Claims for burn injuries are frequently filed in the United Kingdom because many jobs involve chemicals, fire, or steam that can leave you burned if thee right procedures are not followed. Burns are some of the most painful injuries that somebody can have. With a minor burn it is said that the pain is more intense than with a more serious burn. That is because serious burns will damage the nerve endings stopping the signals that the nerve endings send to the brain about the pain.

If you or someone you know has been burned and it was not your fault you should consider talking with a solicitor about filing a compensation claim. Severe burns can affect you tremendously, the way you live, the activities you can do, and your career for the rest of your life. Compensation for burn injuries can be vital for your recovery if you have had to give up work or need full time care and don’t have the finances to cover such costs.

Where do the Majority of Severe Burns Occur?

The most frequently reported place where people sustained severe burns was in their own homes. If you suffer burns at home because of your own carelessness you won’t be entitled to claim.

The following places are often reported as the scene where severe burn injuries occurred:

• On the job in restaurants, factories, and other locations.
• In car accidents.
• At childcare facilities, including private childcare facilities where the child is kept in a private residence.
• Using fireworks, and at public fireworks displays.

Children and Burn Injury Claims

Accidents that cause children to suffer burn injuries account for around thirty seven thousand incidents each year. Of those children seventy six percent of them are younger than five years of age.

When a child is severely burned they often require years of surgery in order to treat them. Skin grafts and other painful procedures may have to be performed as the child grows. A severe burn on a child can affect them physically, emotionally, and psychologically.

Children cannot file burn injury claims themselves for obvious reasons, but their legal guardians, or parents, can file a claim on their behalf if the burns are because of negligence, or a faulty product for example. When a solicitor submits a compensation claim for a child who has suffered burns they will claim for pain and suffering and also take into consideration how the burns will affect the child as they mature, what further treatment will be required (if any), will they require full time care. This will all be calculated and included in any claim for burn injuries.

Work Related Burn Injury Claims

Work related injury claims affect thousands of people each year in the United Kingdom. A large number of careers involve tasks that can cause burns or scalds. The majority of burns or scalds that happen at work places are fortunately relatively minor ones. Even minor burns or scalds can be very painful however and compensation may still be sought if negligence has been the cause.

Severe burns or scalds that occur may affect the individual for the remainder of their life. A severe burn or scald can leave a person incapacitated, having to have surgery to graft skin, and having to stay in hospitals, and often require full time care. Major scars from burns often affect how people think of themselves and they cause emotional instability in the individual. The psychological impact on an individual will also be considered and compensated for where applicable.

You should speak to a solicitor about filing a personal injury claim that will help you to be financially prepared to treat your burns properly.

Employer Responsibilities

According to the Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations of 1999, each employer in the United Kingdom is required to do everything they can to prevent an employee from being injured while performing their job. The employer must provide the employee with:

• A safe work environment. This includes a work area that is free of slipping and tripping hazards.
• Equipment to do the work that are routinely maintained and function correctly.
• Protective clothing where needed.
• Training on how to use the equipment and how to do the job.
• Knowledge of where safety exits and fire extinguishers are located.

An employer has to make a report to the Executive over Health and Safety regulations if any of their employees are burned or scalded over more than ten percent of their body. The employer must also report to the Executive over Health and Safety regulations if an employee suffers a burn or a scald that causes severe injury to their eyes, their respiratory system, or to any of their vital organs.

Firework Display Safety Regulations

When arranging a fireworks display that will be attended by the public the Executive of Health and Safety regulations issues advice to help the coordinators create a safe display. Fireworks should be considered dangerous as they are explosives after all, and if displays are not properly handled the spectators can be injured. If you are injured at a pubic fireworks display you should contact a solicitor for advice about filing a claim for burn injuries.