New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Lawyer for Burn Injuries

Knowledgeable NJ Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Help Burn Injury Victims Get Full and Fair Benefits

Serious burn injuries can take months or even years to heal.  Sometimes workplace burn injury victims are left with disfiguring scars that are permanent—or will require multiple painful surgeries and skin grafts to reduce.  During that time, the pain can be unbearable, making work out of the question.  If the burn injury happened on the job, you will be entitled to medical and temporary or partial permanent Workers’ Compensation benefits.

Burn injury victims understandably do not have the time or energy to deal with the complexities of the NJ Workers’ Compensation process.  You need a lawyer who understands both the medical aspects of burn injuries and the New Jersey Workers’ Compensation laws.  With over 60 years’ experience, our injury and accident lawyers at Team Law have the knowledge to get you the most compensation possible.

Whether you require temporary or partial permanent Workers’ Compensation disability benefits, our skilled lawyers are here to help.  We have the practical experience and legal knowledge to get you the money you need to pay your bills.   

Your first consultation is free, so call us today to get more information about protecting your legal rights.

Degree of Burn Injury Can Impact Availability of Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Workers’ Compensation benefits can be temporary or permanent, and can represent compensation for a partial disability or total disability.  The severity of your injury plays an important role in determining your benefit availability.  Burn injuries are classified in severity according to degree, as follows:

• First-degree burns.  First-degree burns are the least serious type of burn injury.  The outer layer of your skin will likely become red and painful.  However, most first-degree injury burns do not result in scarring or even require medical care.
• Second-degree burns.  Second-degree burns can cause slightly more damage to the epidermis (top layer of skin) and the dermis (second layer of skin).  Blistering, swelling and redness are all signs of a second-degree burn.
• Third-degree burns.  Third-degree burns are much more serious and damage the deeper layer of skin below the dermis.  Your skin may turn black in color and/or take on a leathery appearance.  These burns can cause serious nerve damage and result in severe scarring.
• Fourth-degree burns.  Fourth-degree burns penetrate so deeply that they usually impact the muscles and other connective tissues.  You can lose mobility and have severe and permanent scarring.

Regardless of the type of burn, you should report the accident and request medical treatment immediately—even if it is only a first aid kit for a first or second-degree burn.  Left untreated, even a relatively mild burn can become infected and lead to further medical complications.

Common Types and Causes of Workplace Burn Injuries

A burn injury can happen in almost any type of workplace, although certain occupations present a higher degree of risk than others.  Common types of workplace burns include:

• Thermal burns, which are caused by hot liquids.  Restaurant workers may be particularly at risk for thermal burns, but even a home health aide can sustain a thermal burn by knocking over a pot of boiling water.
• Chemical burns are caused by exposure to harsh chemicals—chemistry teachers, janitors and lab technicians may be at high risk for sustaining a chemical burn injury at work.
• Electrical burns, which are caused by exposure to electricity and pose a risk to construction workers, utility workers and others whose job requires close proximity to electrical wiring or sources.

Burn injuries on the job can be caused by:

• Fires and explosions
• Electrocution and electric shock
• Boiling hot liquids and oils
• Toxic chemicals
• Exposure to live electrical wires
• Welding accidents
• Gas explosions

Getting Fair Workers’ Compensation for Your Workplace Burn Injuries

Serious burn victims face an uphill battle when it comes to treating a burn injury.  Painful skin grafting and surgeries may be the only viable ways to treat the burn.  The most serious burn injuries may even be fatal.  Workers’ Compensation is designed to provide financial benefits while you deal with your recovery.  Benefits include:

• compensation for all medical expenses related to treating the burn injury
• 70% of your average weekly wages for up to 400 weeks following the injury (temporary total disability benefits)
• Permanent partial or total disability benefits if your burn injury does not heal to 100% function, or if it leaves a scar
• Death benefits for surviving loved ones if your injuries prove to be fatal

Workers’ Compensation also provides burn injury victims with compensation for permanent scarring and disfigurement.  The extent of these additional benefits depends upon where the scarring is located.  More visible scarring and disfigurement can create the right to added benefits.

At Team Law, we are here to fight for your right to get the maximum Workers’ Compensation benefits possible when your injury happened at work.  If another person or organization’s negligence caused your accident, you might have the right to sue for additional compensation.  Third-party lawsuits are an option only if it was not your employer (or a co-worker) whose negligence caused your injuries.  Call us today to learn more.

Contact Our Top-Rated NJ Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Today

Scarring for a severe burn can last a lifetime.  Your financial struggles shouldn’t have to.  At Team Law, our trusted team of Workers’ Compensation lawyers are committed to getting justice for workplace burn injury victims. 

We offer a free consultation so that we can learn what happened in your case.  We also work on a contingency basis, which means we only charge attorneys’ fees if we win compensation for you.  Schedule your free case review by calling our office or filling out our online contact form today.

Frequently Asked Questions About Workers’ Compensation for Burn Injuries