Most people are able to get through their day at work in a rather uneventful fashion. However, accidents do happen from time to time, which could lead to injuries, the inability to work, lost income and personal stress and emotional trauma. One type of injury that could be even more challenging to deal with is a chemical burn. If you have received a chemical burn at work, it is fair to assume that your employer should be obligated to compensate you for the impact it has had on your life. Unfortunately, receiving this compensation may require that you file a lawsuit. There are a variety of factors that you should take into consideration along with your burn injury attorney when deciding if you should fire a personal injury claim.
Economic Damages
One of the first factors to consider when you are determining whether you should file a burn injury claim is if you incurred any economic damages personally related to the injury. For those that have suffered a burn injury, the costs related to it can add up quickly. Some of these costs can include initial and ongoing medical bills, therapy expenses, lost wages from not being able to work and paying for service to accommodate any temporary or permanent lack of function. Even if you have good insurance, your out of pocket expenses will still be high. Additionally, if you have suffered a personal injury, it could impair your ability to return to work permanently, which could cost you significantly in the long run. You should work with your attorney to estimate what these costs are.
Non-Economic Damages
While the economic damages associated with a personal injury are somewhat estimatable, there are other costs that are more challenging to define and estimate. Those that have been injured at work can also experience a lot of personal stress and trauma. This could make you fearful to go back to work and could have a negative impact on your personal life and overall well-being as well. While it can be tough to estimate a cost associated with non-economic damages, you should still consider them when determining if you should sue your employer for a chemical burn.
Was There Negligence
If you are considering suing your employer for a chemical burn, you should also consider whether there was negligence on the part of the employer. If the employer did not take proper steps to protect employees from being burned, it could be a clear sign that there was negligence involved. Some examples of this can include if there was faulty equipment, lack of training or not enough protective equipment around to keep everyone safe. If there are examples of clear negligence, you should attempt to document them as well as possible and include it when you are going to file your claim as it could greatly improve your cash when filing a lawsuit.
Workers Compensation Claim
Depending on the state that you work in and the size of the company, your employer may be required by law to carry workers compensation insurance. This form of insurance is designed to provide protection to employees that are injured while on the job. If you have been injured while at wok, it should be the first form of claim that you file. However, if you have suffered serious personal injuries, you may not get full coverage through the workers compensation claim. In these cases, you should consider pursuing a further legal claim with the support of your burn injury attorney who can walk you through the entire process.
If you have been injured at work by a burn or in any other fashion, you should make sure that you understand your rights and options. A professional burn injury attorney will be able to provide you with a full consultation on your case. They can then give you advice on how to next move forward so you can determine whether pursuing a legal claim or lawsuit against your attorney is in your best interests.
