Burn Injury Lawyers

If your burn happened at (or because of) work, you’re generally entitled to basic weekly workers compensation — no matter who was at fault. This covers:

• Medical and rehabilitation costs: doctor visits, hospital stays, surgery, physio and medication.
• Weekly payments: to replace a portion of your pre-injury income (up to 95%).
• Care and support services: help with daily activities if you can’t manage on your own.
• Travel expenses: getting to and from your medical appointments.

If your burn injury causes permanent impairment, you may be entitled to an additional lump sum payment on top of your weekly benefits. While ‘permanent’ can mean you’re left with physical scars, it can also include:

• Ongoing pain or nerve damage.
• Loss of movement or reduced function in the affected area.
• Disfigurement or lasting cosmetic damage.
• Increased risk of infection or long-term skin problems.

To qualify for a lump sum, you’ll need to undergo a Whole Person Impairment (WPI) assessment. This medical assessment measures how much your injury impacts your day-to-day life. In some states, you’ll also need to meet a minimum WPI threshold before a lump sum can be awarded.

Want to learn more? See our detailed guide to workers compensation claims for permanent impairment.

If your burn was caused by your employer’s negligence, you might be eligible for a common law damages claim. Common examples of employer negligence that can lead to burn injuries include improper safety gear, inadequate training or supervision, and faulty equipment.

Unlikely basic workers compensation payments, a common law claim can result in a substantial, lump sum payment — worth hundreds of thousands (or even millions for severe burns).

On top of your regular workers compensation benefits, a common law claim may cover:

• Future lost income and superannuation.
• Ongoing medical treatment and rehabilitation costs.
• Compensation for pain and suffering.

What is pain and suffering and how is it calculated?

Pain and suffering (also called general damages or non-economic loss) compensates you for the personal impact of your injury.

To qualify, you’ll typically need to meet a minimum impairment threshold. This is a measure of your permanent impairment, assessed by an independent medical specialist.

Depending on your state, this may be called a Most Extreme Case (MEC), Whole Person Impairment (WPI), or Injury Scale Value (ISV). The higher your rating, the greater your potential compensation.

Many states also set maximum limits on pain and suffering payouts. The final amount depends on both the severity of your injury and the state where your claim is made.

Current caps for each state as of 2024 are shown in the table below, and these figures are adjusted yearly in line with inflation.

A strong pain and suffering claim can be life-changing, reflecting the lasting physical, emotional, and lifestyle impacts of your burn. But unlike medical bills or lost income, pain and suffering can’t be proven with receipts — which is why having a specialist burn injury lawyer is so important.

We take the time to understand how the burn has affected your life and turn every impact into a clear, claimable loss. This comprehensive approach ensures you receive the maximum compensation for your burn injury.

If your burn leaves you permanently unable to work, you may qualify for a lump sum payout under your super’s Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) cover.

Many super funds automatically include TPD, so you could be eligible without even knowing it. Not sure? Our burn injury lawyers can review your super policy and entitlements for free.

If your burn temporarily prevents you from working, income protection benefits may help cover living expenses, including:

• Monthly wage replacement.
• Up to 75% of your regular income (including super).
• Payments for a set period, such as 2 years, 10 years, or until retirement.

If you’ve been burned in a car accident, your compensation will depend on factors like your state, the severity of your injuries, and whether you were at fault.

You may be entitled to:

• Lost income: covering wages you’ve missed and future earnings (if the accident wasn’t your fault).
• Pain and suffering: for both the physical and emotional impact of your burn injury.
• Care and support: professional or family help, including assistance with dependents if needed.
• Additional costs: medical bills, travel to treatment, and necessary home or vehicle modifications.

For more details, see our complete guide to motor accident claims.

If you’ve suffered a burn on public, private, or rental property, you may be eligible for a public liability claim. Common scenarios include:

• Burns from faulty electrical equipment or appliances.
• Contact with hot surfaces in rented properties or holiday accommodation.
• Exposure to hazardous chemicals on someone else’s property.
• Scalds from hot liquids and surfaces in restaurants, cafes or bars.

Depending on your circumstances, a public liability claim may cover:

• Lost income and superannuation: for past and future financial losses.
• Care and support: help for you or your dependents if needed.
• Pain and suffering: for both the physical and emotional impact of your burn.
• Additional expenses: medical bills, travel, and necessary modifications to your home or vehicle.

Your exact burn settlement amount will depend on a few factors, like how severely you’re injured and whether you can return to work. For a detailed breakdown, see our full guide to public liability compensation.

If you’ve suffered a burn at work, taking the right steps early can protect your health and your claim.

1. Get medical treatment: Burns at work can be serious, so your health comes first. Make sure to see a doctor for diagnosis and treatment — even if the burns seem minor. Your doctor will provide a certificate of capacity, and their records are crucial evidence for your claim.
2. Report the accident: Notify your employer as soon as possible and request a workers compensation claim form to start the process.
3. Collect witness details: Get names and contact info of anyone who saw the accident, such as colleagues, clients, or supervisors. Their statements can support your claim, especially if negligence is involved.
4. Speak to a burn injury lawyer: In a free consultation, we’ll explain your options, including weekly payments, lump sum compensation, common law damages, and additional benefits. If you choose to work with us, we’ll start your claim immediately and ensure you get any immediate support you need, from medical costs to extra help at home.

If your workers compensation claim for a burn injury is rejected, don’t lose hope: you have the right to appeal. The insurer must provide written reasons for the denial, and you can then request a review of their decision.

To succeed on appeal, you’ll need to show that the insurer made an error in assessing your case, which can be complex. That’s why it’s vital to get legal advice before moving forward.

Our experienced burn injury lawyers have helped many clients overturn denied claims and secure the compensation they deserve. Contact us for a free consultation. We’ll review the insurer’s decision and outline the best path for your appeal.

Managing your income during an appeal

While your appeal is underway, you may need temporary financial support. Depending on your circumstances, you might be able to access:

• Employment entitlements: Use any accrued sick leave, annual leave, or long service leave.
• Income protection through super: Many superannuation funds include income protection cover, which can provide monthly payments while you’re unable to work.
• Government benefits: You may qualify for JobSeeker or the Disability Support Pension if you can’t work.

If you’re unsure what support you can access, we can review your super policy and entitlements free of charge, so you know exactly what options are available.

Burn injuries can vary widely in severity, and some symptoms may appear hours after the initial accident. Depending on how serious the burn is, you might experience:

• Red, irritated, or inflamed skin.
• Swelling or tenderness around the burn area.
• A sharp stinging or burning sensation.
• Discolouration, such as blackened, white, or charred skin.
• Peeling, blistered, or dead skin

The severity and combination of these symptoms often indicate the degree of the burn and can affect the type of treatment and compensation you may be entitled to. 

If you’ve suffered a burn at work, on the road, or due to negligence, it’s important to see your doctor for treatment right away. 

Burn injuries can occur in many workplaces, but certain professions face higher risks due to heat, chemicals, electricity, or open flames. Common examples include:

• Welders and steelworkers: Working with welding equipment, blow torches, or molten metal exposes workers to extreme heat and sparks, making severe burns a real risk without proper training and protective gear.
• Electricians and line workers: Contact with live wires or high-voltage power lines can cause electrical burns, tissue damage, and organ injury if safety protocols and PPE aren’t followed.
• Firefighters: Attending house, commercial, or industrial fires places firefighters at high risk of third-degree burns and smoke inhalation, particularly without adequate protective clothing and training.
• Chefs and kitchen staff: Constant exposure to ovens, stoves, boiling liquids, and hot oils creates a serious risk of burns in kitchens lacking proper equipment, training, or safety measures.
• Laboratory and chemical workers: Handling acids, solvents, or other hazardous chemicals can lead to chemical burns if safety procedures, PPE, or emergency protocols are not in place.
• Construction and industrial workers: Working on worksites with hot machinery, flammable materials, or welding operations increases the risk of thermal or chemical burns.
• Automotive and mechanics staff: Contact with hot engines, exhausts, or chemicals can lead to serious burns without adequate precautions.

While these professions are among the highest risk, burn injuries can occur in almost any workplace where heat, chemicals, or electricity are present. Proper training, protective equipment, and safety protocols are essential to reduce the risk.

Chemical burns are often some of the most serious workplace injuries, causing deep tissue damage, scarring, loss of mobility, or long-term health issues.

Because of this, chemical burn compensation can be substantial, particularly if your injury prevents you from working, requires ongoing treatment, or affects your independence.

Beyond standard workers compensation, a severe chemical burn may entitle you to:

• Permanent impairment lump sum: If your burn leaves lasting physical or mental limitations.
• Common law damages payout: If your employer was negligent, such as failing to provide training, safety equipment, or a safe work environment.
• Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) benefits: If your burn leaves you unable to return to work permanently.

To make sure you claim every type of compensation available, it’s essential to work with a specialist chemical burn lawyer.

Our team has extensive experience handling chemical burn cases and understands the full impact these injuries can have. We approach every claim with care and precision, ensuring you receive compensation for the complete impact of your injury.

What are some common causes of chemical burns at work?

Chemical burns can happen in a wide range of workplaces where hazardous substances are used. Some of the most common causes include:

• Acids and Alkalis: Such as car battery acid, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, and strong drain cleaners.
• Cleaning Chemicals: Bleach, ammonia, degreasers, and industrial disinfectants.
• Solvents and Thinners: Paint thinners, acetone, and other industrial solvents.
• Metal and Surface Treatments: Chemicals used for metal cleaning, etching, or plating.
• Laboratory Chemicals: Acids, bases, and reactive substances used in dental, medical, or scientific labs.
• Pool and Spa Chemicals: Chlorine and other sanitising agents used in pool maintenance.
• Pesticides and Fertilisers: Chemicals used in agriculture or landscaping.
• Industrial Adhesives and Resins: Epoxy resins, strong adhesives, and other reactive compounds.

Yes. If you’ve been in a car accident and suffered burn injuries from an airbag, you may be entitled to compensation through a product liability claim. This involves suing the airbag manufacturer because the airbag was defective or faulty. 

Common examples include:

• Airbags deploying with excessive force and causing chemical or friction burns.
• Faulty airbags that deploy when they shouldn’t (e.g. at low speeds or without impact.
• Airbags failing to deploy correctly, releasing hot gas or fragments that cause burns.
• Poorly manufactured airbags with defective wiring, inflators, or materials.

How to prove a product liability claim

To succeed in a product liability claim, you’ll need to prove a few key things:

• Injury: You suffered burns or other harm from the airbag, supported by medical evidence.
• Defect: The airbag was defective due to a design flaw, manufacturing error, or inadequate warnings or instructions.
• Causation: The defect directly caused, or significantly contributed to, your injury.
• Timing: The defect existed at the time the vehicle or airbag was supplied.
• Proper use: You were using the airbag as intended. If it’s shown you misused the product, this could affect your claim.

What compensation can I get for airbag burns?

The compensation you may receive for airbag burns depends on the circumstances of your accident and the severity of your injuries. Potential entitlements include:

• Lost income: Covering both past and future wages, plus superannuation.
• Pain and suffering: Compensation for the physical pain, emotional distress, and long-term impact on your quality of life.
• Care and support: Assistance from professional carers or family and friends. This may also include compensation if you can no longer care for a dependent.
• Other expenses: Such as medical bills, rehabilitation, travel to appointments, and necessary modifications to your home or vehicle.

What if the airbag wasn’t defective but I was still injured?

If you suffered burns from an airbag during a crash (even if the airbag itself wasn’t faulty), you may still be entitled to compensation through a motor accident claim.

In this situation, you’ll need to prove that another driver’s negligence caused the collision, which then led to your airbag injuries.

Common examples of driver negligence include:

• Running a red light.
• Speeding or dangerous driving.
• Driving while distracted (for example, texting or using a phone).
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Failing to give way or obey road rules.

Yes, if you’ve been burned during laser hair removal due to poor treatment or mistakes by a technician, cosmetic practitioner, or medical professional, you may be eligible for laser hair removal burn compensation.

Unlike most burn injury claims, laser hair removal burns usually fall under medical negligence. That’s because practitioners owe their clients a legal duty of care to carry out treatment with reasonable skill and safety. If yours failed to do so, you may have a claim.

How to prove medical negligence

To succeed in a claim, you generally need to show four things:

1. Duty of care: The person performing your treatment owed you a duty of care. This is straightforward if they were a registered nurse, doctor, or licensed cosmetologist. But if the treatment was done by an unqualified or unlicensed person (for example, a beauty salon assistant with no formal training), you’ll need evidence of what’s reasonably expected of someone in that role.
2. Breach of duty: The practitioner breached their duty by acting (or failing to act) in a way that a reasonably skilled professional would not have.
3. Causation: You must show the burn was a direct result of that negligence. In other words, if not for their actions, you wouldn’t have been injured.
4. Injury and loss: You need to demonstrate the impact, such as medical expenses, lost income, or pain and suffering.

How much compensation can I get for a laser hair removal burn?

A successful medical negligence claim can result in a significant lump sum payout. Depending on your situation, your compensation may cover:

• Lost income: Both past earnings and future capacity to work.
• Medical expenses: Including treatment, surgery, and scar management.
• Care and support: From professionals, family, or friends. This includes compensation if you can no longer care for a dependent.
• Pain and suffering: Recognising the lasting physical, emotional, and lifestyle impact of your laser burn injury.

If you’ve been injured by a negligent laser hair removal provider, our burn injury lawyers can help. We have extensive experience in this area and know how to secure the maximum compensation available to you.