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Burns and Scalds Compensation Claims
Introduction to Burn Injuries and Scald Injuries
About Burns and Scalds
First Degree, Second Degree or Third Degree Burns
How Burns are classified
Common causes of Burn Injuries and Scald Injuries
People at risk from Burns and Scalds
News Stories we have published about Burns and Scalds
Burn and Scald Personal Injury Compensation Claims we have dealt with
Examples of Burns and Scalds Compensation Claims we have dealt with
Clients we have helped with Burn and Scald Injury Compensation Claims
Burn Injury and Scald Injury Compensation Claim Advice
How to start a Burn Injury Compensation Claim
Introduction to Burn Injuries and Scald Injuries
About Burns and Scalds
Burns and scalds are very painful injuries and even a small burn or scald can remain painful for a long period of time. More serious burns and scalds can cause nerve damage, tendon, ligament or muscle damage, permanent scarring or even death. Scarring can also contract and cause reduced mobility and psychological distress.
As any part of your body can be burned or scalded the severity of the injuries and the treatment needed often depends on the part of the body affected. For example if a limb is very badly burned it may be amputated. Plastic or cosmetic surgery may be needed.
We most commonly associate burns with heat; however, they can also be caused by cold, electricity, chemicals, radiation, sunlight or friction. Scalds are caused by hot liquids or steam.
If you have been the victim of a burn injury or scald injury due to someone else's negligence you may be entitled to make a burn injury compensation claim. For more information contact us on 08000 224 224.
First Degree, Second Degree or Third Degree Burns
How Burns are classified
Normally, burns are classified by one of three categories, first degree burns, second degree burns and third degree burns. Occasionally burns are classified as being fourth, fifth or even six degree burns but as these burns most often result in death the terms will usually only be used as part of the post-mortem examination.
First Degree burns are the most minor burns. They will normally cause the skin to appear red and although there will be some pain, it should not last too long depending on the size of the area affected. With first degree burns only the very top layer of skin is damaged (the epidermis) therefore there should be no blistering of the skin.
Second degree burns are more serious than first degree burns and will generally be more painful (unless the nerves have been destroyed). As deeper layers of the skin are affected, the skin will look bright red and blistering will probably occur which can lead to risk of infection once they have burst. As fluids from the body will be lost through the site of the burn, the skin may look wet. If the burn covers more than 10% of the body the burn victim may go into shock due to fluid loss.
Third degree burns (or full thickness burns as they are sometimes known) are the most serious of the three main categories of burns. The skin will be completely burned away and damage may have been caused to the muscles, ligaments and tendons beneath. As the nerves will have been destroyed the victim may feel no pain but even so will be at a risk of death if the burned area is large. Third degree burns take a long time to heal and will almost always leave permanent scarring - skin grafts from unaffected areas may also be required.
If you have suffered a burn or a scald due to someone else's negligence you may be able to make a burn injury compensation claim. To find out if we can help you with your claim, complete one of our online personal injury compensation claim forms.
Common causes of Burn Injuries and Scald Injuries
People at risk from Burns and Scalds
Obviously anyone can be burned or scalded but young children and older people often suffer worse injuries because they tend to have more delicate skin.
At Thompsons Solicitors, some of the most common burn injury claims and scald injury claims we deal with are caused by:
Accidents at Work
Road Accidents
Accidents in Schools or Nurseries
Accident during Surgeries or Operations
Accidents in other Public Places
If you or someone you know has suffered a burn injury or a scald injury due to someone else's negligence then you may be able to make a personal injury claim for compensation. Contact us on 08000 224 224 for more information.
Whilst at work, it is your employer's duty to keep you safe and avoid accidents at work. It is not only workers in the industrial sector that are at risk from burns and scalds at work but every worker. Even if you work in what you think is a relatively risk-free environment such as an office, you could be at risk from burns caused by electronic equipment or scalds from a kettle or hot drink.
The risk of burns and scalds should be eliminated by the employer wherever possible but if a risk still remains in the workplace the employees should be provided with appropriate safety wear (PPE). They should also have undergone proper health and safety training on how to keep themselves safe and follow correct safety procedures to avoid dangerous practices in the workplace.
It is important that all machinery and tools are in good working order and well maintained as dangerous machinery and tools can be the cause of burns or scalds in the workplace.
Floor space and walkways should always be kept free from hazards and well maintained. Even something as minor as a damaged carpet could cause a serious burn injury or scald injury if an employee is carrying a hot object when they trip or slip at work.
When we think of injuries caused by road accidents we immediately think of whiplash, cuts and bruises or even broken bones but road accidents often result in burn injuries too.
Due to the fact that most new cars are fitted with at least one airbag these days, burn injuries from road traffic accidents are not unusual. When an airbag inflates, a small explosion needs to take place to allow this to happen and although airbags can be lifesaving pieces of equipment, they often lead to burns being suffered by the driver or passengers in the vehicle.
At Thompsons Solicitors we have also dealt with personal injury compensation claims for motorists who have suffered burns from faulty products in their vehicle such as defective heated seats.
Although it is not a common occurrence, motor vehicles do sometimes catch fire after a collision or sometimes due to a fault with the car itself without a collision occurring. In cases like this, horrific burns can be suffered and the injuries are sometimes fatal.
Accidents in Schools or Nurseries
Children often suffer more from a burn or scald injury due to the sensitive nature of their skin; therefore it is important to ensure that the environment they are in is kept safe from hazards.
Some of the most common causes of burn and scald injuries to children involve staff from schools, nurseries or playgroups leaving hot drinks within the reach of children or hot pipes and radiators being left exposed.
Accident during Surgeries or Operations
Due to the nature of some operations or surgeries, equipment needs to be used which can burn or set fire to objects it comes into contact with.
Unfortunately, at Thompsons Solicitors, we have dealt with clinical negligence claims where a person has awoken from a general anaesthetic to find that they have been burned during their operation.
Accidents in other Public Places
A lot of burn injuries and scald injuries happen while people are out in a public place. For example in a restaurant or cafe, hot food or drinks can be spilled by members of staff
If you or someone you know has suffered a burn or scald injury due to someone else's negligence you may be entitled to make a personal injury compensation claim. For more information, complete one of our online personal injury compensation claim forms.
News Stories we have published about Burns and Scalds
Burn and Scald Personal Injury Compensation Claims we have dealt with
In the past we have published news stories on our website about burn injury accident compensation claims and scald injury compensation claims we have dealt with. To read a selection of these, follow the links below or to read all of our news stories, visit our personal injury news page.
Gas blast victim compensated after support from Unite Legal Services
Factory worker who needed skin graft receives compensation
Union condemns insurer for underhand £1,700 offer to crush victim in case which settles for £122,000
Coca Cola factory worker compensated after caustic acid burns to eyes
Self employed pipe fitter compensated after contractor’s health and safety failures
Electrician left unable to work
Shop worker compensated after burning hand in fish fryer
Gamekeeper saved by son receives compensation
£300,000 for factory worker’s arm / hand crushed by machine
Rail worker received £9,750 compensation
Foundry worker compensated after horrific accident
Factory worker receives damages after burn injury
Construction worker buried in cement
Factory worker receives £100,000 for permanent eye damage
Trainee doctor exposed to dangerous levels of chlorine
Council worker suffers electric shock from faulty equipment
GMB member’s sight affected by unsuitable safety goggles
Delivery Driver recovers compensation after exposure to Diesel
Huge payout for Corus blast victim
If you or someone you know has been the victim of a burn or scald and you would like to know if a claim for compensation is possible, contact us on 08000 224 224.
Examples of Burns and Scalds Compensation Claims we have dealt with
Clients we have helped with Burn and Scald Injury Compensation Claims
Thompsons is the most experienced trade union and personal injury law firm in the UK. We have teams of specialist personal injury solicitors based in a network of offices across the UK who are experienced in dealing with claims for compensation relating to burn injuries and scald injuries.
Below you will find examples of some of the burn injury claims we have dealt with over the years.
Oven Gloves not provided to Cook
In this case our client was employed as a cook in a home for elderly people. She was removing a tray of meat from the oven using an oven cloth when the door of the oven swung closed onto her arm. The cook sustained burn injuries to her arm and with help from Thompsons Solicitors made a successful claim for compensation against her employer.
The cook's employers were found to be at fault for her accident at work because they had failed to supply her with long oven gloves to use even though reports showed that the oven door had a tendency to swing closed.
Chemical Burns to Knees caused by Concrete
In this case our client was employed as a mason / pavier and was sent by his employers to lay a concrete driveway. Although he was experienced working with bitumen and tarmac he had only been carrying out mason work for approximately ten months.
His employers failed to provide him with the necessary safety clothing (PPE) to complete his job safely such as knee pads and as a result he suffered chemical burns to his knees from the lime in the concrete.
With help from Thompsons' specialist personal injury solicitors he was awarded compensation from his employers.
Teenager burned by Firework
In this case our client was a teenage girl. She was walking along a street and passing a public house when without warning, a lit firework was thrown at her which exploded as it made contact with her. Her face and shoulder were badly burned and she needed extensive hospital treatment including skin grafts. Despite the treatment she received she was left with permanent scars.
With help from trade union, Unison and Thompsons' specialist personal injury solicitors she recovered over £40,000 compensation from the person who threw the firework at her - he was a professional footballer and was prosecuted by Police.
If you or someone you know has been the victim of a burn or scald injury due to someone else's negligence you may be able to make a personal injury claim for compensation. For more information, complete one of our online personal injury compensation claim forms.
Burn Injury and Scald Injury Compensation Claim Advice
How to start a Burn Injury Compensation Claim
If you or someone you know has suffered a burn injury or scald injury due to someone else's negligence, telephone us now for accurate claim advice.
There are strict time limits in place to make any injury claim. For further information, contact us or visit our Questions Answered page.
Thompsons Solicitors are experts in all personal injury matters and we have a specialist Serious Injury Team to deal with cases involving catastrophic injuries. We will be able to advise you whether or not you have a valid claim for compensation. Our specialist personal injury lawyers will be happy to talk you through the process of making a claim in plain English and will be happy to answer any questions or queries you may have. Telephone us now on 08000 224 224 or complete one of our online personal injury compensation claim forms.
Contact us about your accident or injury
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