Burn injury claims

It’s a harsh reality that burn accidents happen in all walks of life. There is a risk of suffering burn injuries in the workplace and in the home; in restaurants and at firework displays; in airports and at leisure centres.

If you have been involved in an accident that was not your fault, you have every right to make an injury claim. Fortunately, making a burn claim is usually straightforward with the support of specialist solicitors who can help you make a no win no fee claim for a burn.

Your solicitor will need to be able to demonstrate that someone else (usually a business or public authority) had a legal duty to protect you from the risk of harm, that they breached this duty and you suffered a burn injury as a direct result.

Bear in mind not every burn injury is the result of someone’s negligence or carelessness. For example, government figures show that out of 26,610 accidental fires at home in 2018 to 2019, more than a third were actually caused by misusing equipment or appliances.

But where you believe someone was at fault for your injuries, it is important to take specialist advice about making a no win no fee claim for compensation. For immediate help and guidance on starting your burn injury compensation claim, get in touch for free on 0800 234 6438 or contact our claims form here.

Unfortunately, the risk of injury can arise in many situations and places. Wherever there are hot objects, electricity and hot liquids there’s the risk of burns and scalds.

The two most common places where burns happen are at home and, unsurprisingly, in the workplace. Other causes of burn injury, both in and outside of the home, include:

Vehicle fires are relatively rare following road traffic accidents, but they can happen. Unfortunately, traffic accidents can also cause burns. This is because hot surfaces such as metal, and steam can cause burn and scald injuries.

Vehicle accidents can also cause friction burns and lead to explosions; and fuel can ignite, causing burn injuries. Even faulty airbags can cause burns – sometimes thermal or friction burns, or even a chemical burn if the victim comes into contact with alkali chemicals as a result of the airbag being inflated.

Burn injuries from using defective products are, perhaps, one of the most preventable types of burn injuries. No one expects to buy a product and be injured when they first use it, through no fault of their own. A defective electrical or chemically-based product can cause serious burn injuries to the unsuspecting.

For example, defective or faulty electrical blankets, kitchen appliances, battery-powered products and machine tools can lead to burns through no fault of the user themselves. In these cases, the supplier or manufacturer can be held responsible.

Industrial accidents – these major incidents can lead to serious burn injuries, including thermal burns, for example, where an explosion or serious chemical leak occurs. Common settings for industrial accidents include factories and construction site accidents.

Workers, site visitors and members of the public in the surrounding area risk potentially serious injuries and even death, for which someone should be held accountable.

Sadly, house fires, and office and warehouse fires, take place every week across the UK. Though 18% of all warehouse files are deliberate, electrical and lighting problems are the next most common cause.

In July 2021, a collision between three robots in an Ocado warehouse caused the warehouse to go up in flames. It’s not unusual to hear of a serious fire at a warehouse storing fireworks in the Autumn in the run up to Bonfire Night. Usually, this would be the result of an unsafe method of storage for which someone must be held accountable.

Unfortunately, chemical burns are not uncommon and can happen in surprising ways. Most people know that chemicals are found in batteries, mobile phones and similar products. But it’s not so well-known that chemicals can also found in phone accessories, hair dyes and skin products, magic erasers, and many other consumer products.

Chemical burns can lead to serious skin problems and scarring and it’s only right that if you or a family member has suffered chemical burns from a product, they should be able to make a burn injury compensation claim.

A burn injury can be caused as a result of medical negligence. Surgeons sometimes use a diathermy, for instance, to seal a blood vessel during a surgical procedure. It uses heat via an electrical current, which can cause second degree burns if done without due care and attention.

While some accidents and incidents are not preventable, the fact is that the vast majority of them are. So if you have suffered burn injuries, whatever the cause, find out if you can bring an injury claim to ensure someone is held responsible for what has happened.

Even if you think you were partly to blame, don’t assume you can’t make a burn injury claim. To make a medical negligence claim, get in touch with us for free and our advisers can talk you through the incident and your injuries. Specialist solicitors will provide clear advice on your legal right to bring an injury claim and the no win no fee claims process.

If you suffer burns following an accident at work, then you should be able to claim compensation against your employer.

There is a significant risk of a burn injury in the workplace, particularly if you work in a factory or warehouse setting. Even in other work environments, where there is electricity and/or chemicals, such as labs, there is a risk of burn injuries.

Fortunately, the law provides robust protection for UK workers from the risk of personal injury: employers have strict legal responsibilities and obligations under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 to ensure the workplace is safe, including minimising the risk of fire and burn injuries.

They must, for example, carry out regular ‘risk assessments’ and act on risks identified, whether that’s issuing adequate protective equipment or ensuring the safe use of equipment. In the case of employer negligence which results in burns, you can bring a claim for burn injury compensation against the employer.

Examples of burn injuries in an accident at work for which people have received burn compensation include:

• Restaurant kitchen injuries from deep fat fryers; commercial ovens and other appliances
• Scald injuries in hospital and health settings
• Burn injuries caused by hot pipes, radiators and other hot surfaces
• Electrical burns – Electrical injuries can cause serious thermal burns, as well as electric shocks and burns from exposed wires or poorly insulated electrical equipment
• Burns from hot surfaces and liquids, hot grease and fat
• Handling or inhaling dangerous chemicals

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) takes burns injuries in the workplace seriously. The law states that an employer must inform the HSE of any burn or scald which:

• covers more than 10% of the whole body’s total surface area
• causes significant damage to the eyes, respiratory system or other vital organs

So, where you or a loved one have suffered burns at work it is wise to check if your employer has reported it formally. This will help you in your burn injury compensation claim.

If you’ve suffered from a burn injury at work and it was your employer’s fault, you can claim for burn injury compensation. Your injury claim will actually be against your employer’s insurer under its liability insurance rather than against the employer itself, so you need not worry that it will have a negative financial impact on your employer.

Find out more about making a work accident claim

A burn is, to be put it simply, a heat (or extreme cold) injury to the skin. If it is a serious burn, the injury can go deeper beyond the top layer of skin. Anyone suffering burns caused by someone else can claim for compensation for a burn injury.

Burns are usually caused by dry heat, whether that’s a hot iron or metal, burning plastic or even friction burns. More serious cases – such as third degree burns – may result in white or charred skin and may be surprisingly painless.

Perhaps surprisingly, frostbite is one of the causes of burn injuries. Anyone working in refrigerated or freezing conditions is at risk of a frostbite injury or burn injuries from handling freezing objects or liquids.

Scalds are a type of burn injury but they are caused by hot liquid or steam rather than a dry heat. The surface damage of a scald injury is typically red, painful skin penetrating the layer of skin that quickly blisters and eventually peels.

Chemical burns are caused by acids, alkalis or other chemicals and can cause a severe burn without immediate medical help. It would not be unusual to need specialist care, such as skin grafts and physiotherapy if you have suffered a chemical burn.

Whatever the type of burn, it is vital that immediate medical attention is sought to minimise the long term damage done to the area of the burn.

The skin is the largest organ of the human body and its natural ability to heal itself is remarkable. But if you have suffered severe third degree burn injuries, your recovery may not be as quick as you would hope for. You may, for instance, suffer internal damage or deep tissue as a direct result and you may suffer long term nerve damage.

Amputation, while rare, can also be a consequence of a serious burn injury. Some victims can be so severely injured with third degree burns that the best medical support is to amputate a limb, or, eg a finger or foot because circulation to the area of injury cannot be restored.

Burn injuries are divided into four classifications to determine their seriousness. This is useful because it reflects the nature of our skin and its different layers – and the implications of a burn for our bodies.

The different types of burns are:

• First degree burns

  These are the least serious. They are superficial and affect only the first skin layer (the epidermis), causing redness but do not result in skin blistering.

• Second degree burns

  These cause burn injuries to both the first and second layers of the skin (the epidermis and dermis). They result in blistering, potential swelling and thickening of the skin.

• Third degree burns

  These are severe burns, causing damage to the epidermis, dermis and underlying tissue. Sometimes, the deeper tissue can be destroyed. Skin grafts are likely to become necessary.

• Fourth degree burns

  These are the most severe type of burn. They damage all the skin layers, the underlying deeper tissue, fat and sometimes the muscle and bone. Fourth degree burns can cause life changing injuries and may prove fatal.

The potential impact of a serious burn injury cannot be underestimated. The more serious the burn, the greater the risk of secondary infections and time needed to heal.

If you or a loved one has suffered serious life-changing burns, you need to speak with sympathetic lawyers who understand exactly what you are going through and the extent of the medical treatment you may need. You may be looking at the prospect of skin grafts and other treatment to help you recover.

Thankfully, first degree burns can usually be treated using first aid measures, but you should still be able to make a claim for compensation if it was someone’s else’s fault. Contact us to discuss your injuries and how we can guide you with your claim for a burn injury.

Yes, you may be able to but it could be more difficult to prove. The fact that a first degree burn is minor does not mean it’s any less distressing. Superficial injuries are injuries nonetheless, and it’s only right and fair that whoever caused it should pay a fair level of compensation in recognition of this.

However, your solicitor would have to demonstrate that the other party (eg your employer, if it happened at work) breached their duty of care and that the burn happened as a direct result. You would also be expected to produce medical evidence that you had medical treatment of the burn, otherwise proving it could be difficult.

So, if your injuries are the result of someone else’s negligence, you can make a claim for a burn injury – however mild the injury. But evidence will be needed. Your specialist solicitor will be able to talk these issues through with you.

Call us free today on 0800 234 6438 and we can talk you through the process of claiming compensation. You can also contact us using our online claim form or ask for a call back. We can arrange a free consultation with specialist personal injury solicitors who will give legal advice as to whether you can make a no win no fee claim for first degree burns.

If you’ve suffered burns and the incident wasn’t your fault, you’ve every right to make a claim for a burn injury. Whether it happened at work or in restaurant, at home from using a defective product or in a supermarket, it’s important anyone bringing burn injury claims recovers the compensation they deserve.

The money you receive in successful personal injury claims won’t wind the clock back, but it will go a long way to help with your recovery as you get back to normal.

You can contact a trained and sympathetic legal adviser free on 0800 234 6438 with the details of your case, or fill out the online form if you prefer.  You can also request a call back if you wish. There’s no obligation to carry on with a claim, but the sooner you think about making your burn injury claim the better, while details are fresh in your mind.

Bear in mind those making personal injury claims have three years from the date of the accident to start a no win no fee claim, otherwise it may be time barred.

Your personal injury lawyer takes burn injury claims on a on a no win no fee basis, meaning that if you don’t win, you won’t have to pay out any money. When you speak to them, they may well ask for information to help with your case, such as where the accident happened, what medical attention you received, the suffering caused to you and any witnesses to what happened.

If possible, keep a photographic record of your burn injuries and a diary of your recovery. Your specialist solicitor will use all this information to help you claim the maximum amount you deserve.

Like many injuries, burns vary hugely in severity, which means that how much compensation you receive will depend on the nature and extent of your burns and your pain and suffering. There are a number of types of compensation you can claim:

General damages – This covers compensation for your actual injuries and pain and suffering. Claims will include an amount of compensation for, eg permanent scarring and disfigurement and their on your life; and other physical side effects of serious burns, such as the impact on limb movement.

Psychological harm – Severe burns can cause psychological suffering as well as physical suffering, particularly if the injury is visible. Facial scarring, for example, can completely change your self-confidence and zest for life. Once outgoing, you may have become very self-conscious – making you worried about going out and unable to enjoy an active social life.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is also a risk where a serious incident has resulted in significant burn injuries. Flashbacks and nightmares, distressing memories, stress and irritability can be a very real problem for burns victims, requiring counselling and other forms of therapeutic help to come to terms with what has happened.

Fortunately, the law recognises the reality of psychological harm as a direct result of personal injury. Burn injury compensation claims may even be able to include the cost of private therapy to help the individual come to terms with what happened. If necessary, your solicitor will arrange for a specialist report from a psychologist or psychiatrist as evidence of your PTSD.

How much compensation you receive for psychological harm following a burn injury depends on to what extent your omental and emotional health has been and continues to be affected. You can be sure your personal injury solicitor will work hard to win maximum compensation on your behalf.

Special damages

In addition to general damages, your solicitor will claim for your actual financial losses – past and future. These are called ‘special damages’ and claims cover items such as:

• Loss of earnings, bonuses and overtime
• Prescription costs and other medical expenses, e.g. the cost of further surgery
• Rehabilitation costs including the cost of long term physiotherapy
• The costs of further surgery, such as skin grafts, if you need to pay privately

It is important to keep all receipts, invoices and pay slips of losses to pass onto your solicitor in due course. These will be used to build your claim for compensation.

There are many factors at play when deciding how much burn claims are worth in the UK. This makes it challenging to say early on what compensation amounts you’re likely to receive when you claim compensation. Your solicitor will be able to discuss the claims values with you in more detail once they have more information about your own injuries.

As a rough guide, these are some useful estimates of how much compensation has been secured for burn injuries:

• Burns that cause minor scarring (including the face): £1,710 – £3,530
• Burns causing moderate facial scarring: £3,950 – £13,750
• Burns that cause significant facial scarring: £9,110 – £30,090
• Severe facial scarring: £29,780 – £97,330
• Burns that scar the arms, hands, chest, back and legs: £7,830 – £22,730
• Severe non-facial burns: Over £98,000
• Burns that cover at least 40% of the body: Over £104,830

Chemical burns can cause long-term pain and suffering, depending on their severity. While some people might recover from their injuries, others will deal with ongoing complications

Your compensation amount will depend on the severity of your chemical burns:

• Superficial epidermal burns: These burns can be painful, but they impact the outer layers of your skin and rarely blister.
• Superficial dermal burns: Dermal burns impact the epidermis and dermis, often causing blisters.
• Deep dermal burns: Also known as partial-thickness burns, these injuries cause ongoing pain, blotchy skin and blisters.
• Full-thickness: Severe damage to the dermis, epidermis and subcutis with blackened tissue.

While chemical burns pay similar awards to traditional burns, there are some differences to be aware of. They include:

• Moderate to severe facial scarring: £17,960 – £97,330
• Hair damage: £3,950 to £11,020

As chemical burns result in significant pain and other complications, the amount you receive might be more based on how the injuries impact your life.

Second degree burns can cause significant damage and long-term complications, making it hard for individuals to work. If your accident occurred at work, you’re entitled to claim worker’s compensation.

The government’s Workplace Compensation Legislation ensures employees can take action against their employers. All employers must have insurance in place, and you’ll receive money from their provider in the event of an accident.

The amount of second degree burns compensation depends on how the injuries impact your life and the degree of negligence.

You can get an initial rough estimate of the amount of compensation you could claim, by using our online compensation calculator.

We understand how heart-breaking it can be to see a child injured. Burns involving children can be particularly distressing, but fortunately – making burn injury claims on their behalf are possible.

If your child has suffered a burn injury, you can claim compensation for them, so if you’re considering making a claim, get in touch with us early to start a no win no fee personal injury claim.

If your child has been injured while at nursery or school, or in the care of another person or organisation, personal injury claims will be made against their insurance company under their liability insurance policy.

Burns sustained at public and private firework displays happen all too often and compensation claims can follow. While public firework and bonfire events are great Autumn events as the nights draw in, the risks of injury are clear.

Sadly, children will often be the victims. In fact, more than 550 children under the age of 16 are taken to accident and emergency departments in the four weeks around bonfire night alone, according to the Children’s Burns Trust.

Not only that, but most of the injuries caused by fireworks are to the eyes, head or hands – the exposed parts of the body – with the risk that the victim will be scarred for life. A handheld sparkler, for example, can reach temperatures of 20 times the boiling point of water.

However, the law does not permit public firework displays to be a ‘free for all’ precisely because of the injury risk. Organisers of firework displays and public bonfires are required to follow firm rules laid out in health and safety legislation. The HSE advises that:

• Stewards should be provided to control the crowd and they should be dressed in easily identifiable clothing
• Organisers should ensure the stewards are constantly on the look-out for emergencies
• People must be kept away from areas such as the firing and fallout zones
• Crown numbers must be controlled to avoid overcrowding
• Spectators must not be permitted to bring their own fireworks
• Fireworks are not to be sold at the site

If the organisers of a firework display fail to follow the health and safety legislation and/or the advice given, and accident and injury results – compensation claims can be made.

There are also strict laws surrounding the provision, storage and use of fireworks. These include the fact that fireworks (including sparklers) can only be bought for private use on specific dates. Outside of those dates, fireworks can only be bought from licensed shops:

If you or your child or other loved one has been burned due to negligence involving fireworks or a public bonfire event, you may be able to claim compensation .