Every year, approximately ten thousand deaths and over two million injuries are reported due to burns and fires. The majority of burn injuries occur at home with young children and the elderly at greatest risk. A few common sources of burn injuries are water heaters, scalding burns from hot liquids, motor vehicle fires, house fires, gas explosions, chemical burns, cigarette lighters and flammable clothing. Types of Burns
Burns are categorized according to the severity of the burn. The categories are: - First degree burns ¿ superficial burns and the least serious, involving reddening of the skin similar to a mild sunburn
- Second degree burns ¿ burns resulting in the destruction of the skin¿s outer layer
- Third degree burns ¿ burns result in all layers of the skin having been destroyed, often requiring skin grafting
Burn injuries can impose massive financial costs on individuals and their families. It¿s important to locate other sources of funds to provide medical and income benefits for burn victims and their families. What Financial Help is Available?
Victims of burn injuries have several sources of financial aid, including: Worker's Compensation
Worker¿s compensation payments typically provide only a very small percentage of the cost of recovery for burn injury victims. Worker's compensation laws require employers to be responsible for a worker's injuries regardless of who was negligent or at fault. Because of this, employees generally may not recover from the employer except through worker's compensation. Despite not being able to sue your own employer in work-related incidents, you may be able to sue other parties who are responsible or contributed to your injury. Health Insurance
Health insurance covers most medical costs and treatments, but does not pay for lost wages, pain and suffering, and may not cover all medical expenses. Lawsuit
Lawsuits can provide burn victims and their families the best method to get compensation for their injuries. Areas of compensation for injuries include: - Medical bills, both past and future
- Lost income based on lost wages and future potential income
- Compensation for pain and suffering
- Punitive damages to deter future abuses
- Loss of consortium (loss of spousal support, love, companionship, etc.)
- Job retraining
Do I Need to Consult an Attorney about My Burn Injuries?
Recovering damages for burn injuries can be difficult and complicated. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you determine what kind of damages you should seek. A personal injury attorney can also represent you in court. |
