Can I Sue for Chemical Burns?

Chemical burns can occur anywhere — in workplaces, homes, or public spaces — often leaving victims with severe injuries that require extensive medical treatment and time away from work. If you’ve suffered chemical burns in Pennsylvania, you have the right to pursue legal action against those responsible for your injuries.

The physical, emotional, and financial toll of a chemical burn injury can be overwhelming. Beyond the immediate medical costs, many victims face long-term rehabilitation, lost income, and permanent scarring. Pennsylvania law provides several paths to compensation, including personal injury claims, workers’ compensation, and product liability lawsuits.

At Munley Law, our personal injury attorneys have extensive experience handling chemical burn cases throughout Pennsylvania. We understand the complexity of these cases and work to identify all potentially liable parties to maximize your compensation.

Contact our law firm today for a free consultation to discuss your chemical burn injury case.

What Are Chemical Burns and How Do They Occur?

Chemical burns happen when strong acids, bases, or other corrosive substances come into contact with skin or other tissues. These injuries frequently occur in industrial settings, but they also result from defective consumer products, improper storage of chemicals, or negligent handling of dangerous substances.

Legal Basis for Chemical Burn Claims in Pennsylvania

Depending on how and where the injury occurs, chemical burn claims can involve multiple areas of law. 

Property owners must maintain safe premises and warn visitors about potential chemical hazards. When they fail to meet these obligations, they may be held liable for resulting injuries.

Manufacturers also bear responsibility for injuries caused by their products. This includes both industrial chemicals and everyday household products. If a chemical product lacks proper warnings, has defective packaging, or is unreasonably dangerous even when used as directed, the manufacturer could be responsible for resulting injuries.

In workplace settings, most severe chemical burns are covered by workers’ compensation insurance. However, these cases sometimes extend beyond standard workers’ compensation claims. If your burns resulted from a third party’s negligence — such as an equipment manufacturer or maintenance contractor — you may have grounds for additional legal action.

Pennsylvania Courts and Burn Injury

Pennsylvania courts have consistently upheld victims’ rights to compensation in burn injury cases. For example, in several recent cases, courts awarded substantial damages to workers who suffered chemical burns due to improper safety protocols or inadequate protective equipment.

The strength of your case depends largely on establishing clear liability and documenting the full extent of your damages. Evidence must show that another party’s negligence or wrongful actions directly led to your chemical burn injuries.

At Munley Law, we thoroughly investigate each case to build the strongest possible claim for our clients. Contact us to learn more about your legal options.

Pennsylvania-Specific Legal Considerations for Chemical Burn Injuries

Pennsylvania law sets clear guidelines for chemical burn injury claims. The state follows a modified comparative negligence rule, which means you can recover damages even if you were partially at fault for your injury — as long as your share of responsibility doesn’t exceed 50%. Your percentage of fault would reduce your compensation, so if you were 20% responsible, you would receive 80% of the awarded damages.

The statute of limitations gives you two years from the date of your chemical burn to file a legal claim. This deadline is strict, with few exceptions. Missing this window typically means losing your right to seek compensation. However, certain circumstances might extend this timeframe, such as cases where the injury wasn’t immediately apparent or involved a minor.

The good news is that the state’s worker’s compensation system operates alongside personal injury law, creating multiple paths for recovery after a chemical burn. While workers’ compensation provides guaranteed benefits regardless of fault, Pennsylvania law allows injured workers to pursue additional claims against third parties who may share responsibility for their injuries.

Pennsylvania Workplace Safety and Burn Injury

Pennsylvania’s workplace safety regulations go beyond federal OSHA requirements in several areas involving chemical handling and storage. These additional protections create specific standards that employers must follow. When companies fail to meet these state-mandated safety requirements, it can strengthen your case by clearly establishing negligence around chemical exposure.

Product Liability and Burn Injury

Product liability cases in Pennsylvania follow strict liability rules. This means you don’t need to prove the manufacturer was negligent for even minor chemical burns — only that the product was defective and caused your injury. For dangerous chemical products, this often involves inadequate warnings, defective containers, or inherently harmful formulations.

Munley Law’s deep understanding of Pennsylvania injury law allows us to maximize your potential compensation under these state-specific rules. Contact our office to learn how these laws apply to your chemical burn case.

Building Your Chemical Burn Case

If you’ve suffered a chemical burn injury, you should immediately work with your lawyer to begin to collect evidence for a personal injury lawsuit. Medical records serve as the cornerstone of your case, documenting the severity of your burns, required chemical burn treatments, and long-term prognosis. Photos of your injuries, the accident scene, and any chemical containers or warning labels strengthen your personal injury claim.

Expert testimony often plays a key role in chemical burn cases. Medical specialists can explain the extent of your injuries and future medical needs. Chemical safety experts may testify about proper handling procedures and industry standards. These expert opinions help establish liability and support your claim for damages.

Identifying liable parties requires thorough investigation. In workplace incidents, this means examining not just your employer, but also equipment manufacturers, chemical suppliers, and contractors. For consumer product injuries, we look at the entire supply chain, from manufacturers to retailers. Pennsylvania’s comparative negligence rules allow you to seek compensation even if you were partially at fault, as long as you were not more than 50% responsible.

Proving negligence in chemical burn cases presents unique challenges. We must show that another party owed you a duty of care, failed to meet that duty, and directly caused your injuries. This might involve demonstrating inadequate safety measures, improper chemical storage, or failure to provide appropriate protective equipment.

Time management is essential in building your case. Pennsylvania’s two-year statute of limitations means you must file your claim within two years of the injury date. However, gathering evidence and consulting experts takes time. The team at Munley Law can help you meet these deadlines. Contact us to begin working on your chemical burn claim.

Types of Compensation for Chemical Burn Victims

Personal injury cases involving chemical burns can result in several types of compensation. Medical costs often reach substantial amounts, covering emergency treatment, surgeries, skin grafts, and ongoing rehabilitation. These expenses include both current medical bills and the anticipated cost of future treatments, which many chemical burn victims require for years after their injury.

The impact on your ability to work creates another significant financial burden. Chemical burns, especially severe burns, frequently force victims to miss extended periods of work during recovery. Some victims find themselves unable to return to their previous occupation due to permanent injuries or sensitivities. Your compensation should account for both lost wages and any reduction in future earning capacity caused by your injuries.

Chemical burns often leave permanent scarring and disfigurement, particularly when they affect visible areas like the face, neck, or hands. Pennsylvania courts consider these lasting physical changes when determining compensation amounts. These visible injuries can affect personal relationships, job opportunities, and overall quality of life, warranting additional compensation beyond medical expenses.

Workers’ Compensation for Chemical Burns

If your chemical burn occurred at work, workers’ compensation provides coverage for medical treatment and a portion of lost wages, regardless of fault. However, workers’ compensation benefits may not fully cover all your losses. In some cases, you might have additional claims against third parties, such as chemical manufacturers or contractors, allowing you to seek compensation beyond workers’ compensation benefits.

The physical pain and emotional trauma from chemical burns warrant separate consideration. Pennsylvania law allows victims to seek compensation for pain and suffering, accounting for both the intense immediate pain of the injury and any ongoing physical discomfort. The psychological impact, including anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress, also factors into compensation calculations.

Suing for Chemical Burns: The Legal Path Forward

Munley Law understands the complex nature of chemical burn compensation. With our experience handling these cases we can ensure you pursue all available forms of compensation and the state-specific laws that affect your claim. Contact our office today for a free consultation to discuss your chemical burn case and learn about your options for recovery.