While no workplace injury should be taken lightly, a burn injury can be especially traumatic and painful. If you suffer a burn at work, you are most likely entitled to recover workers’ compensation benefits. You may be uncertain of the ramifications of your injury, however, or which benefits you are owed. If you sustained a burn in the workplace, it is in your best interest to consult a knowledgeable Riverside and San Bernardino County burn injury lawyer to assist you in pursuing workers’ compensation benefits. At Law Office of Joseph Richards, P.C., we have substantial experience in assisting injured workers in the pursuit of permanent or temporary disability benefits, as well as other benefits related to injury. Our main office is in Orange County, and we have a second office in Riverside County.
Burns can be caused by a variety of sources. While heat and fire are the most obvious sources, electricity, chemicals, and gases can also cause burn injuries. A thermal burn occurs when an individual comes into contact with a flame, steam, or a boiling liquid, or when the person touches a hot object. Chemical burns are caused when the skin or lungs come into contact with caustic or toxic liquids or gases. An electrical burn results when a person comes into contact with an electrical current, which can occur by touching a wire, machine, or water that is electrified.
In addition to the obvious external injury to the skin, depending on the severity, burns can also cause damage to internal organs, psychological trauma, permanent scarring, and nerve damage. An inhalation injury, which is caused by inhalation of smoke or toxic gas produced by a fire, is a very serious condition often associated with burn injuries. Inhalation injuries can cause damage to the lungs and other organs. People who suffer burn injuries also face a high likelihood of infections and other complications. The amount of harm caused by your burn injury may not be initially observable, and you may need to undergo a medical examination to determine the full extent of your injuries. It is essential to retain an experienced burn injury attorney in Riverside and San Bernardino County to assist you in pursuing workers’ compensation benefits to prevent you from waiving the right to fully recover for the harm that you have suffered.
The type and amount of workers’ compensation benefits that you may be entitled to recover following a burn injury will depend in part on the severity and location of the burn and the percentage of your body that was affected. Burns are rated according to their severity by degrees. A first-degree burn only affects the outer layer of the skin and is the least serious burn. It generally only causes redness and discomfort. A second-degree burn affects the first and second layers of the skin and may result in blisters and scarring. A third-degree burn penetrates beyond the first and second layers of the skin. Third-degree burns are extremely painful and can cause nerve damage and scarring. Fourth-degree burns are the most serious burn injury. They can cause not only nerve damage but also damage to the muscles, bones, ligaments, and tendons, and they may result in death.
If you sustain a burn injury in the workplace, you should notify your employer of your injury as soon as you can to ensure that you do not waive the right to recover benefits. You should also consult an Riverside and San Bernardino County burn injury attorney for guidance on filing a claim. You may need to undergo extensive medical treatment for your burn injury, including therapy and rehabilitation. You may be entitled to recover the cost of any medical treatment, including the cost of transportation to and from your treatment appointments. You may also be entitled to recover temporary or permanent disability benefits, depending on the severity of your burn and its impact on your ability to work. If you are permanently disabled and unable to return to your prior job, you may be entitled to supplemental job displacement benefits, which can assist you in obtaining training in a new field. An experienced workers’ compensation attorney may help you understand which benefits you may be entitled to recover and possibly assist you in obtaining the maximum amount of benefits that you may be owed.
At Law Office of Joseph Richards, P.C., our attorneys are adept at handling workers’ compensation cases and can aggressively pursue the benefits that you are rightfully entitled to recover. Our burn injury lawyers are located in San Bernardino County and Riverside County, and we represent injured workers in Santa Ana, Costa Mesa, Anaheim, Irvine, Moreno Valley, Corona, Temecula, El Centro, Long Beach, San Bernardino, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, and San Diego. We also assist victims in other cities in Orange, Riverside, Imperial, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and San Diego Counties. Our attorneys have a strong record of successfully recovering workers’ compensation benefits for our clients. Contact us at (888) 883-6588 or via our online form to set up a consultation.