Burned While at Work in Denton

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration reports that approximately 5,000 American workers are hospitalized every year after suffering workplace burn injuries. Many of these victims work in high-risk settings; for example, the manufacturing and power industries make up a large fraction of Denton’s largest employers. Unfortunately, workers in these industries are statistically more likely to be at risk for severe workplace burn injuries.

Workplace burn injuries can affect victims’ lives for months or years after their accident. They may lose their jobs, accumulate medical debt, or suffer immense pain. Luckily, personal injury lawyers in Denton can help these victims file a personal injury lawsuit to reclaim their damages.

Why are Denton workers in the manufacturing and power industries more likely to suffer workplace burn injuries? Some factors that contribute to an increased likelihood of workplace burn injuries include:

• Exposure to uninsulated electrical currents
• Operating heavy machinery (motor vehicles, heavy machinery, forklifts, etc.)
• Contact with hot steam during manufacturing process
• Contact with industrial chemicals used in manufacturing

The manufacturing and power industries aren’t the only potentially dangerous workplace for North Texans; if you are one of the following, you may be at risk for burn injuries:

• Firefighter
• Oilfield worker
• Electrician
• Food-service worker
• Driver/trucker

While workplace burns may be more common in these industries, it is important to note that all workplaces carry some risk for burn injuries. For this reason, employers have a responsibility to abide by OSHA and state guidelines to keep their workers safe; if they fail in this duty, they can and should be held accountable by a personal injury lawyer in Denton.

Workplace burns are among the most dangerous injuries sustained by workers during the course of their employment. These injuries can be categorized by type and severity. By specifically categorizing your workplace burn injury by type and severity, you and your Denton burn injury attorney can put together a more accurate personal injury claim and establish liability for your workplace burns.

To begin, the most common types of workplace burn injuries include:

• Thermal burns
• Chemical burns
• Electrical burns
• Friction burns
• Scalding burns
• Cold burns

All of these types of burns are further categorized by degrees of severity.

The characteristics of each degree of burn are as follows:

• First-degree burns First-degree burns damage the first layer of skin (epidermis). The most common side effects of first-degree burns are redness and pain in the affected area.
• Second-degree burns Second-degree burns damage the first two layers of skin (the dermis in addition to the epidermis). Second-degree burns are usually more visible than first-degree burns are characterized by redness, swelling, and blistering.
• Third-degree burns Known as the most severe type of burns, third-degree burns affect the victims’ dermis, epidermis, muscle layer, and even bone. These injuries are especially prone to infection and hypertrophic scarring. Most victims who are killed or permanently injured by their workplace burn injury have suffered third-degree burns.

If you have been burned while at work in Denton, it is important to explore your options with the help of a personal injury attorney. A qualified Denton burn injury attorney can help you seek fair compensation for the full extent of your damages.

Carabin Shaw Law Firm is here to help victims of workplace burn injuries and their families. For nearly thirty years, our team of burn injury lawyers has protected victims of workplace burn injuries from negligent employers and opportunistic insurance companies. Our attorneys and staff are proud to service workers from the Denton area.

If you would like to schedule your no-cost, no-obligation initial consultation with the work accident lawyers in North Texas at Carabin Shaw, call our office toll-free today at 1-800-862-1260 or fill out our online contact form.