Burns are unique injuries not just in how many different potential causes they can have, but also in how painful and debilitating they can remain for months or even years after they occur. Building a successful workers’ compensation claim over a work-related burn injury can be challenging, especially if you have little or no prior experience navigating Nevada’s workers’ comp system.
Fortunately, experienced workers’ comp attorneys are available to help, offering expertise in handling cases involving common workplace injuries like yours and successfully advocating for workers. If you are dealing with the aftermath of a high-degree burn you sustained on the job, a Reno workplace burn injury lawyer from Shook & Stone can guide you through your workers’ comp claim and give you the best possible chances of securing the benefits you need to recover.
Common Causes of On-the-Job Burn Injuries
Anyone who has ever gotten too close to a hot pipe or a pot of boiling water by accident knows that contact with extremely hot substances can lead to widespread and potentially debilitating burns. Exposure to an open flame is another fairly obvious source of burn injuries. In workplaces around Reno and throughout the country, though, there is another cause of work-related burn injuries that is not as common outside of working environments: exposure to caustic chemicals like acetic acid and industrial cleaning products.
In other situations, workers may suffer burns from:
- Acute or chronic exposure to radiation
- Exposure to extremely cold surfaces or substances such as liquid nitrogen
- Extreme friction between the skin and something like a fast-moving rope or cord
Regardless of what causes your specific injury, a Reno workplace burn injury attorney from our team can help you seek workers’ comp benefits.
Can Burn Victims Receive Permanent Disability Benefits?
All successful workers’ comp claims in Nevada allow claimants to receive full reimbursement for reasonably necessary medical expenses so they can reach maximum medical improvement (MMI) and, ideally, return to their jobs. If a burn injury is severe enough that it requires you to be hospitalized or causes you to miss time at work, you should also be eligible for temporary disability benefits equivalent to about two-thirds of your average pre-injury weekly wage.
To be eligible for permanent disability benefits stemming from a workplace burn injury in Reno, you would need to prove that:
- You suffered irreversible disfigurement or loss of bodily function as a result of your burn
- Your burn has permanently reduced your ability to work and earn a living
Proving this through comprehensive medical and documentary evidence is something a skilled workers’ comp lawyer from Shook & Stone can assist with.
Get Help from a Reno Workplace Burn Injury Attorney
High-degree burns can be excruciating injuries, no matter what causes them or where they happen. However, if you suffer a serious burn because of an accident or dangerous situation at work, you may be able to get help with injury-related expenses in the form of workers’ comp benefits through your employer’s insurance company.
Taking full advantage of the benefits available to you will be much easier with guidance from a qualified Reno workplace burn injury lawyer. Call Shook & Stone today to schedule a consultation.
