Burns are some of the most painful injuries that a person can suffer from an on-the-job injury. Depending on how serious the burn is, a person may face a long recovery that may require medications to fight infection, surgery, skin grafts, or other therapies. During this time, it may be impossible to return to normal job duties or to work at all.
When you are hurt at work, your injury may be covered by workers’ compensation. Working with an attorney who is experienced in workers’ compensation burn injury claims in Pasadena helps you maximize your chances of getting a settlement that will actually compensate you for your physical and financial losses, including future care and lost wages. At Oktanyan Law Firm, APC, our skilled catastrophic injury lawyer is ready to help you with your case.
How Do Burn Injuries Happen at Work?
Depending on the nature of their job, workers in Pasadena face many risks that can cause burns. Some of the different types of burns include:
- Flame
- Flash
- Scald
- Grease
- Contact
- Electrical
- Chemical
Some workers may suffer from multiple types of burns depending on what caused their on-the-job accident.
Burn injuries range from first-degree to the highly destructive fourth-degree level. Several variables influence the classification of a burn’s severity, including the cause of the burn and the size, depth, and placement on the victim’s body. Depending on the extent and location of the burns, an injured person may require multiple types of medical assistance during their recovery. During the recovery period immediately after the accident, the victim may require hospitalization, sometimes at a specialized burn center. The burn center can provide proper bandaging, wound care, infection control, and skin grafting if necessary.
Once the patient is past the initial recovery phase, they may move to a skilled nursing facility or an inpatient rehabilitation facility for further treatment. Even after they are discharged and allowed to return home, burn victims may need to visit outpatient facilities for further therapies or treatments. During this time, workers may be partially or totally unable to return to their jobs or to their normal duties.
Workers’ Compensation for Burn Victims in California
Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system that is in place to protect people who get hurt at their job, regardless of what caused the accident or who was responsible. This is an advantage for workers since they do not have to prove that the employer’s negligence caused the accident or demonstrate why they were not to blame. However, the claim must be made promptly and correctly to maximize the chances of a good recovery.
First, workers need to report an accident to their employer as soon as possible, but in any case within 30 days. After that, workers typically have a year in California to formally initiate a workers’ compensation claim, but sooner is almost always better.
Remember that insurance companies may try to deny a claim or pay a reduced amount based on a burn claim unless the claim fully demonstrates the losses suffered by the burn victim. Having a Pasadena workers’ comp attorney on your side can force insurance companies to take your burn injury claim seriously.
Reach Out to Our Pasadena Attorney for Help With Your Workers’ Compensation Burn Injury Case
Burn victims may face a long and painful recovery, but they do not have to face it without support. A workers’ compensation burn injury claim in Pasadena can help you and your family regain financial security and ensure that you get the medical care you need. An experienced attorney who will advocate for you fiercely can be your partner during your journey.
At Oktanyan Law Firm, APC, we are focused on getting you back to your life. With years of experience helping people with burn-related workers’ compensation claims, we are here for you. Contact us today to get started.