A burn injury caused by an accident can be excruciatingly painful, and the difference between a severe burn injury and other forms of injury is that serious burn injuries may result in permanent scarring or disfigurement as well. Unlike internal injuries to the organs that can heal without any visible signs of the injury, a burn injury – especially to the face, torso, or other parts of the body – can have a disastrous effect on a person’s esteem and emotional health. Burn injuries often result from exposure to fire or heat, but can also be the result of exposure to electricity, chemicals, radiation, friction, and even extreme cold. If you have become the victim of a burn injury and are thinking of requesting compensation, you may have the law on your side. But what can you expect if you claim compensation for a burn injury? Here, your top questions are answered.
What to ask for compensation
Burn injury claims for compensation are not that different from other personal injury claims, although more consideration is given to burn injury compensation because of the amount of suffering caused and the likelihood of scarring or permanent disfigurement. With burn injuries, you can ask for compensation for the expenses you have had due to the injury, such as visits to the doctor and treatment, and other expenses such as the cost of transport, the cost of care, and the cost of changes you may have to make to your vehicle or home because of your injury.
You can also claim for your loss of income while you are recovering from your injury, and you can make a claim for any suffering, emotional trauma, and emotional pain you have experienced because of your injury.
How much can you expect?
Like other personal injury claims for compensation, compensation for burns does not really have a definitive amount. In other words, there is no fixed number for compensation, and it will only be determined based on several factors. One obvious factor would be the extent of your burn injury and its severity, and another factor would be how it has affected your long-term outlook and profession (and income). As mentioned, burn injuries are more seriously considered compared to other compensation claims because of the pain caused to the injured person and the potentially long-lasting effects (like scarring).
For those who have severe burns that may cover as much as 40 per cent of their body, compensation can go up to £89,000. But there are other factors involved as well, namely:
- Where and how your burn accident occurred; this is essential as it can help establish the liability of the other party, and this, in turn, affects the award amount.
- How severe your injuries are, as mentioned above. The more severe they are, the more you can claim. Those with third-degree burns may be given a higher amount of compensation compared to those with second-degree burns, even in a similar circumstance or situation.
- Whether or not your burn injury was purely accidental, caused by negligence, or intentional.
- The impact of your burn injury on your emotional and psychological health.
- Whether or not you have had to go through surgery, and if so, how much was needed and if you will need surgery in the future as well.
