Jul 9, 2021

How Scars and Disfigurement Impact Workers’ Comp Settlements

When you’re injured at work, workers’ compensation benefits are meant to cover the cost of your medical expenses and lost wages so that you are able to recover and get back to work as soon as possible. Unfortunately, some injuries, such as burns, can lead to permanent physical and emotional injuries.

Here’s how scarring and disfigurement from burn injuries at work may impact a person’s workers’ compensation claim.

Types of Occupations at an Increased Risk of Burns

While burns can happen in nearly any work environment, certain workers are at an increased risk of sustaining burn injuries. This is because there are certain hazards present in their occupations that can result in burns more frequently, compared to other professions. Some of the most common occupations where burns are common include:

  • Firefighters
  • Electricians
  • Health care workers
  • Construction workers
  • Mechanics
  • Food workers, such as cooks, servers, and chefs
  • Janitorial workers
  • Landscape and outdoor workers

Benefits Available to Workers Who Sustain Burns

While minor burns may heal completely in a short period of time, moderate to severe burns may lead to permanent damage, such as scarring, nerve damage, loss of limbs, or physical disabilities. Additionally, severe burns that cover large portions of the body may lead to disfigurement and prevent a person from gaining or maintaining meaningful employment.

All work injuries, including burns, that occur during the “scope of employment” are covered under workers’ compensation insurance. Because burns often cause more catastrophic injuries, these cases typically lead to more benefits or higher settlement offers. Some damages that potential benefits would cover include:

  • Past, present, and future medical expenses
  • Lost wages and lost earning capacity
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional injuries
  • Permanent disability
  • Lost quality of life

Our Atlanta workers’ compensation attorneys will review your case for free to determine what types of benefits may be applicable for your case. If your burns caused you to be disabled or disfigured, you may be entitled to full, permanent benefits or have your workers’ compensation case resolved in a lump sum.

We will fight to help you recover after a workplace burn accident. Contact our team at 770-922-3660 to speak with our legal team for free today.