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Burn injury claims

Severe burns can be traumatising and life changing.

Serious burn injuries can result in permanent disfigurement, scarring and psychological upset. At Hugh James, we know how distressing severe burns can be for the client and their family.

Burns do not just affect the skin; they can also affect joints, damage nerves, result in horrendous pain and reduce mobility. Facial scarring can be particularly disfiguring and psychologically distressing.

After acute care in a dedicated burns unit long term rehabilitation may be required including further surgery. Incidents that cause severe burns can occur in any setting, with the most common being:

  • Commercial kitchens, such as a restaurant
  • Construction sites
  • Road traffic collisions
  • House fires
  • In a residential or educational setting

At Hugh James, specialist team of burn injury lawyers want to ensure you obtain practical, clinical, and financial support to aid your physical and mental recovery.

Claiming the compensation you deserve will help ensure you get the right care. The physical impact of scars and burns can lead to a loss of confidence, as can the need to rely on others during recovery. Many people are unable to work, enjoy hobbies such as sports and exercise, or even play with their children or grandchildren as they would like.

While no amount of money can erase the trauma and effects of what you have experienced, a compensation claim will help cover injury-related expenses. This will allow you to concentrate on your rehabilitation process without the financial burden. Your compensation could also help cover recovery costs, such as ongoing treatment and medication.

While flames are the leading cause of burns, these injuries can also be caused by:

  • Chemicals
  • Electricity
  • Friction
  • Sunlight
  • Radiation
  • Steam
  • Hot liquid

Burns and scalds can cause severe, long-lasting injuries. Even the smallest burn can result in excruciating pain and scarring. The effects of severe burns vary depending on the burn site and cause. As mentioned, some clients require substantial cosmetic surgery following the incident.

If you have suffered a severe burn, you could be entitled to make a compensation claim.
Our team of burn injury lawyers work hard to ensure those with burn injuries receive practical support from the first day they leave the acute hospital setting including, if possible, a dedicated independent case manager, who will help plan your treatment in the crucial first 6 months after discharge from hospital. Contact us today for free, no obligation advice.

Get help today

If you’ve suffered a burn injury, our expert personal injury solicitors can help you claim compensation.



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Jake’s story

Jake, a 13-year-old boy, suffered a life-altering accident while fishing on land owned by the Defendant Council. An electrical arc from overhead power lines or a pylon electrocuted him, resulting in 32% burns to his body, extensive muscle and tendon damage, and ultimately, a below-the-knee amputation.

After enduring 28 surgeries to his hands, feet, and lower limbs, Jake’s physical, mental, and psychological well-being have been permanently impacted, affecting his educational, vocational, and leisure pursuits.

Hugh James secured a settlement of £4.1 million, acknowledging the profound and enduring consequences of Jake’s injuries. This compensation aims to support Jake in adapting to his new reality and ensuring his ongoing care and well-being.

Read more about Jake’s story here.

Jeanne Evans who acted on Jake’s behalf said:

The day this accident occurred changed the life of this courageous young man and his family. By putting in place a Case Manager to help guide him and by sourcing the right expert evidence as part of the compensation claim, for example in relation to state of the art prosthetics, we have secured this young man’s entitlement to make choices about his future.

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Your questions answered

During your free, no obligation consultation our specialist solicitors will discuss whether you are entitled to make a claim. If negligence is established, we will discuss the various options with you, including the no win, no fee element of your injury claim. You will be provided with a step-by-step breakdown of how we will proceed with your compensation claim without obligation to proceed.

In most cases, claims are funded on a no win, no fee basis, which are known as Conditional Fee Agreements (CFAs).

This means that if your case is unsuccessful, you will not have to pay anything. We will only take on your case if, after assessing your claim, we decide that there is a reasonable chance of success. Our initial consultation is free, so you won’t pay a penny if we don’t accept your case.

Only an exceedingly small percentage of personal injury claims will proceed to trial though we do prepare every case in depth to make sure we are ready should it go to court.

The personal injury procedural system is geared towards encouraging parties to be open with each other so that any claims for compensation can be settled without the need for going to court, which can save both time and cost.

It is normal to be nervous and uncomfortable about the prospect of going to court. We understand this and will advise you every step of the way, should your case look likely to progress to a trial.

There are strict time limits in personal injury claims. The usual rule is that a potential claimant has three years from the date of an incident within which to bring a claim for compensation.

In the case of children, their three-year limitation period will not start to run until their eighteenth birthday – therefore, their three-year limitation period would not expire until their twenty-first birthday.

Although there is a three-year period within which to bring court proceedings, it is important that you seek legal advice as soon as possible should you believe you might have a claim.


Next steps

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