Suffering a burn injury is painful and traumatic and leaves serious consequences. Aside from the physical pain, you may experience severe emotional trauma. All this can leave you feeling self-conscious and isolated. A burn injury means a long recovery period, which means you can’t work or go to school. It could be hard to return to your daily life, and this trauma will impact you and your family.
It is not easy to estimate the amount of money that can take away what you have been through. However, seeking compensation after a burn injury could help you cover the losses you incurred, allowing you to focus on your recovery without the stress and financial pressure. The refund you will get will also cover the costs of medication, rehabilitation, care, and treatment.
Common losses that you should consider when claiming compensation
If you have suffered a burn injury, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. The types of losses that you can claim will depend on the circumstances of your case, but here are some common losses that you should consider including when claiming compensation for a burn injury:
Medical expenses
You can claim compensation for all medical expenses related to your burn injury, including hospitalization, surgeries, doctor visits, medications, and physical therapy.
Lost wages
If you have had to miss work or cannot work due to your burn injury, you can claim compensation for your lost wages. This includes both past and future lost wages.
Pain and suffering
You can also claim compensation for the physical and emotional pain and suffering that you have experienced as a result of your burn injury.
Disfigurement or scarring
If your burn injury has left you with visible scarring or disfigurement, you can claim compensation for the impact that this has had on your quality of life.
Property damage
If your burn injury was caused by a fire or explosion, you might be able to claim compensation for any property damage that you suffered, such as damage to your car or home.
Loss of enjoyment of life
If your burn injury has prevented you from participating in activities that you previously enjoyed, such as hobbies or sports, you can claim compensation for the loss of enjoyment of life.
Future medical expenses
If you require ongoing medical treatment or care as a result of your burn injury, you can claim compensation for these future medical expenses.
It is important to work with an experienced personal injury attorney who can help you identify all of the losses that you are entitled to claim and ensure that you receive fair compensation for your burn injury. Your attorney can also help you negotiate with the insurance company or file a lawsuit if necessary to pursue your claim.
Which are the common causes of severe burns?
Among the usual causes of severe burns are domestic accidents (burns when cooking); there are many ways a person can get burned. Typical situations include firework injuries, chemical burns, car fires, gas explosions, boiling water spillage, and burns from patio heaters. Many severe accidents occur in the workplace when your employer must take care to protect the safety, well-being, and health of all employers. If you get burned, your employer will face a full and proper investigation, and you are entitled to claim financial compensation if the study finds it negligent.
What are the expected losses after a burn injury?
Along with the physical trauma, burn injuries can cause more difficult and painful consequences, which people struggle with. Victims can suffer from emotional and permanent scars on the skin that could be life-changing and severely time-limiting. One of the widespread consequences experts names is post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as difficulties in continuing with everyday life.
The severity of burn injuries
There are three levels of burn injuries, and experts and doctors treat them according to their effect on health and body condition.
First-degree burns – one of the most common types of burns. They are the least painful and can usually be treated at home. Usually, people suffer from it due to contact with a hot surface, overexposure to sunlight without protection, boiling water, or steam. Usually, it is enough to run the affected area under cool, running water for several minutes.
Second-degree burns – these types of burns affect both the epidermis and dermis and the outer and second layers of skin. Because of that, they pose a higher risk of infection. As the burned area becomes bright red and produces blisters and swelling, you may use more severe painkillers and remedies to heal the injuries. Hospital treatment and potentially an extended stay in the hospital could be necessary in these cases.
Third-degree – the dermis and epidermis are destroyed in third-degree burns. Depending on how much the body surface is affected, victims can have the risk of other complications and infections. It is undoubtedly required to start a hospital treatment, significantly if burns have affected internal organs, nerves, tendons, and ligaments. It leads to further physical problems for the victim.
What does a burn injury compensation claim look like?
After you have survived a burn injury, you need to claim compensation. Victims can attract very high settlement awards in burn injury cases. The outcome is influenced by several factors, like the type of burns, the requirements for surgery and or restorative surgery, the amount of body surface area covered by burns, and any physical disabilities.
