Burns and scalding can be very nasty injuries often leading to permanent scarring. Many people who have suffered from either injury can often carry physiological injuries too, believing that in some way it was their fault that they sustained an injury but actually this is very often untrue.
People who work in an environment that uses hot substances are more likely to suffer from a burn or scald but your employer should provide suitable equipment to prevent this from happening such as protective clothing and gloves. Plus any equipment that the hot substance is kept in should aim to protect an employee as well.
If you have suffered from one of these types of injuries perhaps you should think carefully about the circumstances of the accident. Do you feel that you were well protected when you were working with the substance that caused you harm? Do you feel measures were in place to prevent the accident from happening? If the answer to these questions is no, then you may wish to consider making a claim for burn or scald injury.
Getting started with a workplace claim
If you decide to make a workplace injury claim then first of all you will need to record all the circumstances of the accident. Try to include as many facts as possible such as the date and time. Also, record if there was any fault with the equipment you were using and could the accident have been prevented?
You will have presumably attended hospital or been seen by your GP and so the records that will have been recorded will support your claim for compensation. If possible, take photographs of your injuries as the more evidence you can obtain the stronger your claim could be.
Many people feel worried when they are considering placing a claim for compensation against your employer but your employer should have an insurance policy in place to cover any such event; this is known as employee liability insurance. There is no reason for your employer to treat you any differently as a result of the claim and if they do they will actually be creating more trouble for themselves.
If you have incurred any expenses or financial loss as a result of your accident then make sure you record these as potentially these can be claimed back from your employer’s insurance.
The expenses you may have incurred are charges for things such as prescription fees or treatment costs. You may have incurred a loss of earning which again is something that can potentially be claimed back. Also, if you have needed any care and assistance whilst you have been recovering, this is something else that can be claimed for, even if you were looked after by a family member.
Please feel free to contact our offices here at the The Injury Lawyers and we will be very happy to discuss your claim with you in more detail and provide you with free, non-obligation legal advice.
