Many North Carolina and Virginia workers suffer serious burn injuries at work. While employers are required to follow a variety of federal, state, and industry standard guidelines \u2013 employees in both states are entitled to workers compensation benefits regardless of employer fault. In serious burn injury cases, the employer\u2019s insurance company or self-insurance is required to pay for all the reasonable surgeries, doctor visits, and medications the employee needs to be able to manage the pain and be able to maximize the chances of recovery. If multiple skin grafts are needed and the burns are deep and extensive, the cost for the medical care can become quite expensive.<\/p>\n
Whenever a worker suffers any type of burn injury, it is crucial to get medical help as soon as possible. The burn victim should immediately contact the supervisor and then get emergency help.<\/span><\/p>\n If a person\u2019s clothing catches fire, the first priority is to be able to put out the flames. The person should be helped to stop, drop, and roll. All burned clothing should be removed from the worker. The worker should then be given something to wrap their body in such as a jacket or blanket. All burn victims who catch fire will need emotional help as well as physical help.<\/span><\/p>\n According to the <\/span>Centers for Disease Control<\/span><\/a> (CDC), any jewelry, belts, and rings should be removed immediately because burned areas often swell.<\/span><\/p>\n There are three types of burns \u2013 first, second, and third degree<\/span><\/p>\n Electrical jolts, shocks, or burns often aren\u2019t visible like thermal burns \u2013 though the damage is often deep underneath the skin. The electrical burn can cause heart problems and even cardiac arrest. Many electrical burn victims suffer breathing problems and loss of consciousness in addition to heart problems.<\/span><\/p>\n The best treatment is to seek immediate medical help. In addition, care should be taken to remove the burn victim from any electrical source by using an object that doesn\u2019t\u2019 conduct electricity. The source of the electricity that caused the burn should be cut off. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) may be required. <\/span><\/p>\n Mining and other industries are especially prone to cause serious chemical burns<\/span><\/p>\n According to the <\/span>Mayo Clinic<\/span><\/a>,, strong acids, lyes, paint thinners, and gasoline are among some of the causes of chemical burns. If an employee has a chemical burn:<\/span><\/p>\n If the employee is in shock (is pale, fainted, or has difficulty breathing), the chemical burn is deep (penetrating the first layer of the skin), or the burn involves the eyes, hands, feet, face, buttocks, groins, or a major joint \u2013 then emergency medical help should be called for.<\/span><\/p>\n Recovery for Scarring and Disfigurement from Burns <\/span><\/p>\n Often, there are terrible scars or disfigurement left on the skin as a result of severe burns. Unfortunately, under the laws in North Carolina and Virginia, separate recovery for scarring or disfigurement is extremely limited, unless the scarring is so severe that it interferes with one\u2019s ability to work, such as restriction in the range of motion or limited use of the disfigured area that prevents you from returning to work. In that regard, such cases are treated just like a <\/span>regular comp case<\/span><\/a>. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In Virginia, if you are able to return to work, you are only entitled to a maximum of 60 weeks of temporary total disability payments for scarring and disfigurement. <\/span><\/p>\n In North Carolina, if the disfigurement is on the head or face, the maximum payment is $20,000.00. Elsewhere on the body, it\u2019s only $10,000.00. <\/span><\/p>\n Also, as with all workers compensation cases, there are no payments for pain and suffering. All payments are determined by statute. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Burn injuries can require long-term medical care. Employees may not be able to return to work for months, years, or, in severe cases, never. North Carolina and Virginia attorney Joe Miller Esq. has been helping injured workers get their benefits and legal recoveries for over 26 years. He has helped thousands of employees get their full workers\u2019 compensation<\/a> benefits. For help now, please phone us at <\/span>(888) 694-1671<\/b> or complete our contact form.<\/span><\/p>\n Head trauma of all types is a very common workplace injury. An employee can suffer a head injury due to a slip and fall<\/a>, an automobile or truck accident, a piece of equipment that doesn\u2019t work, or an object that falls from above. Head injuries can happen to:<\/span><\/p>\n The brain is made of soft tissue which can be easily damaged. Inside the skull is a cerebrospinal fluid layer that helps protect the brain from the skull. A concussion happens when a blow to the head causes the brain to pass through the fluid and strike the skull.<\/span><\/p>\n If a head injury, concussion, or brain trauma is suspected; your physician will conduct several types of tests:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Head trauma victims will often be seen by several doctors such as a neurosurgeon, a neurologist, and a psychiatrist , psychologist, or a neuropsychologist. Other professional help can include social workers, speech and language pathologists, recreational therapists, and a traumatic brain injury nurse specialist. <\/span><\/p>\n Some milder head injuries can heal within days, weeks, or months. In serious cases, the first thing an emergency team will examine is that the employee\/patient has an adequate supply of oxygen and blood. They will also work to make sure the patient\u2019s blood pressure is monitored.<\/span><\/p>\n Some serious traumatic brain injuries<\/a> which can last a lifetime. Symptoms can include:<\/span><\/p>\n According to the <\/span>Mayo Clinic,<\/span><\/a> medications can include:<\/span><\/p>\n Surgeries can include:<\/span><\/p>\n Head trauma victims may need the following types of treatments:<\/span><\/p>\n Head injury symptoms often don\u2019t show themselves right away. If an employee suffers any blow to the head for any reason, the best course of action is to see a physician right away. The sooner the condition is treated, the better the chances for a recovery will be. Also, delay in treatment can be taken as a sign or proof that the injury happened outside of work. Employers and insurance companies will look for any excuse to say your injuries are not work-related.<\/span><\/p>\n You should be paid for all of your medical bills until you reach a state of Maximum Medical Improvement. This means that your hospital, therapy, and other bills will be paid until it is clear than additional medical treatment will not help you get any better.<\/span><\/p>\n The amount of income you receive will depend on the extent of your recover<\/span><\/p>\nThermal burn injuries<\/i><\/b><\/h2>\n
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Electrical burn victims<\/i><\/b><\/h2>\n
Chemical burns<\/i><\/b><\/h2>\n
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Speak with an experienced North Carolina and Virginia Worker\u2019s Compensation Lawyer Today<\/i><\/b><\/h2>\n
Head Injuries, Concussions, and Workers\u2019 Compensation<\/b><\/h1>\n
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Common head trauma tests<\/i><\/b><\/h2>\n
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What to do after a head injury<\/i><\/b><\/h2>\n
Your work status and benefits<\/i><\/b><\/h2>\n
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