Are You Looking for a Burn Injuries Lawyer After A Work Accident?

Every year, more than 5,000 burn injuries can be attributed to United States work-related explosions and fires. The same source tells us that up to 40% of all United States burn deaths are related to explosions and fires in the workplace.

Most burns are entirely preventable, which is why employees must ensure their work environments are safe and regulated for their employees.

If you suffered a burn in a work accident, you should contact a burn injuries lawyer immediately. Keep reading to learn more about burn accidents and how our law office could help.

Types of Burns

There are a few different common burn injuries that occur in the workplace. All 3 of these common burns can be 1st-degree, 2nd-degree, 3rd-degree, or 4th-degree burns. 4th-degree burns are the worst classification of burns.

Chemical burns, for example, occur when soft tissue or internal organs, contact synthetic corrosive substances or compounds. When the skin, eyes, or ears come into contact with a solvent, oxidizer, or acid, that’s considered a chemical burn.

Thermal burns occur when an individual makes contact with a flame. By touching solid hot objects like tools, pipes, or engines, or by contacting steam or boiling water, workers can easily suffer a thermal burn.

Electrical burns entail the body contacting a direct current or an alternating current. It happens through electrified water or a functioning electrical socket or wire.

How to Prevent Burns at Work

Workers are often quick to blame themselves for a workplace burn. However, more often than not, worksites lack the proper safety protocols and regulations to help prevent burns. 

Even if you are at fault for your accident, you should still be entitled to workers’ compensation and other potential compensation, depending on various factors. Prevention methods for workplace burns depend on the type of burn accident employers are trying to avoid.

However, these are some general precautions that employees and their employers can take to try and limit the risk of workplace burns:

  • Limit or reduce exposure to heat sources
  • Wear flame-resistant clothing
  • Wear clothing appropriate for electrical or chemical work
  • Eliminate debris from areas containing open flames or sparks
  • Mark power lines properly
  • Know all electrical sources in the workplace
  • Know and understand precautions for avoiding chemical burns
  • Read all labels carefully
  • Know the location of all first aid stations
  • Store and handle chemicals according to their manufacturer’s instructions

Training is the most crucial requirement for maintaining workplace safety. New employees and existing employees should receive regular training concerning burn prevention and exposure. Training can significantly reduce the chance of a severe work-related burn.

The best burn injury lawyer will do their due diligence to research the cause of your burn and determine whether or not safety protocols were in place.

Should You File For Workers’ Comp or a Work Accident Lawsuit?

If you’ve endured a burn injury at work, it’s vital to discuss your situation with a personal injury lawyer who will help you determine what you may be entitled to.

Workers’ comp exists to cover missed wages in the event of an accident. However, more often than not, it’s not enough to compensate for the losses suffered by those burn victims. Sometimes, in addition to workers’ compensation, a burn injury lawsuit must be filed so that a worker can receive the compensation they deserve for their losses.

Unfortunately, Texas is a state that doesn’t require employers to provide coverage for employees who suffer workplace injuries. Depending on your employer, they might not offer workers’ compensation.

That’s why, if you suffer a burn injury at work in Texas, you must contact a Texas burn injury lawyer. It’s your legal right to work in a space that’s safe and follows regulations.

What Does Compensation Cover?

If you suffered a burn injury at work and you’re looking for a “burn injury lawyer near me,” make sure you choose a lawyer with experience handling burn victims, particularly in Texas.

Think about how your life has changed since your work accident. It’s about more than just an injury that causes you to miss work. There are other things to consider when your lawyer determines how much compensation you could be entitled to, such as:

  • Medical expenses and hospital bills
  • Lost salary because of not being able to work
  • Pain and suffering

Pain and suffering is an important factor to consider. Depending on the severity of your burn and the length of time for which it affects you, you could be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering now and into the future.

Talk to your burn injury lawyer about other cases like yours and what you might be entitled to.

Things to Remember

Once you speak to a lawyer, there are some important things to remember so that you don’t affect your case’s outcome. First and foremost, make sure you keep up with all your doctor’s appointments.

Avoid posting on social media as it can be used against you in a lawsuit. For example, if you claim to be too injured to return to work, but you’re found posting photos at a party with friends, your injuries will lose merit.

Keep up with deadlines pertaining to paperwork, insurance company requests, or writing up a report at work. Communicate with your lawyer regularly to ensure you don’t miss any essential steps during your lawsuit.

Call a Burn Injuries Lawyer as Soon as Possible

If you suffered a work-related burn, call a burn injuries lawyer as soon as you can.

Accidents are traumatizing, no matter the severity. Having a professional personal injury lawyer on your side will grant you the peace of mind necessary to treat your burn with care and get the compensation you deserve for your injuries.

Plus, a lawyer won’t leave any boxes unchecked, and they’ll make sure you stay up to date with the necessary paperwork, claims, and reports.

Are you worried about digging into your pockets to pay a lawyer? Don’t! Contact us for a FREE case evaluation so that we can help you get your life back on track.