Burns

What are burns and what are the grades?

Burns are damage to the skin and underlying tissues caused by heat, but also by electricity, chemicals, radiation, or friction. The severity of a burn is expressed in grades, and that grade largely determines how your recovery proceeds and what lasting consequences you are left with.

First-degree burns

With a first-degree burn, only the top layer of skin is affected. The skin is red, dry, and painful, similar to a severe sunburn. These wounds usually heal within a week without scarring. However, even minor burns can be part of a larger accident resulting in injury.

Second-degree burns

A second-degree burn penetrates deeper and also damages the second layer of skin. It is characterized by blisters, a moist wound bed, and severe pain. Superficial second-degree burns can heal without permanent damage, but deeper wounds often leave scars and require specialized treatment.

Third-degree burns

In a third-degree burn, all layers of skin are destroyed, and sometimes the underlying tissue as well. The skin is white, brown, or charred and is often not painful precisely because the nerve endings are damaged. These wounds do not heal on their own and almost always require skin grafts. They leave permanent scars and can drastically alter your freedom of movement and appearance.

In addition to the severity, the size and location of the burn also play a major role. The size is often expressed as a percentage of your total body surface area. The higher that percentage, the more invasive the treatment and the greater the risk of complications and permanent consequences. Burns on the face, hands, joints, or genitals are particularly severe because they affect your functioning and self-image. A burn over a joint, for example, can lead to stiff scars that permanently restrict your movement.

It is important to realize that the severity of a burn is not always immediately clear. A wound that initially appears superficial may turn out to be deeper than expected. That is why a proper medical assessment and documentation of your injury are so important, also with a view to your compensation. The more serious and extensive the burn, the greater the consequences generally are, and consequently, the compensation you are entitled to. We ensure that all these consequences are carefully documented.

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How do burns occur?

Burns occur in many different situations. Sometimes it involves an accident at home, but very often another party is involved who is responsible for what happened. In that case, you can claim compensation for your damages.

Burns from a workplace accident

The risk of burns is high in the workplace, for example when working with hot liquids, steam, fire, hot machinery, electricity, or chemical substances. Consider a cook burning themselves on boiling oil, a welder or mechanic coming into contact with sparks or hot parts, or an industrial worker dealing with aggressive substances or an explosion. Your employer is legally obliged to ensure a safe workplace, to instruct you properly, and to provide you with the correct protective equipment. If they fail to fulfill this duty of care and you are injured, your employer is, in principle, liable. This liability is strictly regulated by law in favor of the employee, because the legislator wants to protect you. Read more about your rights in the event of a workplace accident.

Burns caused by a defective product

Sometimes burns are caused by an unsafe product, such as an overheated phone, a faulty device, an explosive battery, or a hazardous substance. In such cases, product liability. The producer is then liable for the damage caused by their defective product, even if they are not personally at fault.

Burns from other accidents

You can also sustain burns in a traffic accident, a fire caused by another party, or an accident in a hospitality establishment or at an event. In all cases, the rule applies: if someone else caused the situation or failed to protect you, you can hold them liable. Are you unsure which category your situation falls into? Then take a look at other personal injury claims, or simply submit it to us.

Treatment, recovery and scars

Recovery from burns is often a long and difficult road. Minor burns heal within a few weeks, but deeper and extensive burns involve a process that can take months or even years.

Medical treatment

Severe burns are treated in one of the specialized burn centers in the Netherlands. There, you receive intensive wound care, pain management, and often multiple surgeries, including skin grafts in which healthy skin from another part of your body is transferred. The dressing changes and wound treatments are often very painful and can last for weeks to months. This is usually followed by a long period of rehabilitation, physiotherapy, and exercises to regain your mobility and prevent scarring from immobilizing your joints. For many, this is an exhausting process that requires a great deal of patience and perseverance.

Scars and scar treatment

Almost all deep burns leave scars . These can tighten, itch, discolour, and restrict your freedom of movement. Scar treatment, such as compression garments, silicone therapy, laser treatments, or corrective surgery, is often required for years. The costs of this are part of your damages and can be recovered from the liable party.

Psychological consequences

Burns affect more than just your body. Many people struggle with anxiety, flashbacks, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder following burn trauma. An altered appearance due to scarring can also deeply impact your self-confidence and social life. These psychological consequences are a serious and recognized part of your injury, and the costs of psychological help are included in your compensation.

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Are you entitled to compensation?

You are entitled to compensation when someone else is liable for your burns. The core question is therefore: should someone else have prevented this from happening? In the case of a workplace accident, a defective product, or an accident caused by another party, this is often the case.

We first carefully investigate who is liable and hold that party or their insurer liable on your behalf. Afterwards, we assess all your damages and ensure that they are fully compensated. You do not have to deal with legal texts or difficult conversations with insurers; we do that for you.

It is important to know that insurers and the liable party are not on your side. They have an interest in paying out as little as possible. Therefore, it is wise to engage expert assistance early in the process, before you make any agreements or sign anything. We ensure that your position is strong from start to finish and that you do not miss out on anything you are entitled to. Therefore, keep all supporting documents, photos of your injuries, and receipts for expenses incurred; these help us substantiate your claim.

Contributory negligence and Article 6:101 of the Dutch Civil Code

Sometimes the opposing party claims that you also contributed to the accident. Pursuant to Article 6:101 of the Dutch Civil Code, the compensation may then be reduced. However, insurers rely on this more often than is justified. We critically assess whether such an accusation is valid and refute unfounded allegations, ensuring you receive what you are entitled to. Also, view our working method to see how we handle this.

What damages can you claim?

With burns, the damage can be substantial, precisely because recovery is lengthy and the consequences are often permanent. Your damage is divided into material and immaterial damage.

Material damage

• Medical costs: deductible, treatments, aids, scar treatment and compression garments.
• Loss of income: if you are temporarily or permanently unable to work (fully).
• Travel expenses: to the burn center, hospital, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation.
• Domestic help and informal care: help you need because you can no longer do it yourself.
• Adjustments: to your home, clothing, or workplace.
• Future damage: costs and loss of income that you will incur later.

You can find a complete overview of what falls under this on our page about compensation.

Pain and suffering and scars

In addition to your financial loss, you are entitled to compensation: compensation for your pain, grief, loss of enjoyment of life, and psychological consequences. In the case of burns, compensation for pain and suffering plays an important role because the pain is intense and the recovery is extensive.

Permanent scars, especially on the face or in visible areas, result in higher compensation for pain and suffering, because they confront you with what happened every day and can permanently change your appearance and self-image. The intensity and duration of the pain, the number of surgeries you have had to undergo, and the impact on your daily life also play a role. In the case of severe and extensive burns with permanent scars, the compensation for pain and suffering can be substantial. The exact amount depends heavily on the severity, location, and lasting consequences of your burns; therefore, we always make an individual estimate here instead of working with fixed amounts. You can read more about this on our page about compensation for pain and suffering.

How we assist you personally

Dealing with burns puts you in a vulnerable period. You don't need complicated forms or a lawyer you barely speak to. With us, you get your own dedicated contact person who guides you through the entire process and whom you can simply call with your questions.

We come to you, whether at home, at the burn center, or at the rehabilitation center. We listen to your story, explain everything in plain language, and handle the legal aspects completely for you. We keep you informed every step of the way so that you never feel left in the dark. This allows you to focus your energy on what really matters: your recovery and the people around you.

Completely free for you

Our assistance is 100% free of charge for you. Pursuant to Article 6:96 of the Dutch Civil Code, our costs are paid by the liable party. You therefore keep 100% of your compensation and will never receive a bill from us. We are affiliated with the NIVRE, the National Quality Mark for Personal Injury, and De Letselschade Raad, ensuring you receive expert and reliable assistance.

Take the first step today

You don't have to do this alone. Feel free to contact us without obligation or make an appointment. A first consultation is always free of charge and does not commit you to anything. You will be called back the same working day by someone who is truly there for you and takes the time for you. You are stronger than you think, and we stand beside you, every step of the way.