Recovering For Alabama Burn Injuries
Alabama is home to several industries that involve potentially dangerous work, from construction to working on an oil rig. Burns are a regular fact of life for many of these workers, whether from chemicals, explosions, or some other cause – and if you are injured on the job, you may be able to receive workers’ compensation benefits from your employer.
A burn injury can cause serious, long-term health problems if not properly treated. If you have sustained one at work, our Birmingham personal injury attorneys at Goldasich, Vick & Fulk can help to give you the best chance at receiving benefits, while you focus on your physical recovery.
Many Different Causes & Effects
What many people do not realize is that there are multiple different types of burns, most of which can happen in a workplace, depending on the specific industry one is in. Heat and chemical burns are common, but burns may happen as a result of electricity, radiation, scalding, or several other types of accident. The most recent available data from the American Burn Association estimates only around 40 percent of all reported burn injuries came from fire, while 32 percent were from scalding (encountering hot gases) and 10 percent were contact burns.
Given the various causes of burns, it is understandable that burns can cause many different short and long-term effects. A more minor burn may cause only soft tissue damage, while a third-degree burn can result in chronic pain, loss of sensation in the affected area, or even paralysis in extreme cases, along with emotional trauma after what one has suffered. These are always serious injuries and should be treated as such.
File For Benefits Quickly
If you have suffered an on-the-job injury that you believe to be a burn, it is always better to report it to your employer than to let it go. If an injured worker does not report their injury within 30 days of its happening, their window to potentially file for workers’ compensation benefits will close, and except in the rarest cases, cannot be reopened. Acting fast may get you closer to the benefits you need.
It is important to remember that in Alabama, an injured employee cannot sue their employer for negligence; rather, workers’ compensation is intended to be the “exclusive remedy” for any injuries sustained at work. The only way this can be ignored is if an employer does not carry workers’ compensation insurance when they should – in that case, the employee can seek damages in court if they believe their employer’s negligence played a role in the harm they suffered.
You Are Not Alone – We Can Help
If you have been burned at work, the right attorney can help you get the benefits you deserve. A Birmingham burn injury attorney from Goldasich, Vick & Fulk can help answer your questions about the workers’ compensation process, and guide you towards the best possible outcome. Contact our office today at (205) 731-2566 to schedule a consultation.
Source:
ameriburn.org/resources/burn-incidence-fact-sheet/
