Burn injuries can happen in a range of job environments, especially if you work in an oilfield, refinery, with heavy machinery, or in any field using chemicals or large equipment. It’s important that you get medical care immediately after a burn injury and understand your options for managing your healthcare bills through insurance or an injury claim. If you suffer severe burns, you could be permanently disabled and need lifelong care.
A Houston work injury lawyer from The Mejia Law Firm discusses what to do after a burn injury at work and how to seek compensation from those at fault.
Common Causes of Burn Injuries on the Job
There are more than 30,000 visits to burn centers in the United States per year, as reported by the American Burn Association (ABA). While most of these accidents happen in the home and on weekends, burns from various sources are frequent causes of harm at work. The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) recorded 3,840 non-fatal burn-related injuries in Texas private industry workplaces between 2021 and 2022.
Common causes of burns at work include:
- Chemicals: When corrosive or caustic substances contact the skin or eyes, they can burn or destroy the tissue. Chemicals and other hazardous materials should be properly stored and handled to avoid injury, and failure to do so could leave those responsible at fault for your accident.
- Electrical: Electrocution is one of the top four deadliest accidents in the workplace. You can also suffer serious burns inside and outside your body if you come in contact with live wires or ungrounded sockets. Failing to use proper lockout procedures can put other workers at risk of injury.
- Extreme cold: While we mostly think of burns from hot sources, materials such as dry ice or liquid nitrogen can cause similar damage due to their very low temperatures.
- Sunburn and UV radiation: Under the harsh Texas sun, workers whose jobs are primarily outside need access to shade and protective clothing to avoid risk of sunburn. In other workplaces, UV or other radiation sources could lead to severe burns.
- Thermal: These may happen when you come in contact with hot liquids, flames, explosions, or hot equipment. The heat is transferred to your skin, causing substantial damage to the tissue.
It’s vital to report your injury immediately and document everything about what happened. By seeing a doctor, telling your supervisor, taking photos, and writing down the details, you establish an evidence trail that can support your claim for a workplace accident claim. If necessary, these actions can also be used to take legal action through a third-party lawsuit against the liable parties. By speaking with a workplace injury lawyer during a free case review, you can learn more about how to pursue your claim.
Jobs With the Highest Risk of Burn Injury
You can suffer a burn injury at nearly any place of employment, but some industries carry a higher chance of getting hurt this way. Some occupations with the greatest risk of suffering a burn include:
- Coal miners
- Construction workers
- Electricians
- Factory employees
- Food service workers
- Firefighters
- Oil & gas workers
- Truck drivers
- Welders
How Burn Injuries Are Classified
Burns often result in pain and some recovery time. If they are more severe, they can carry a risk of infection if a substantial portion of skin is lost. Burns range from first-degree to third-degree and can leave you with only minor injuries all the way to losing fingers, toes, hands, and feet.
The degrees of burn injury are:
- First: The top layer of skin (the epidermis) is affected by a first-degree burn, leaving you with redness and some swelling. Your burn should heal in 1-2 weeks.
- Second: These burns affect both the epidermis and the dermis (second layer of skin). You could experience swelling and blistered skin, with noticeable scars after the wound heals in a few weeks.
- Third: Affecting the epidermis, dermis, and underlying tissues, third-degree burns appear blackened or could be white. Victims may lose sensation and function and often require skin graft surgeries to repair the damage. If these burns are on the face and hands, they can lead to substantial emotional and psychological trauma.
In the most serious burn injury cases, entire parts of the body can be lost. Victims may struggle to survive, and if they do, they likely will be permanently disabled. Securing appropriate compensation for the lifetime of care they will require means they must work with a skilled attorney who can accurately calculate the full value of their claim.
When a loved one dies as a result of their burn injury, the surviving family members may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault parties. Under Texas law, only certain individuals can pursue compensation for a wrongful death. Your personal injury attorney can determine whether a claim is valid.
Seeking Compensation After a Burn Injury at Work
While you may be able to rely on your employer’s workplace insurance, much depends on the circumstances of your burn injury. What happened, whether you were clocked in, and who was involved may mean you need to explore other avenues for compensation. An experienced Texas workplace burn injury lawyer can assess your situation and provide guidance.
When you hire a personal injury attorney, they will provide critical services to handle your case while you focus on getting better. You can expect your lawyer to do the following:
- Gather relevant evidence and records regarding your accident
- Interview witnesses for their statements
- Speak with medical and other experts about the details of your injury
- Negotiate with insurance representatives for a fair settlement
- Advise you whether you can file a third-party lawsuit
- File paperwork and handle communications on your behalf
- If needed, represent you in court to secure compensation for your damages
When another party is responsible for your burn injury, you may have the option of filing a third-party lawsuit to recover the costs of your care and treatment. For example, suppose an equipment repair contractor failed to correctly replace shielding that allowed fire or heat to escape from a piece of machinery. If you then suffer a burn from that equipment, the contractor and their company could be held liable for your injury.
What Your Burn Injury Claim Could Be Worth
Regardless of how you seek compensation, your attorney can help you compile a list of all your damages. There may be many you overlook, especially if you expect your recovery to take months or even years. Your lawyer will help you gather records and expert testimony to support requesting damages such as:
- Medical bills
- Surgery costs
- ICU and ER treatment fees
- Lost income while you heal
- Potential lost earning capability
- Lost benefits, insurance, or retirement savings
- Emotional distress
- Permanent disability
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of limb or function
- Anxiety, depression, or other mood disorders
- Pain and suffering
Every case will be unique, but a severe burn injury claim could be worth hundreds of thousands of dolloars if multiple skin graft surgeries are required. In addition, victims may need substantial physical therapy or prosthetic devices to return to work and their lives. When someone else is at fault for your workplace burn injury, you deserve to reclaim every penny from those at fault.
Contact Us to Learn More About How We Can Help
The Mejia Law Firm is committed to educating and standing beside victims who have been hurt by the negligence of others. We fully support our clients throughout the claims process, handling all the legal complexities for them. To learn more about how you can pursue compensation for your burn injury at work, contact us to schedule a free consultation today.