Burn injuries can be among the most painful, debilitating and costly injuries that workers suffer. If you suffered a serious burn injury on the job, it is important that you protect your legal rights. You may be eligible to obtain workers’ compensation benefits or to bring a legal claim against the party responsible for your injury.
Contact the law firm of Frank M. Eidson, P.A., without delay.
We will fully evaluate your case in a free consultation and help you to understand your legal options. We are available to serve clients throughout Orlando and surrounding areas in central Florida.
What are Burn Injuries?
Burn injuries may be caused by open flame or contact with hot objects. These are called “thermal contact” burns. Burns can also result from:
- Contact with caustic chemicals
- Exposure to X-rays, ultraviolet (UV) rays or other types of radiation
- Electrical currents.
Burns are classified according to their severity:
- First-degree burns – Damage to the outer layer of skin (epidermis) marked by redness but not blistering.
- Second-degree burns – Damage to the outer skin and underlying layer (dermis) that includes blistering and sometimes swelling. A deep second-degree burn can leave a scar.
- Third-degree burns – Burns that reach under the dermis and destroy nerves. Skin may be stiff, waxy white, leathery or tan. Nerve damage may cause the victim to feel numbness instead of pain.
- Fourth-degree burns – Damage to muscles, tendons and bones. These burns can be fatal. They leave the skin blackened or charred. Because of extensive nerve damage, a fourth-degree burn victim may not feel pain.
Why Do Burn Injuries Happen on the Job in Florida?
Employees in many workplaces are exposed to the risk of burn injuries from:
- Open flame and explosions
- Hot tools, equipment and machinery
- Sparks
- Electrical currents
- Low-level radiation
- Flammable and corrosive chemicals and gases.
Fire can break out in any workplace for a variety of reasons.
Thermal contact burns without an actual fire can occur if a worker’s skin, hair or clothing comes into contact with overheated equipment or if a worker’s clothing is ignited by a spark.
Workers who come into contact with electrical currents as part of their job can be severely burned by the heat generated from the flow of electricity through their body.
Harmful chemicals spilled or splashed onto the skin or in the eyes can cause severe burn injuries, including third-degree burns and blindness.
Who is At Risk of Burn Injuries at Work?
Those who work around open flame or hot tools, equipment or machinery face the highest risk of burn injuries in the workplace. These employees include welders, laborers, mechanics, cooks and other food service workers.
Teenage restaurant employees frequently suffer burn injuries, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports. In particular, teens working as cooks risk workplace burn injuries because of their inexperience and the pressure to “keep up” during busy periods.
How Can a Florida Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Help with Your Burn Injury?
A severe burn injury can be a life-altering event not only for you but for your family as well. A serious burn injury may cause disfigurement that will require a lengthy and painful recovery involving multiple skin graft operations and/or plastic surgery. The complications of a workers’ compensation claim are a distraction you don’t need.
At Frank M. Eidson, P.A., we can organize the paperwork and other evidence required for your Florida workers’ compensation claim and serve as your point person throughout the claim process. If warranted, we can also seek compensation for your losses through a third-party injury claim.
Call or contact us online today for a free initial consultation.
For More Information:
9 Common Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Workers Compensation Case