Over one-third of all workplace burn injuries occur in restaurants. It’s easy to see why. Restaurant workers work in a high-stress, high-danger environment.
It’s easy to forget about safety protocols in the middle of a dinner rush. Unfortunately, one mistake can lead to a severe burn injury.
Restaurant workers account for most workplace burn injuries, but they can happen anywhere.
Were you burned on the job? Do you wonder how much compensation you’ll receive for a burn injury? Read on to find out.
How Severe is Your Burn?
Doctors classify burns into three categories.
First-degree, second-degree, and third-degree. Your possible settlement depends on the severity of your burn injury.
- First-Degree: Injury to the outermost layer of skin with no blistering.
- Second-Degree: A deeper burn of the epidermis resulting in blistering and an open wound.
- Third-Degree: A very deep burn that affects fat, muscle, and bone tissue.
Not All Burns Make Good Lawsuits
A first-degree burn isn’t a great candidate for a lawsuit. They aren’t severe enough to warrant medical treatment. You won’t miss work.
There are exceptions. A large first-degree burn could merit some form of compensation.
A burn injury attorney often handles suits for second or third-degree burns. If you’ve suffered one of these burns and need an attorney, have a look at these experts.
Factors That Increase a Burn Injury Settlement
Not all burn injuries are the same, and not all are worthy of a lawsuit. Take the restaurant example.
A burn, even a second-degree burn, might be an accident. If your workplace follows all OSHA guidelines, you might be out of luck. Receiving a settlement in a burn injury case means proving negligence.
- Severity: The worse your burn the more money you’ll receive.
- Permanence: Scarring or disfigurement, especially cosmetic, could get you a larger settlement.
- Loss of Income: A long or permanent work absence is a contributing settlement factor.
- Medical Expenses: This is another way your attorney proves severity.
Gross Negligence
Negligence is the failure to behave in a way that prevents harm and injury. It is also a failure to act upon circumstances to prevent harm.
Negligence is defined by its lack of intent. The defendant in the case didn’t intend to cause injury through their negligence.
Gross negligence is at a higher level. It says that the defendant acted in a careless and reckless manner.
Let’s say you suffer a second-degree burn because your boss didn’t fix a malfunctioning deep fryer. That’s negligence.
Your boss forced you back to work. Lack of immediate treatment caused a more severe injury.
This is gross negligence.
Injury cases where your attorney can prove gross negligence see a higher settlement.
How Much Will You Receive?
It depends on the circumstances of your case.
Some settlements are as little as $40,000. Some go as high as $1,000,000. Your best case for the largest possible settlement for a burn injury is to hire an attorney.
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