Burns are a common injury – more common than one would suspect. Statistics show that about 130,000 people visit the emergency room every year due to burns; about a tenth of these need specialised care, and often (in about half of the cases), it involves children under 16 years of age. Burns aren’t always caused by sources of heat – in fact, often they are caused by extreme cold, friction, electricity, or chemicals. Despite the fact that they occur so often and have so many different causes, few people realise that if they had been burned due to someone else’s negligence, they have the right to seek compensation and proceed with a burn injury claim. Have you ever been a victim of such unfortunate accidents? Here’s what you can realistically expect with a burn injury claim.
Causes of burns
Burns can be caused by many circumstances – here are some common ones:
- Accidents at work
- Road traffic accidents
- Defective products or inappropriate use of products
- Medical negligence
Burns and their degrees
Burns are classified into three degrees. First degree burns are minor and result in redness and irritation of the skin. Second degree burns involve the damaging of the outer layers of the skin and the development of blisters. Third degree burns result in the damaging of tissue below the skin and often have scarring as a result.
Can you make a claim?
Anyone who has sustained a burn injury within the last three years due to an accident or injury through no fault of their own, or through accidental, negligent or willful behaviour from another party, can make a burn injury claim and seek burn injury compensation.
Establishing liability
In order for a claim to be successful, the victim needs to show that someone is ‘legally at fault’. Establishing this requires investigating the circumstances of the accident and gathering proof and documentation that the injury could have been prevented if other persons had not been negligent.
How much can you claim?
How much the claim can amount to will largely depend on the circumstances of the accident, but typically involves seeking compensation for medical attention, loss of income, other expenses, and psychological distress.
If you’ve been a victim, you understand how frustrating it can be. Luckily, there are certain steps you can take to seek justice; there are plenty of expert solicitors out there who specialise in burn injury claims. It’s not just about getting compensation for your own unfortunate experience – it’s also about making sure nobody else has to go through the same occurrence, or suffer the same fate at the hands of the liable person. Seeking compensation is not always easy, but with the right solicitor you can be sure your claim will receive the attention it deserves. Don’t hesitate – seek professional help immediately!