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Home / Personal injury claims / Burns and scalds injury compensation claims

Burns and scalds injury compensation claims

Our personal injury claims solicitors secure life-changing compensation settlements, funded rehabilitation and coordinated care and support for people who have suffered severe burn or scald injuries.

Traumatic burn and scald injuries are life-changing, leaving lasting physical, emotional and psychological scars. These devastating injuries can be fatal or lead to amputation, sight loss, severe scarring and chronic pain conditions or PTSD, caused by the original accident and injury or its complications.

Physical disfigurement, pain, and disability from burn and scald injury can disrupt every aspect of the injured person’s life, reducing mobility, dexterity and self-confidence, and affecting work, relationships and social or sporting activities. Survivors of severe burn or scald injuries often need corrective surgery and a range of rehabilitation, pain management and psychological treatments to help them make their best possible recovery and restore their quality of life.

If you have been severely injured in an accident that was someone else’s fault, our personal injury solicitors can secure immediate funding for rehabilitation and treatment to maximise your recovery, as well as longer term financial help from burn injury compensation.

Starting your burns and scalds injury claim

It costs nothing to talk to us to find out about making a personal injury claim for yourself or a member of your family. You can contact us by telephone or by email for free, confidential advice from a specialist personal injury solicitor. In serious injury cases, we often visit our clients in the hospital or at their home if they are unable to get to our offices.

We will ask you to tell us briefly about the accident and injury. We will advise you about any time limits that may apply and whether we can help you make a claim. Your solicitor will discuss with you how your claim will be funded and advise, fully and clearly, how that works and what it will mean for you. We offer a range of funding options, but most of our clients’ claims are handled on a ‘no win no fee’ basis.

We will put your claim to the defendant individual or organisation whose negligence caused your injury, and we will handle all communication on your behalf. The defendant’s insurers will usually handle the claim on the defendant’s behalf and will be responsible for paying any compensation.

Once we are in contact with the defendant’s insurers, we can begin to secure the necessary rehabilitation and specialist support to meet the injured person’s immediate needs whilst we proceed with the claim.

£120,000 compensation plus rehabilitation
Settlement for chef after severe burn scald injury causes pain, scarring and PTSD.
Read the story

Our client was injured attempting to stop a leak from a stock boiler. He suffered severe scald burns to his chest, abdomen, legs, feet, and arms. His injury caused extensive, permanent scarring and discolouration, nerve pain, burning sensations and swelling. He also has ongoing PTSD, depression, and anxiety following the incident. We secured an out-of-court settlement providing our client with £120,000 compensation and ongoing rehabilitation including pain management for the nerve pain in his legs and PTSD/psychological treatment.

"Claire wasted no time in finding out what happened and made sure I was treated by known experts and quickly finding an answer to my burns scarring and how I could be treated to help manage my pain. Claire also helped me by appointing a psychiatrist to understand my situation and help me cope with post traumatic stress disorder. As well as taking as much stress of the claim away, she was thorough in every situation, making sure I had the best possible claim, and handled it all expertly, I am so very grateful to her and her team. They have helped guide my life back into a positive direction and I can't thank her enough!"

We are members of Katie Piper Foundation's legal panel

Katie Piper Foundation was set up by Katie Piper OBE, after she survived an acid attack, to provide support to burns injury survivors. Our personal injury solicitors were proud to be appointed amongst the founding members of the KPF legal panel , which offers specialist legal support and advice to those who have suffered burns, scalds and traumatic scarring injuries.

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Our burn and scald injury cases

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What our clients say

"Boyes turner workplace injury claim"

I approached Claire Roantree of Boyes Turner in regards to making a claim about a workplace burns injury. It was something that had scarred me physically and mentally and taken a huge toll on the lives of me and my family. Claire wasted no time in finding out what happened and made sure I was treated by known experts and quickly finding an answer to my burns scarring and how I could be treated to help manage my pain. Claire also helped me by appointing a psychiatrist to understand my situation and help me cope with post traumatic stress disorder. As well as taking as much stress of the claim away, she was thorough in every situation, making sure I had the best possible claim, and handled it all expertly, I am so very grateful to her and her team. They have helped guide my life back into a positive direction and I can't thank her enough!

Boyes Turner Client

Burn and scald claims FAQs

What burn and scald accidents lead to burn injury compensation claims?

Burn injuries can be caused by accidents or exposure to heat, chemicals, fire, and flame. Scalds are caused by wet heat, such as hot water or steam. If a burn or scald burn injury is caused by someone else’s negligence, the injured person may be able to claim compensation.

Common types of burn or scald burn negligence which lead to burn injury compensation claims include:

Can I claim compensation for a burn injury at work?

Workplace accidents are the most common negligent cause of adult burn injuries. If you have suffered a burn or scald injury at work, you may be entitled to substantial compensation.

The law requires employers and business owners to protect their workers from scalds and burn injuries at work by providing a safe environment. They can do this through health and safety awareness, risk assessment and planning, and providing their workers with training, supervision, equipment and PPE. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which provides guidance and enforces workplace health and safety, says that most fires are preventable.

Our personal injury solicitors are experts in obtaining rehabilitation funding and compensation for injuries caused by workplace accidents. All claims are made against the employers’ insurers and are handled professionally and sensitively. Many of our clients are able to continue working or receive ongoing support from their employer whilst we manage their claim.

What type of injuries lead to burn injury compensation claims?

Burn and scald injury compensation claims often involve severe disability and financial losses arising from one or more of the following:

  • skin-grafting and multiple surgical procedures;
  • scarring and disfigurement;
  • sepsis and complications from infection;
  • nerve pain;
  • blindness and sensory loss;
  • amputation, loss of digits or limbs, frostbite injury;
  • CRPS and chronic pain;
  • PTSD and psychological injury;
  • fatal injury (death).

How much compensation can I claim for a burn or scald injury?

We work closely with our clients and our experts to ensure that we understand the impact of their burn injury and the effect that it will have on their life. This allows us to ensure that each client’s compensation meets their needs arising from their injury and ongoing disability. We aim to ensure that our clients receive rehabilitation to maximise their recovery, as well as the best possible compensation for the individual circumstances of their claim.

Burn injury claims often include sums to compensate or meet the costs of:

  • pain, suffering, and disability;
  • rehabilitation and therapies, such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy (OT);
  • medical, surgical and pain management treatment;
  • counselling and treatment for PTSD and psychological injury;
  • prosthetics (after amputation);
  • loss of earnings and pension;
  • necessary home adaptations;
  • specialist vehicles, aids, and equipment;
  • camouflage make up and skin treatments.

After fatal burn injury, compensation for the deceased’s partner, dependents and estate may include a sum for the deceased’s pain and suffering leading up to their death, as well as funeral expenses, financial losses arising from the loss of the deceased’s income or ‘services’ (such as childcare or household tasks) and a statutory bereavement payment.

How are burns classified?

Burns are classified according to how deeply and severely they harm the skin.

  • First-degree burns or ‘superficial burns’ affect only the top level of skin (epidermis). They cause soreness and swelling and sometimes lead to complications, such as infection. They can affect the skin’s colour but do not cause damage to its deeper layers. Hot water scald burns, steam scalds or mild sunburn are examples of first-degree burns. In most cases, a first degree burn which only causes superficial mild or temporary injury, without any other injuries or consequences, will not lead to a burn injury claim.
  • Second-degree burns are known as ‘partial thickness burns’ as they damage both the first (epidermis) and second (dermis) layer of skin. These burns can cause redness, swelling and blistering, damage to nerve endings, sweat glands and blood vessels.
  • Third-degree burns are also called ‘full thickness burns’ as they damage all three layers of the skin including the subcutaneous tissue. The area of the burn may look white or blackened. This type of burn often requires skin grafting and surgery, rehabilitation, and ongoing therapies, and can leave permanent scarring and lasting disability.
  • Fourth-degree burns are the most severe type of burn injury, causing damage which can range from injury to all layers of skin tissue, through to muscle and bone, and in some cases fatal injury. Medical treatment for fourth degree burn injuries include surgery, grafting, and sometimes amputation. Feeling or sensation is lost in the areas where nerve endings have been destroyed by the burn, and the injured person is left with deep scarring. This type of burn injury has a devastating effect on many areas of the individual’s life, with long-term physical, emotional, psychological and financial consequences.

A burn injury claim can be a lifeline to specialist support, funded rehabilitation and access to private medical and surgical care, therapies and pain management and psychological or PTSD treatment, and restored long-term financial security.

 

What burn and scald accidents lead to burn injury compensation claims?

Burn injuries can be caused by accidents or exposure to heat, chemicals, fire, and flame. Scalds are caused by wet heat, such as hot water or steam. If a burn or scald burn injury is caused by someone else’s negligence, the injured person may be able to claim compensation.

Common types of burn or scald burn negligence which lead to burn injury compensation claims include:

Can I claim compensation for a burn injury at work?

Workplace accidents are the most common negligent cause of adult burn injuries. If you have suffered a burn or scald injury at work, you may be entitled to substantial compensation.

The law requires employers and business owners to protect their workers from scalds and burn injuries at work by providing a safe environment. They can do this through health and safety awareness, risk assessment and planning, and providing their workers with training, supervision, equipment and PPE. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which provides guidance and enforces workplace health and safety, says that most fires are preventable.

Our personal injury solicitors are experts in obtaining rehabilitation funding and compensation for injuries caused by workplace accidents. All claims are made against the employers’ insurers and are handled professionally and sensitively. Many of our clients are able to continue working or receive ongoing support from their employer whilst we manage their claim.

What type of injuries lead to burn injury compensation claims?

Burn and scald injury compensation claims often involve severe disability and financial losses arising from one or more of the following:

  • skin-grafting and multiple surgical procedures;
  • scarring and disfigurement;
  • sepsis and complications from infection;
  • nerve pain;
  • blindness and sensory loss;
  • amputation, loss of digits or limbs, frostbite injury;
  • CRPS and chronic pain;
  • PTSD and psychological injury;
  • fatal injury (death).

How much compensation can I claim for a burn or scald injury?

We work closely with our clients and our experts to ensure that we understand the impact of their burn injury and the effect that it will have on their life. This allows us to ensure that each client’s compensation meets their needs arising from their injury and ongoing disability. We aim to ensure that our clients receive rehabilitation to maximise their recovery, as well as the best possible compensation for the individual circumstances of their claim.

Burn injury claims often include sums to compensate or meet the costs of:

  • pain, suffering, and disability;
  • rehabilitation and therapies, such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy (OT);
  • medical, surgical and pain management treatment;
  • counselling and treatment for PTSD and psychological injury;
  • prosthetics (after amputation);
  • loss of earnings and pension;
  • necessary home adaptations;
  • specialist vehicles, aids, and equipment;
  • camouflage make up and skin treatments.

After fatal burn injury, compensation for the deceased’s partner, dependents and estate may include a sum for the deceased’s pain and suffering leading up to their death, as well as funeral expenses, financial losses arising from the loss of the deceased’s income or ‘services’ (such as childcare or household tasks) and a statutory bereavement payment.

How are burns classified?

Burns are classified according to how deeply and severely they harm the skin.

  • First-degree burns or ‘superficial burns’ affect only the top level of skin (epidermis). They cause soreness and swelling and sometimes lead to complications, such as infection. They can affect the skin’s colour but do not cause damage to its deeper layers. Hot water scald burns, steam scalds or mild sunburn are examples of first-degree burns. In most cases, a first degree burn which only causes superficial mild or temporary injury, without any other injuries or consequences, will not lead to a burn injury claim.
  • Second-degree burns are known as ‘partial thickness burns’ as they damage both the first (epidermis) and second (dermis) layer of skin. These burns can cause redness, swelling and blistering, damage to nerve endings, sweat glands and blood vessels.
  • Third-degree burns are also called ‘full thickness burns’ as they damage all three layers of the skin including the subcutaneous tissue. The area of the burn may look white or blackened. This type of burn often requires skin grafting and surgery, rehabilitation, and ongoing therapies, and can leave permanent scarring and lasting disability.
  • Fourth-degree burns are the most severe type of burn injury, causing damage which can range from injury to all layers of skin tissue, through to muscle and bone, and in some cases fatal injury. Medical treatment for fourth degree burn injuries include surgery, grafting, and sometimes amputation. Feeling or sensation is lost in the areas where nerve endings have been destroyed by the burn, and the injured person is left with deep scarring. This type of burn injury has a devastating effect on many areas of the individual’s life, with long-term physical, emotional, psychological and financial consequences.

A burn injury claim can be a lifeline to specialist support, funded rehabilitation and access to private medical and surgical care, therapies and pain management and psychological or PTSD treatment, and restored long-term financial security.

 

Why choose Boyes Turner?

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2min 55secs

"Our clients receive the highest standards of advice and representation and are always treated with compassion, outstanding care and understanding of the physical, emotional, psychological and financial impact that life-changing injury can have upon their lives."

We are nationally acclaimed for our personal injury expertise and the outstanding results we achieve for our clients.
We secure early, funded rehabilitation and maximum compensation in claims for adults and children who have suffered catastrophic injury, and provide practical support for their families.
Our integrated multidisciplinary team offers our clients a full range of specialist help with compensation, rehabilitation, SEN, deputyship, personal injury trusts and community care.
We are ranked as leading personal injury experts in the Chambers Directory and Legal 500 guides to the legal profession and are accredited for their specialist expertise by the Law Society and the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL).

Our people

Meet your specialist team
 
Kim Milan

Kim Milan

Senior Partner

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Claire Roantree

Partner

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Martin Anderson

Martin Anderson

Associate Solicitor

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Amy lundie

Amy Lundie

Solicitor

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Oliver Dugdale

Oliver Dugdale

Paralegal

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Beth Hatton

Paralegal

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Leading personal injury solicitors for over 30 years

Our solicitors’ expertise in personal injury claims and their dedication to improving the lives of their injured clients has been recognised by the legal profession and disability charities for over 30 years.