burn injury solicitors does not obligate you to take further action. There are no charges for your consultation, regardless of whether you go forward with your claim. To speak confidentially with a solicitor about a compensation claim, simply complete the contact form on this website.

Burn Injury Overview

A burn can be a thermal, electrical or chemical damage to the skin and underlying tissue. Sunlight can also cause a burn to the skin. These are called radiation burns. They can be minor, moderate or severe burns. Unless a burn is severe, home remedies can be utilized to take care of the burn.

They types of burns include a thermal burn from fire, hot objects, steam, or hot liquids. Scalding burns are more common in young children and in older adults. First and second degree burns (described below) are the most common injuries received in scalding burns; however, fire can easily cause a third degree burn. An electrical burn is caused by contact with an electrical wire or by exposure to lightning. The actual appearance of the wound might be much less than the actual burn inside the body.

A chemical burn can be due to contact with chemicals that can be in gaseous, solid or liquid form. Even natural foods like chili peppers can burn the skin to a mild degree. Radiation burns are due to sunshine, tanning booths, too much x-ray exposure or radiation therapy for cancer. The burns are usually only first or second degree but can involve deeper tissues as well. Even friction can cause burns. Rope burns can burn skin as can things like road rash in an accident or contact with athletic surfaces, either indoors or outdoors. Motorcyclists and bicyclists are particularly prone to friction burns during a fall or accident if not wearing the right kind of protective clothing. There are such things as inhalation burns in which you inhale a noxious substance that burns your nasal passages, bronchial tree and alveoli. This can cause severe lung damage.

Burns are identified by degrees. A first degree burn is relatively mild. It involves just the skin and there are no blisters notified. A first degree burn is quite painful and red in appearance. A second degree burn involves just the skin and blisters form as the skin layers separate. It is quite a painful burn and the base of the burn is reddened. A third degree burn involves a complete burning of the skin layers down to the underlying tissue. Because often the nerves are damaged, they tend not to hurt very much but scar significantly and take a long time to heal. Often, skin grafting is required to heal over the skin.

Severe burns are deep and involve a large area of skin and tissue. The cause of the burn determines how severe the burn is as lightning burns and chemical burns tend to be more severe. Burn victims can sustain other injuries besides the burn and this determines how sick the patient is.

People who are at the highest risk of burns are those younger than age five, who often get hot liquid burns. Over half of all burns happen in the 18-64 year age group and older adults have a higher risk of scalding injuries. Men have twice the risk of burns as women.

Babies and young children can have a more severe burn reaction than do adults. Adults have a relatively lower amount of fluid loss through the same size burn as children do so dehydration must be paid attention to in young children as severe fluid loss can occur. Children need to be supervised at all times, especially around fireplaces and scalding liquids. Care must be taken when cooking in order to avoid the child pulling down pans from the stove. Most childhood burns happen within the home so you need to be wary of that fact.

The treatment of burns includes cooling the burn to prevent further burning and visiting the emergency room if the burn is large or deep. Antibiotic ointments are applied to the burn to prevent infection and the burn is covered until it is healed. Dressing changes are usually done daily. If a burn is a third degree burn, a skin transplant from another body area is performed in order to replace the lost skin.

LAWYER HELPLINE: 1800 339 958


The author of the substantive medical writing on this website is Dr. Christine Traxler MD whose biography can be read here