Welcome to our guide to burn injury claims. In it, we offer guidance on burn injury compensation and how much you could get from a variety of types and severity of burn injury. Whether you’ve suffered a hot tea burn in a restaurant or are looking to claim chemical burn at work compensation, we hope this guide helps you.
Burn injuries are not only devastatingly painful, but their effects can also be devastatingly long lasting, with scars from burns being visible reminders of an incident most of us would rather forget. Whether you know already what to do if you burn yourself or not, sometimes the skin is permanently damaged and cannot be repaired to what it once was, even if it was a hot tea burn or hot coffee burn suffered.
However, building fires, car crashes and the like can also cause burns, some so severe that they lead to loss of life, so there are so many consequences to a burn injury, from disheartening to devastating, and all are painful when they happen. If you’ve suffered a burn injury, whether a first degree burn or worse, then you are likely to feel very aggrieved if the incident was the cause of someone else’s behaviour or negligence, and you might be looking for burn injury settlements amount UK, or how much is my burn claim worth, to try and work out if it is worth your while putting forward burn injury claims.
Burn injury compensation explained
The good news is, you’ve landed on the right page if this is the type of question you’re looking for answers to. In this guide, we focus on what a personal injury claim could bring you, we discuss the personal injury claims time limit, and how to find the most well-matched personal injury lawyer for your claim. Call Advice.co.uk on 0161 696 9685 for clarification on any of these points. But do read on, as we have lots of advice on burn injury compensation claims and how you could proceed with one.
Select A Section
- A Guide To Burn Injury Compensation Claims
- How Much Compensation Do You Get For A Burn Injury?
- Examples Of The Types Of Damages Burn Injury Claims Include
- What Is A Burn Injury?
- How To Treat A Burn Or A Scald Injury
- Eligibility To Make Burn Injury Compensation Claim
- Explaining The Different Types And Degree Of Burn Injuries
- Burn Injuries In The Workplace
- What Workplaces Could Put People At Risk Of A Burn Injury?
- Road Traffic And Car Accidents Causing Burns
- Hot Tea, Hot Coffee And Hot Food Burns In Restaurants And Cafes
- Medical And Chemical Burn Injuries
- Damaged Or Faulty Electricals Causing Burn Injuries
- How Long Do You Have To Make Burn Injury Claims?
- What Is The Best Way To Start Burn Injury Claims?
- No Win No Fee Compensation Claims For Burn Injuries
- Why Call Our Friendly Advisors About Burn Injury Claims
- Contact Our Advisors Today About Burn Injury Claims
A Guide To Burn Injury Compensation Claims
According to the British Medical Journal, the World Health Organisation reported in 2004 that eleven million people per year suffered injuries from burns that were significant enough for them to have to seek medical assistance. This places burn injuries the 4th most common injury cause in the world.
Burn injury compensation claims guide
Burns themselves are painful and carry a significant risk to health, but it is often the aftereffects such as scarring that can cause ongoing issues, both physical and mental, that are felt heavily long term. If someone else has caused a burn injury to you, via lack of care for your health and safety when they were supposed to protect you, or via their dangerous behaviour, then this can make the whole thing first, as it was not an accident that couldn’t have been prevented should they have acted in another way. This is usually what leads people to look into compensation for a burn injury.
Burn injuries can range in severity and in cause. You may have suffered a burn from hot liquids such as tea or coffee that were spilled on you, or you may have been in a fire. You may have been in a car accident that has caused you burns, or you may have suffered a burn injury at work. Whatever the cause, if someone else were to be seen as being at fault, then you’re right to seek compensation.
How we can help with burn injury claims
Here at Advice.co.uk, we’re here to answer question on burn injuries claims, such as how much compensation do you get for a burn injury, provide information on workers compensation burn settlements, and even offer to provide a personal injury solicitor for your burn injury claim. Once you’ve finished reading, if you’d like to ask us anything else, then do get in touch – our efficient and knowledgeable advisors will be glad to assist you.
How Much Compensation Do You Get For A Burn Injury?
You may have already looked for a personal injury calculator online, but it is rare to get a figure that is accurate from those. They can’t accurately take into account the specifics of your case, and can give you a figure that can be very far removed from what you actually get. However, instead of a claim calculator, here at Advice.co.uk we can provide you with information from the Judicial College Guidelines, which are used as an illustration of the approximate amounts certain injuries attract. We’ve compiled these into a table for you below:
| Type of burn injuries | More information | Ballpark Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Loss of earnings | Your loss of earnings can be added on top of your injury claim | Can be as high as £100,000 depending on your salary |
| Scars – minimal (Body) | Single scar (noticeable) or a few smaller ones on arms, legs hands | £2080 up to £6,870 |
| Scars – noticeable (Body) | A number of significant or a single scar that is disfiguring (Legs, back, hands, arms) | £6,870 up to £19,930 |
| Facial Scars – Minimal | Minor effect on victim only | £1500 up to £3090 |
| Facial Scars – Less Noticeable | A scar which can be hidden, or small scars | £3460 up to £12050 |
| Facial Scars – Significant | Even with cosmetic treatment in the form of surgery, there will be some noticeable scarring | £7,990 up to £2,6380 |
| Facial Scars – Less Severe | Psychological issues concerning a substantial disfigurement | £15,750 up to £42,460 |
| Facial Scars – Very severe | Severe psychological issues – often in younger people with severe disfigurement | £26,120 up to £85,340 |
Examples Of The Types Of Damages Burn Injury Claims Include
As we mentioned, calculators rarely take into account the specifics of a case which is why they’re ultimately not very helpful in giving you an idea of your compensation amount. This is partly because they don’t take into account different types of damages, which we explain below.
Burn Injury Compensation – Special damages
This basically encompasses financial losses. These can include:
Care Costs
Should you have to have someone care for you as you can’t do your usual day to day things like getting dressed or toileting, these costs can be claimed for. Likewise, if someone has had to care for your children while you are unable to.
Travel Expense
Whether it’s train fare to a hospital appointment or if you have to pay for parking and petrol, these are funds you are only paying out because of the injury, so you should be able to include them in your claim.
Loss of earnings
Both immediate and ongoing financial losses from employment can be covered as a part of your claim. If you are unable to get back to work before you go on statutory sick pay for example, this gap in your wage should be included in your case.
Medical expenses
Although the NHS is free, there are costs involved with medical treatment to give you the best outcome, and these can often be included within your claim.
What Is A Burn Injury?
You may think burns only occur from hot things, but the fact is, there are lots of ways in which burns can be caused. Electrical burns can come from faulty or badly maintained electrical outlets, chemical burns can be caused by all sorts of liquids, from cleaning solution to other chemicals you might use, in, for example the workplace. Then, of course, there is the burns that come from car accidents, with hot metal involved, or with other machine accidents, as well as the obvious burns from house and building fires.
Whilst skin burns seem to be the most obvious, it is also possible to burn internally, especially when breathing in toxic fumes. Basically, an injury caused by some sort of burn where someone else is at fault who should have taken steps to ensure it didn’t happen can be held accountable for a burn injury. Proving liability for a burn injury however can be a little tricky in some cases, and this is why it’s often a good idea to get a personal injury solicitor to help you.
How To Treat A Burn Or A Scald Injury
When you initially incur a burn or scald injury, the right actions can help make recovery a little easier. Initially, you should stop the burning from carrying on by either dousing any flames, moving the person from where they are, or smothering a fire with blankets. Any jewellery that is worn by the victim close to the area should be then removed, as well as clothing, unless it is stuck to the person. Burns should be cooled with lukewarm or cool running water, and it is essential to keep victims warm.
Cover up the burn with something like cling film, but don’t wrap it, take pain relief if needed and if it is facial burning or involves the eyes, you should take steps to ensure the victim stays upright if possible. This can help to reduce the amount of swelling.
Once initial first aid is done, you should seek medical assistance.
A and E should be attended in the following cases:
- Chemical burns
- Electrical burns
- Victim is under 5 or over 60
- Victim has other injuries
- Victim appears to be going into some sort of shock
- Skin is white and charred
- Deep or large burns (bigger than the person’s hand)
- Victim suffers another medical complaint (Diabetes etc)
- Victim’s burns have blistered and involve the legs, feet, arms, hands or genitals
Eligibility To Make Burn Injury Compensation Claim
To work out whether you’d have cause to launch a burn injury claim, you need to ask yourself a few questions, as follows:
- Was the person that caused the accident negligent or dangerous in their behaviour?
- Did they have a duty of care to keep this from happening?
- Was the burn injury a direct consequence of their behaviour or negligence?
- Did you suffer harm because of this?
- Are you within the time limit for claiming? (Usually three years from the date of accident but can differ if a minor, or if a later condition is put down to the accident. You can call us to check this.)
If the answer is yes, then you should be able to claim. There can be various different examples of people that can be held liable for your claim, depending on the situation. They could be:
If you’re not sure who would be deemed as being liable for your own circumstances, then do get in touch – we can advise you on this.
Explaining The Different Types And Degree Of Burn Injuries
If you’re wondering can you sue for a second-degree burn, then you might want to read the below explanation of what consists of a second-degree burn if you aren’t already aware. You can claim for almost any class of burn if it causes you injury serious enough to leave scarring.
1st degree
Instances where the top skin layer (epidermis) is affected only. It should not blister and while it can cause pain, this should go away quite quickly.
2nd degree
The deeper layers of the skin (dermis) are affected. Over 10 percent of the body affected by this type of burn can mean the victim suffers shock. This is often due to fluid loss.
3rd degree
Most severe burns covering all layers of skin, the epidermis, dermis and fat and tissue underneath are all burnt. Skin grafts may be required, permanent scarring is almost inevitable. 3rd degree burn settlements UK are often higher than those from the other degrees.
Burn Injuries In The Workplace
Can you sue if you get burned at work? The answer is, it depends whose fault it was.
Workplace accident claims are common, but there is a point that needs clarifying to see if you have a claim, and that is whether your employer had taken steps to protect you from harm, such as safety training, risk assessments, providing PPE where necessary and making the workplace as safe as they can.
If they have, then there is a good chance you’ll have a valid claim.
What Workplaces Could Put People At Risk Of A Burn Injury?
Almost any workplace poses a burn risk if the premises catch fire but some come with more risks that others. Kitchens are particularly risky, but employers should also take more care to train staff and reduce risks. Other industries that often come with some risk include construction, engineering, and cleaning to name but a few. However, it doesn’t really matter which industry it is you work in. If you were to suffer a burn injury because your employer were negligent, then you could claim.
Can I claim chemical burn at work compensation from a negligent employer?
There are lots of reasons why you could suffer a burn at work, but let us focus on whether you could claim chemical burn at work compensation specifically.
If you work with chemicals, your employer should take reasonable care to prevent you from foreseeable risks of harm that such chemicals could pose to you. In some cases, it might be appropriate for them to keep such chemicals secured in locked cupboards. They may also need to provide you with PPE to protect you, which could include gloves, facemasks, and even eye masks. If they fail to protect your health and safety while you are working with chemicals, and you suffer injury as a result, you could be eligible to claim compensation.
Are burn injuries at work common?
If you’re wondering about the top causes of injuries at work, we can look at the HSE’s recent statistics. Although none of these include chemical burns injuries, it could be possible to claim chemical burn at work compensation if your employer has failed to protect you from suffering injury.
Road Traffic And Car Accidents Causing Burns
Many people consider car accidents as causing injuries such as broken bones etc, but the truth is, they are quite a common cause of burn injury. The reasons behind this include the following:
- Cars are obviously made from metal in part. When these parts become very hot and make contact with the skin, they can cause burns.
- In addition to this, car fires can cause burn injury. If petrol catches a spark, then this can cause a fire that can be devastating, especially if you cannot get out of the car quickly.
- Other than this, airbags, when they inflate, contain a small explosive charge – these can also cause a burn injury.
If you were burnt in any way because of an RTA, and another road user was at fault – or perhaps the local authority or Highways Agency if it were an issue with the road that caused the accident – then you should be looking into making a claim for burn injury compensation.
Hot Tea, Hot Coffee And Hot Food Burns In Restaurants And Cafes
Hot tea burn
You may think that these are not serious, but if they cause burns that leave scarring, they can have a devastating effect not only on the person’s ability to work, but their self-esteem as well. If you have been served food that is at too high a temperature for you to consume and you suffer burns, or someone spills a hot drink on you on an aeroplane for example, then you might be in a position to claim for your burn injury.
Medical And Chemical Burn Injuries
Whether it’s laser surgery, waxing, or hair removal, if it is not done correctly and with the greatest of care, then it is possible for you to suffer a burn. The utmost care must be taken if you are undergoing any kind of treatment and your practitioner, whether a beautician, surgeon or other clinical practitioner, should have known the risks and taken care to avoid them.
Some cases that could lead to medical and chemical burn injury claims could include:
- Laser hair removal where lack of training or improper care has led to burns to the skin
- Laser surgery where laser has been left on an area too long, or in the wrong place
- Waxing, where wax was too hot to put on skin
- Radiation burns from medical treatment
- Chemical burns from chemically treated areas
Of course, this list isn’t exhaustive as there are so many instances where this could happen. If you’ve suffered a burn or burns from medical treatment or treatment in a beauty clinic, and they could have been prevented with better care, then you could be in a position to claim burn injury compensation.
Damaged Or Faulty Electricals Causing Burn Injuries
Electrical burns can be incredibly painful and could cause more injuries other than burns. However they come about, whether a landlord has failed to make safe the electrics in your rented accommodation, or your employer has not regularly checked machinery before you’ve used it, if you’re burned in this manner, then you could have cause to claim.
Likewise, if you are sold a faulty product, and suffer burns as a result, you might be able to hold the manufacturer or the seller responsible for this.
How Long Do You Have To Make Burn Injury Claims?
In terms of claims time limits, different rules apply depending on the situation. You can learn more about this in the table below:
| Situation | Limit on claiming |
|---|---|
| Workplace accidents | From the date of the accident – 3 years |
| Diseases (Industrial) | From the date of knowledge of disease or diagnosis – 3 Years |
| Criminal incident | From the incident date – 2 Years |
| RTA | From the accident date – 3 Years |
| Fall, slip or trip | From the accident date – 3 Years |
| Child injured – Parent claiming | From the accident date – 3 Years |
| Child injured – Child claiming when of age | From their 18th birthday – 3 years |
What Is The Best Way To Start Burn Injury Claims?
When thinking about starting a claim, there is a lot to consider. One of the most important things to have to hand is details of what’s happened, so it is best you write these down before you forget them. In addition, you must seek medical attention, not only to get the right treatment, but also to ensure that you have proof of the injury. You will also be wise to have photographs of the scene of the incident and your injuries at various stages, including just after the accident if possible. This should not be too difficult to do if you have a camera phone.
One very important thing to consider is where to find a lawyer to help you. In some cases, you can handle claims yourself but it is highly likely, unless you are experienced in the law yourself, that you’d be able to fight as well for the compensation you deserve. A good personal injury solicitor knows just what to put forward to ensure you get the maximum you’re entitled to as per the specifics of your case. Here at Advice.co.uk, we can help to provide you a solicitor that not only has experience in the specific area of the law you need, but also one that works with no payment required upfront.
No Win No Fee Compensation Claims For Burn Injuries
Sadly, some people refuse to make a claim, and leave themselves financially worse off, because they believe – mistakenly – that they can’t afford the legal fees when claiming for hot tea burn or chemical burn at work compensation. The truth is, they need not pay anything out upfront, and only part of their compensation will be used to fund the legal fees after the claim is settled. This amount is capped, and you will know what percentage is to be used for your lawyer before you decide to go ahead. This means there’s really no risk to your bank balance with No Win No Fee claims – as even if your claim doesn’t wind up paying out, you wouldn’t have to pay a legal bill at all. All the risk in these cases is the lawyer’s so you can be sure they’ll work hard to make sure you – and they – get paid.
Why Call Our Friendly Advisors?
The clue is in the name. At Advice.co.uk, we know you want good solid advice you can depend on. We also know that despite the information in this guide being comprehensive, there will be questions pertaining to your claim that we could help answer. Our advice is free, and comes with absolutely no strings attached. You can be sure that if you decide not to take any advice we give you, there will be no issues with that. Deciding to make a claim is a very personal thing, so we won’t ever push you into doing something you don’t want to do.
We make it easier for people to claim compensation for a burn injury, and if you follow our simple three-step process, you’ll benefit from a great service, we can assure you of that.
| Get in touch with Advice.co.uk | Our friendly advisors will assess your position | If you are ready to launch a claim, we can help you do so |
Contact Our Advisors Today About Burn Injury Claims
It’s very easy to get advice from us. You can either use our guides for more information, or call to chat to us on 0161 696 9685. There’s also a contact form you can use to fill in and we’ll get back in touch with you. There’s really nothing to lose by getting advice, and you may find that having your position clarified gives you the confidence you need to go ahead and start a burn injury claim for the compensation that you deserve.
Additional Information On Burn Injury Claims
RIDDOR – Work-related injuries, including burns, can be serious. Find out more from the HSE.
HSE Managing exposure to skin – HSE provide advice on risk management pertaining to the skin.
Fire safety – HSE fire safety in the workplace.
NHS burn injury treatment – Advice from the NHS.
Medical Negligence Claim Calculator – Visit this helpful guide on medical negligence wrongful death claims.
Sexual Abuse Compensation Claims – Read our extensive guide to find out more about claiming for sexual abuse.
Other Useful Compensation Guides
- How To Claim Compensation For A Psychological Injury Guide
- How to Claim Compensation for a Supermarket Accident
- How Much Compensation Do You Get for Assault?
- Public Liability Claims Explained
Thank you for reading our guide on claiming burn injury compensation. Whether you are looking to make burn injury claims against your employer for chemical burn at work compensation or you’ve suffered a hot tea burn on an aeroplane, we could assist you in making such claims.