What to Do After a Dallas Workplace Burn Injury

Severe burns are some of the most painful and traumatic injuries a person can endure. If you’ve suffered a burn injury while at work in Dallas, you may be wondering how you’ll pay for your medical bills or make up for lost income.

Because private employers in Texas are not all required to offer workers’ compensation, a workers’ comp claim may not be an option for you—but our Dallas burn injury lawyers are here to explain your options. Read on to learn what to do after a burn injury at work in Dallas and to learn how our Texas attorneys at Carabin Shaw can help.

1. Seek Medical Attention Immediately.

   Burn injuries can cause serious or potentially permanent damage. Third degree burns, burns to sensitive areas of the body, and electrical burns are especially dangerous. For some burns, including electrical burns, damage may appear minor or not show up on skin—but the damage can nonetheless extend deep into tissues. For these reasons, it is crucial to seek immediate medical attention after a serious burn.




2. Report the Accident to Your Supervisor ASAP.

   Once you’ve gotten the necessary medical treatment you require, it is crucial to report the accident as soon as you can. If you don’t report the accident, your boss may deny that the accident occurred or might try to claim that it happened outside of work.

   Some workplaces also have deadlines for reporting accidents, and you may face repercussions at your job for failing to report an incident within a 24 hour period. You may even jeopardize your workers’ comp claim with a delayed report.




3. File for Workers’ Compensation (if you can) and get a Lawyer.

   Once you’ve gotten medical treatment and reported your accident, you should file for workers’ compensation, if you can. However, not all Texas employers are required to offer workers’ compensation insurance. So what then?

   If you are unable to receive workers’ compensation insurance because it is not offered at your job, you should know that you may have another option: a personal injury claim. While employees are normally unable to file personal injury claims against their direct employer, an exception is made for employees who are hurt at work whose employers do not have workers’ comp insurance. A personal injury attorney in Texas can help.

Even if you’re able to file a workers’ comp claim, it’s still crucial to consult a personal injury attorney after a serious burn injury. Otherwise, you might be leaving money on the table. You may also be able to pursue a personal injury lawsuit, in addition to receiving a workers’ comp settlement, if:

• Your burn was caused by a defective product
• Someone at your job other than your direct employer acted negligently, resulting in your burn injury
• Your burn injury was caused by someone working for a subcontractor or a vendor

Properly handling a workplace burn injury case requires an experienced personal injury attorney. Fortunately, our Texas attorneys at Carabin Shaw have extensive experience dealing with even the most complex burn accident cases.

Our Dallas burn injury lawyers are committed to working with you closely to ensure you get the best possible settlement following your burn injury at work in Dallas. So call our Dallas office at 800-862-1260 or fill out our online form to schedule your free consultation and case review with an experienced lawyer today.