How To Sue For A Scald Injury

Have you been scalded or burned in an accident and are now wondering whether you can sue for a scald injury? If so, our guide could help.

Our guide aims to cover the information you need to know about making a personal injury claim. For example, we will explore the eligibility criteria for holding a valid claim as well as the evidence you could collect to support your case.

Additionally, we will explore what a scald injury is and how one could be sustained.

However, if you still have questions after reading this guide, you can call our team. Our advisors are available to provide free legal advice 24/7. To get in touch:

About Suing For A Scald Injury

  1. Can I Sue For A Scald Injury?
  2. Scald Injury Statistics
  3. What Scalds And Burns Could I Claim Compensation For?
  4. What Evidence Do I Need To Sue For A Scald Injury?
  5. Compensation Payout Examples For A Scald Injury
  6. How To Sue For A Scald Injury With A No Win No Fee Solicitor
  7. Get Free Legal Advice And Make A Claim

Can I Sue For A Scald Injury?

Although scald or burn injuries cause similar symptoms, they are caused by different things. According to the NHS, dry heats, such as an open flame, can cause a burn. Whereas hot water or steam can cause a scald.

Symptoms could include:

  • Red or peeling skin.
  • Blisters.
  • Swelling.
  • White or charred skin.

Burns can lead to serious and long-lasting consequences. For example, permanent scarring and infection. If you’ve suffered from a burn at work, in a public place or anywhere else that wasn’t your fault, you might be able to make a personal injury claim.

To make a successful claim for a scald or burn, you must prove that someone else breached the duty of care they owed you causing you to sustain harm. This is defined as negligence. We will explore what duty of care means later in this guide.

For further information on how to sue for a scald injury, you can speak with a member of our team.

Scald Injury Statistics

Burns and scalds affect both adults and children every year. The British Burn Association and Children’s Burn Trust teamed up to provide statistics on the most serious burns and scalds for National Burn Awareness Day in 2020.

They reported that 8,245 adults were scalded or burned in 2019. They also reported that the top causes for burns and scalds were:

  • Kettle spills.
  • Hot fluids.
  • Fat (e.g. spitting from a frying pan).
  • Other chemicals.

Additionally, they reported that 7,061 children were burned or scalded in 2019. The top causes that caused children to suffer from a burn or scald were:

  • Tea or coffee cup.
  • Electric ovens.
  • Hair straighteners.
  • Hot fluids.

What Scalds And Burns Could I Claim Compensation For?

There are many types of burns you could have experienced and many scenarios in which you can sue for a scald injury.

Employers must adhere to a piece of legislation called the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA). It states that they owe employees a duty of care whilst in the workplace. As part of their duty of care, your employer must do all they reasonably can to prevent employees from sustaining harm in the workplace.

Additionally, the person in control of a public space must adhere to the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957. It’s a piece of legislation that states that the person in control of a public space must do all they reasonably can to ensure that it is safe for the intended use. This could be your local council, for example.

If a third party failed to uphold their duty of care, you could suffer a scald or burn in an injury. For example, your employer may not provide the appropriate protective equipment at your lab job where you handle dangerous chemicals. As a result, you could sustain a chemical burn.

Alternatively, your waiter may spill a hot coffee over you due to bringing over a tray that was overfilled. As a result, you could experience a scald from hot water in a restaurant.

Get in touch for more information on suing for a personal injury.

What Evidence Do I Need To Sue For A Scald Injury?

When you sue for a scald injury, you should provide relevant evidence to support your claim, such as:

For more information on evidence you could provide in support of your claim, get in touch.

Compensation Payout Examples For A Scald Injury

The compensation table below contains guideline compensation brackets from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). Solicitors often use this to help them value the general damages head of claim. General damages seek to provide compensation for the physical and mental pain and suffering you have suffered due to your injury. This is one of the heads of claim that could be included in your settlement.

Compensation amounts can vary depending on your specific circumstances, so you should use these figures as a guide only.

InjurySeverityGuideline Compensation Amounts
Facial Disfigurement(a) Very Severe -
A severe psychological reaction and a very disfiguring cosmetic effect.		£29,780 - £97,330
Facial Disfigurement(b) Less Severe - Substantial facial disfigurement and psychological harm.£17,960 - £48,420
Facial Disfigurement(c) Significant - Plastic surgery will have helped with the worst of the disfigurement. Scarring may visible form a distance.£9,110 - £30,090
Facial Disfigurement(d) Less Significant - Could be one significant scar or multiple smaller scars.£3,950 - £13,740
Facial Disfigurement(e) Trivial - There is only a small effect.£1,710 - £3,530
Scarring to Other Parts of the BodySignificant burns covering 40% or more of the body.Likely to exceed £104,830
Scarring to Other Parts of the BodyA single disfiguring scar affecting the legs, arms, hands, back or chest.£7,830 to £22,730
Scarring to Other Parts of the BodyA single noticeable scar or lots of superficial scar affecting the limbs.£2,370 to £7,830

Additionally, you may receive special damages within your settlement. These seek to compensate you for the financial losses you have suffered and will suffer in the future as a result of your injury. This can include medical expenses, care costs and loss of earnings. Providing evidence of these losses, such as bank statements or invoices, could help you in your claim.

Contact us for more information on the compensation you could claim if you’re eligible to sue for a scald injury.

How To Sue For A Scald Injury With A No Win No Fee Solicitor

You could access the services of your solicitor under a type of No Win No Fee arrangement. There are many types including a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA).

Under a CFA, you won’t pay for a solicitor’s services if your claim fails. However, if your case succeeds, you’ll pay your solicitor a percentage of your compensation, called a success fee. The amount is capped by law.

For more information on how to sue for a scald injury with help from a No Win No Fee solicitor, speak to us today.

Get Free Legal Advice And Make A Claim

Although we’ve tried to include as much information as possible in our guide, you may have other questions.

If you are still wondering how to sue for a scald injury, please speak with our team today. We can offer you free legal advice about your claim.

To get in touch:

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For more guidance about how to sue for a scald injury, speak with us today.

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