Gloucester County Workplace Burn Injury Lawyer

Experienced Personal Injury Lawyers Help Those Who Suffer Work-Related Burn Injuries in New Jersey

Burn injuries can be excruciatingly painful, medically dangerous, and life-altering. The risk of a burn injury exists in any workplace, although some industries face higher injury rates than others.

After a burn injury, you may struggle to recover from the damage to your body. You may face depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and other mental and emotional health challenges. You may worry about how you’ll pay the bills or take care of your family. You may wonder if you’ll ever return to work. And you may ask if there’s anything you can do to hold a negligent person or company accountable for their actions.

The knowledgeable workplace burn injury lawyers at Petrillo & Goldberg can help. Here, we cover the basics of work-related burn injuries in Gloucester County – and discuss what you can do to protect your legal rights and secure needed compensation. 

New Jersey Workplace Burn Injury Statistics

In 2022, New Jersey workplaces reported 69,200 workplace injuries. These included 31,800 injuries that required a worker to take time off work to recover. In 13,700 injury cases, workers needed job restrictions or a transfer to a new role to accommodate their injuries. 

Burn injuries are one of the top types of work-related injuries nationwide. Between 20 and 30 percent of all people hospitalized for burn injuries were injured at work.

In 2024:

• 398,000 people needed treatment for burn injuries nationwide.
• 29,165 people were admitted to a US hospital for burn injury treatment. 
• 3,800 people died from exposure to structure fires, motor vehicle fires, or from smoke inhalation in a fire.
• 795 people died in hospital care from burn injuries that were too severe to treat effectively. 

Types of Burns That Can Occur in Gloucester County Workplaces

Burn injuries all cause serious damage to the skin and other body tissues. The deeper a burn goes, the more devastating the damage can be. 

In a 2022 study, researchers examined data from burn injury patients in one hospital. They discovered that patients with work-related burn injuries suffered several different types of burns, including thermal, electrical, chemical, and inhalation burns. 

• Thermal burns are caused by exposure to a heat source. Cooking appliances, heat guns used in construction or manufacturing, hot engines, and other objects can cause thermal burns.
• Electrical burns occur when the body encounters an electrical current. Any exposed wiring or defects in an electrical component or object may result in these burns.
• Chemical burns involve exposure to some type of chemical. Chemical burns can be difficult to treat, especially if medical staff aren’t certain which type of chemical caused the burn. 
• Inhalation burns occur when a chemical, particulate matter or excessively hot air are inhaled. The inhalation may damage the mouth, nasal passages, throat, and lungs. In some cases, an employee can suffer inhalation burns but show no outward sign of injury. 

Workplace-related burns can often be prevented. Engineering controls, using personal protective equipment, and training workers on how to avoid burn injuries can all help reduce the risk of burns at work. The hospital study found that 38 percent of hospitalized burn patients hadn’t received workplace training for burn safety. In 39 percent of cases, the injured worker didn’t have access to personal protective equipment that could have prevented the burn. 

Workers’ Compensation in Gloucester County

Workers’ compensation provides benefits for medical care and other losses after an employee suffers an on-the-job injury. Nearly all New Jersey employers are required to obtain workers’ compensation insurance coverage or to self-insure. 

Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system. This means you can receive benefits without demonstrating that your employer was at fault for your injuries. 

If you are injured at work, notify your employer as soon as possible. You may give notice to your supervisor, the human resources or personnel office, or anyone in charge at your place of business. You can give notice verbally or in writing. 

Give notice right away if you need medical treatment. In the case of severe injuries, your co-workers or supervisor may call 911 to get medical care for you. Connect with your employer as soon as you can to make sure they’re aware of your injuries and start a workers’ compensation claim for you. 

Typically, your employer or their workers’ compensation insurer can choose which doctors you see for work-related injuries. For this reason, it’s important to notify your employer and get a list of approved doctors for any non-emergency treatment. 

What Workers’ Compensation Covers

In New Jersey, workers’ compensation offers five types of benefits:

• Medical benefits cover the costs of medical care and treatment, including surgeries, prescription medications, medical devices, and therapy or rehabilitation. 
• Temporary total benefits pay a portion of your lost wages if your injuries keep you away from work for a short period. These benefits help employees make ends meet while they recover from the damage an injury causes.
• Permanent partial benefits help compensate an employee for the loss of the use of a limb or other body part. Typically, workers receiving these benefits can still work. These employees may need vocational rehabilitation, occupational therapy, or other assistance to help them adjust to life in their new physical state.
• Permanent total benefits are paid to employees whose injuries prevent them from working in any role. 
• Death benefits are available for the dependents of an employee who dies as a result of their work-related injuries. 

Once you notify your employer, they must notify their workers’ compensation insurance carrier. The carrier typically files a “first report of injury” with the state workers’ compensation office. Then, the employer and carrier evaluate the claim to determine whether workers’ compensation coverage applies. 

If the employee needs more than 7 days away from work to recover, the insurer or employer will provide temporary disability benefits.

In some workers’ compensation cases, a dispute arises. The employee believes they are covered by workers’ compensation, but the employer or insurer disagrees. Disputes can also come from other points, such as whether the insurer will cover a specific type of treatment or treatment from a specific doctor. 

If you’re facing a dispute or a denial of benefits, talk to an experienced workplace burn injury lawyer in Gloucester County as soon as possible. An attorney can manage the dispute while you rest and recover. 

Can I File a Lawsuit for a Work-Related Burn Injury? 

Workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance system. This means that you don’t have to prove your employer was at fault in order to receive benefits. In exchange for benefits, however, you give up your right to sue your employer in most cases. 

One exception is if your burn injuries were caused by intentional behavior on your employer’s part. If your supervisor intentionally burned you or caused you to be burned, for example, New Jersey law allows you to sue your employer for damages. 

In many cases, a workplace burn injury isn’t caused by the employer or employee doing anything wrong. Instead, the cause is the negligence of another person or party. If your injuries were caused by someone else’s negligence or intentional actions, you may be able to file a lawsuit against that party.

Examples of situations in which you may be able to file a personal injury claim include:

• A delivery driver was making their usual deliveries when another driver ran a red light and crashed into the delivery truck. The truck caught fire and the driver suffered burn injuries. The driver may be able to bring a claim against the driver who ran the red light.
• A construction worker was using an electric tool when the tool malfunctioned, causing an electrical burn. On inspection, the team found the tool had a dangerous hidden defect that caused it to short out, inflicting burns. The worker may be able to sue the tool’s manufacturer for the defect. 
• A restaurant employee was called to a table to speak to an irate customer. During the conversation, the customer threw a bowl of hot soup at the employee, causing burn injuries. The restaurant employee may be able to seek damages from the customer. 

These cases for personal injury can often be filed while you are also receiving workers’ compensation benefits. In a personal injury case, you can seek compensation for the injuries and other costs that workers’ compensation may not cover. 

Talk to an Experienced Gloucester County Burn Injury Lawyer Today

A burn injury can turn an ordinary day at work into a nightmare. Your usual routine evaporates in an instant. Instead, you’re dealing with a medical emergency, extreme pain, permanent scarring, and a lengthy road to recovery – one on which permanent damage may be your constant companion. Worries about the future may be a daily concern. 

If you’ve suffered a burn injury on the job in Gloucester County, don’t wait. Reach out to an experienced New Jersey burn injury attorney today. Contact the team at Petrillo & Goldberg to schedule a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.