Getting severely burned by a fire, electricity, chemical exposure, or anything else at work can be excruciating in the short term and financially devastating in the long term. Fortunately, virtually anyone classified as an employee in Nevada who suffers a burn injury at work should have access to benefits through their employers’ workers’ compensation insurance—if that is, they can prove they have valid grounds to file a workers’ comp claim.
As many first-time claimants learn the hard way, this can be much harder to accomplish than it may sound, especially without support from a knowledgeable Las Vegas work injury lawyer. Fortunately, the legal guidance you need is available from a Las Vegas workplace burn injury lawyer at Shook & Stone. We have years of experience helping workers like you get the best possible results from claims like yours.
When Can a Burn Qualify You for Workers’ Comp Benefits?
In terms of the basic criteria needed to justify a workers’ comp claim, there is no real difference between a burn injury and any other type of physical trauma you might experience on a worksite. As long as you can prove that you were burned while on shift and in the course of performing some kind of job-related task, you should be able to seek workers’ comp benefits that will help cover your medical bills and certain other expenses on a fault-free basis.
It is worth emphasizing, though, that workers’ comp is meant to reimburse you for specific losses you may sustain due to a work-related injury, not to just give you money solely because you got hurt. So, for instance, if you suffer a first-degree burn at work that does not require any medical care beyond basic first aid, you may not have any reason to seek workers’ comp benefits because you have no medical bills or missed time at work to make up for. Still, it is always worth discussing matters with a Las Vegas worker’s compensation lawyer before deciding whether to pursue a claim.
Filing a Strong Workers’ Comp Claim Over a Burn Injury
You should always inform your immediate supervisor in writing about any injury you experience at work as soon as possible after first sustaining that injury. Failing to do this, or failing to properly fill out the C-4 form your employer should give you after being notified of your injury, can stop a future workers’ comp claim in its tracks before it even has a chance to get started.
It is also vital that you:
- Seek medical care quickly after suffering a workplace burn injury in Las Vegas
- Follow all instructions given to you by your doctors
- Keep copies of all bills, receipts, and medical records related to your care
As our lawyers can explain in more detail, doing all this can be key both to staying within the rules set by Nevada workers’ comp law and to having as much evidence as possible to use later in proving you need a certain amount of benefits.
Consider Working with a Las Vegas Workplace Burn Injury Attorney
Even mild burns can be uniquely painful and debilitating injuries, to say nothing of how catastrophic a high-degree burn covering large portions of the body can be. Unfortunately, the latter type of burn happens on worksites all over Nevada many times every year, and many workers who get hurt in this way fail to take full advantage of their rights.
A Las Vegas workplace burn injury lawyer from Shook & Stone can help you get every benefit you deserve from workers’ comp and offer guidance about other potential recovery options as well. Call today to schedule a free consultation.
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