Can You Get Workers’ Compensation for Burn Injuries?

Yes, you can get workers’ compensation for burn injuries that occur when you’re at work. Workers’ compensation is designed to cover workplace injuries.  Burn injuries can be devastating, causing not only physical pain but also emotional trauma and financial stress.

Workers’ compensation typically covers all types of burn injuries that occur at work, including:

• Thermal burns caused by heat sources like fire, steam, or hot surfaces
  
• Chemical burns resulting from contact with corrosive substances
  
• Electrical burns from exposure to electrical currents
  
• Radiation burns from prolonged exposure to UV rays or other forms of radiation

The severity of the burn, whether it’s first, second, or third-degree, doesn’t affect your eligibility for coverage. All work-related burns should be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, but if you are having trouble with your claim, contact an Atlanta workers’ compensation lawyer for advice.

What Benefits Can I Receive for a Burn Injury Through Workers’ Compensation?

Treating burn injuries takes a long time. You may never recover fully, especially with third-degree burns. Therefore, you may need to use the entire range of benefits workers’ compensation provides:

• Medical treatment coverage for all necessary and reasonable medical care related to your burn injury
  
• Lost wages coverage to pay you for money you couldn’t earn because you couldn’t work. This is usually around 2/3rds of how much you currently make.
  
• Temporary disability benefits if you’re unable to work while recovering from your burn injury
  
• Permanent disability benefits if your burn injury results in lasting impairment
  
• Vocational rehabilitation if you need assistance returning to work or finding a new job due to your injury

The benefits you receive will depend on the severity of your burn injury and how it affects your ability to work. A mild burn may only need payment for medical treatment and a few days of lost work.

How Do I File a Workers’ Compensation Claim for a Burn Injury?

Filing a workers’ compensation claim for a burn injury follows the same steps as other claims. First, seek medical care. Your health takes priority over everything else. If your burn is bad, your coworkers may call 911 on your behalf.

Next, report your injury to your employer as soon as possible. That starts the workers’ comp process. Ideally, you’ll report what happened to them in writing. If you do it verbally, follow it up with a written statement. You must report within 30 days of the accident to claim benefits.

Your employer will give you a claim form from their insurer. Fill out the form and give it back to your employer. Their insurer will investigate what happened and, if they agree with your claim, will start paying workers’ compensation benefits. 

What if I’m Stuck in the Hospital?

Burn injuries can take months to heal, but you have a longer deadline to fill out your claim form. You have one year from the date of your injury to complete it. The most important deadline is reporting your injury to your employer.

Even in a severe burn case where your employer may have reported your accident for you, it’s still good to get your side of what happened down in case there’s a contradiction with what your employer reported.

Can I Sue My Employer for a Burn Injury Instead of Filing for Workers’ Compensation?

In most cases, workers’ compensation is the exclusive remedy for workplace injuries, including burns. You normally cannot sue your employer for a work-related burn injury. However, there are some exceptions:

• If your employer intentionally caused your burn injury
  
• If your employer doesn’t carry the required workers’ compensation insurance
  
• If a third party (not your employer or co-worker) caused your burn injury

In these cases, you may have the option to file a personal injury lawsuit in addition to or instead of a workers’ compensation claim. To learn if this is possible in your case, speak with a workers’ compensation attorney like the team at John Foy & Associates.

What Should I Do If My Workers’ Compensation Claim for a Burn Injury Is Denied?

Don’t lose hope if your workers’ compensation claim for a burn injury is denied. You have the right to appeal but must carefully prepare your case.

• Review the denial letter carefully to understand the reason for the denial.
  
• Gather additional evidence to support your claim and overcome the reason for the denial.
  
• File an appeal with the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation before the deadline in the letter.
  
• Consider seeking legal representation to help navigate the appeals process.

An experienced workers’ compensation attorney can significantly improve your chances of overturning a denied claim. The time you have to appeal can be quite short, so contact a lawyer as soon as possible after you get your denial letter.

Contact an Atlanta Burn Injury Lawyer for Help

You can get workers’ compensation for burn injuries you received at work, but you may need help to get it started, especially with severe burns. Our team can help you with your workers’ compensation claim.

We understand the challenges that burn injury victims face. If you’ve suffered a burn injury at work, don’t hesitate to reach out to our Atlanta burn injury lawyers. We’re here to answer your questions, guide you through the claims process, and fight for the compensation you deserve. 

Contact John Foy & Associates today for a free consultation. Let us be your strong arm in your time of need after a devastating burn injury.