Burns & Chemical Exposure
Settlements Under the Jones Act.
Jones Act burn and chemical exposure settlements range from $50,000 to $5,000,000+ depending on burn depth and total body surface area. Burns produce some of the highest settlement values in maritime law because they involve extensive hospitalization, multiple surgeries, permanent disfigurement, and long-term psychological impact. Don't let your employer minimize the lifelong consequences of a burn injury.
Common Causes of Maritime Burn Injuries
Flash Fires & Explosions
Offshore platforms and vessel engine rooms contain volatile hydrocarbons, compressed gases, and flammable liquids. Flash fires occur when vapors ignite in a confined space — often during hot work near fuel lines. Explosions add blast injury to thermal burns — TBI, hearing loss, and fractures layered on top of burns — producing the highest settlement values.
Steam Line Ruptures
High-pressure steam systems operate throughout vessel engine rooms and offshore processing facilities. When a steam line ruptures due to corrosion, improper maintenance, or overpressurization, superheated steam at 300°F+ causes deep scald burns almost instantly. Steam transfers heat to skin far more efficiently than dry heat, causing deeper tissue damage.
Chemical Spills & Exposure
Maritime workers on tankers, chemical carriers, and offshore platforms handle caustic chemicals, drilling fluids, acids, and solvents daily. Chemical burns result from direct skin contact or splash exposure. Inhalation injuries occur when volatile chemicals produce toxic fumes in enclosed spaces — tank cleaning and confined space entry are common scenarios.
Electrical Arc Flash
Electrical systems on vessels and platforms can produce arc flash events — temperatures exceeding 35,000°F for a fraction of a second. Arc flash burns are among the most severe, often combined with blast pressure, molten metal spatter, and electrical injury to internal organs.
Engine Room Fires
Engine rooms concentrate fuel, lubricants, hot surfaces, and electrical equipment in a confined space. Engine room fires produce thermal burns, smoke inhalation, and chemical exposure simultaneously. Inadequate fire suppression systems, missing fire dampers, and blocked escape routes are common negligence factors in these devastating incidents.
Burn & Chemical Exposure Settlement Ranges
Settlement values vary significantly based on burn depth, total body surface area (TBSA), number of surgeries, and permanent scarring. These ranges reflect Gulf Coast maritime verdicts and settlements from 2020–2026.
| Injury Type | Settlement Range | Key Value Drivers |
|---|---|---|
| First-Degree Burns (superficial) | $50,000 – $150,000 | Extent of coverage, pain/suffering, lost work time |
| Second-Degree Burns (partial thickness) | $200,000 – $600,000 | Scarring, infection complications, skin graft needs |
| Third-Degree Burns (full thickness) | $600,000 – $2,000,000 | Multiple surgeries, permanent scarring, contracture risk |
| Catastrophic Burns (>30% TBSA) | $2,000,000 – $5,000,000+ | ICU stay, dozens of surgeries, lifetime care, disfigurement |
| Chemical Burns (skin) | $200,000 – $800,000 | Chemical type, depth of tissue damage, scarring |
| Chemical Inhalation Injury | $500,000 – $2,500,000 | Respiratory damage, long-term lung function loss |
| Flash Fire / Explosion | $800,000 – $4,000,000+ | Blast injury + burns, TBI, hearing loss, PTSD |
| Steam Burns | $300,000 – $1,200,000 | Deep tissue damage, severity of scald area |
TBSA = Total Body Surface Area. Ranges based on publicly disclosed Jones Act settlements and federal court verdicts in the Fifth Circuit (Texas, Louisiana) and Gulf Coast jurisdictions, 2020–2026. Individual results vary.
Factors That Increase Burn Settlement Value
Total Body Surface Area (TBSA)
The percentage of body surface area affected is the single most important factor in burn case valuation. Burns covering more than 20% TBSA typically require ICU-level care, and burns exceeding 30% TBSA often involve months of hospitalization with multiple surgical interventions.
Burn Depth & Location
Full-thickness (third-degree) burns that destroy all skin layers and underlying tissue produce higher settlements than partial-thickness burns. Burns to the face, hands, and genitals carry additional value due to functional impairment and disfigurement.
Number of Surgeries
Serious burn cases require multiple procedures: debridement, skin grafting, scar revision, and contracture release. Patients with extensive burns may undergo 20 to 40+ surgeries over a period of years. Each surgical intervention adds medical costs and extends the recovery timeline.
Permanent Scarring & Disfigurement
Burn scars are permanent. Hypertrophic scarring, keloid formation, and contractures produce lifelong physical limitations and significant pain and suffering damages. Disfigurement — particularly facial scarring — adds a substantial non-economic damage component.
Psychological Impact
Burn injuries produce PTSD at rates significantly higher than other injury types. Depression, anxiety, body image disorders, and social withdrawal are well-documented. These psychological damages are compensable under the Jones Act as independent, recoverable harm.
Employer Negligence Evidence
Strong negligence evidence — documented safety violations, ignored hot-work protocols, missing fire suppression equipment, inadequate PPE — directly increases settlement value. Willful violations create exposure to punitive damages.
Gulf Coast Burn Injury Verdict Examples
Deckhand suffered second and third-degree burns over 35% TBSA in a flash fire on a production platform. Hot work was being performed without a fire watch or gas testing. Eastern District of Louisiana.
Engine room steam burn on a supply vessel. Steam line with known corrosion ruptured during pressurization. Crew had reported the deteriorated line twice in the prior month. Southern District of Texas.
Chemical burns to hands and forearms during tank cleaning on a chemical tanker. Employer failed to provide chemical-resistant gloves rated for the product being handled. Settled pre-trial.
Flash fire in pump room of an offshore drilling rig. Hydrocarbon vapor buildup due to non-functional ventilation system. Worker suffered burns and inhalation injury. Employer had been cited by BSEE for ventilation deficiencies six months prior. Fifth Circuit.
These are publicly reported outcomes. Individual case results depend on the specific facts, injury severity, and jurisdiction.
Long-Term Medical Costs for Burn Injuries
Maintenance & Cure for Burn Injuries
Your employer owes maintenance and cure immediately upon injury. For burn cases, the cure component is often the most significant because the treatment course is lengthy and expensive. Cure covers all reasonable and necessary medical treatment until you reach genuine Maximum Medical Improvement — which for serious burns can be 2 to 5+ years after the injury due to the staged nature of burn reconstruction.
If your employer attempts to declare premature MMI to stop paying for ongoing burn treatment, this is a common employer defense tactic that courts view unfavorably — particularly when the plaintiff still has scheduled surgeries.
Frequently Asked Questions About Burn Settlements
How much is a Jones Act burn injury case worth?
Settlement value depends on burn severity (depth and TBSA), number of surgeries required, extent of permanent scarring, lost earning capacity, and the strength of your negligence evidence. Minor burns settle in the $50,000–$150,000 range. Moderate burns requiring skin grafting range from $200,000 to $600,000. Severe and catastrophic burns regularly produce settlements of $1,000,000 to $5,000,000+ — particularly when the employer's negligence is well-documented.
What are the most common causes of burns on offshore platforms?
Flash fires during hot work operations, steam line ruptures in engine rooms, chemical spills during handling or tank cleaning, electrical arc flash, and hydrocarbon vapor ignition due to inadequate ventilation. Most offshore burn incidents involve at least one preventable employer negligence factor — failed fire suppression, missing gas monitoring, inadequate PPE, or deferred maintenance on pressurized systems.
Can I get compensation for scarring and disfigurement under the Jones Act?
Yes. Permanent scarring and disfigurement are compensable as non-economic damages (pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life) under both Jones Act negligence and unseaworthiness claims. Facial scarring, visible scarring on exposed areas, and scarring that restricts joint movement (contractures) carry the highest valuation. Expert testimony from plastic surgeons on future scar revision needs further supports these damage claims.
How long do burn injury Jones Act cases take to settle?
Burn cases are among the longest to resolve — typically 18 to 36 months, and sometimes longer. This is because burn treatment is staged over months or years (debridement, grafting, scar maturation, revision surgery), so reaching genuine MMI takes longer than most other injury types. The case timeline depends on when your medical treatment stabilizes sufficiently to quantify total damages.
See average Jones Act settlement amounts by injury type for comparison data across all maritime injuries, including back, TBI, and wrongful death cases.
If your employer is paying $25–$40/day during recovery, you may be entitled to significantly more. Review current Texas maintenance and cure daily rates for 2026 to know your rights.
Not sure if you qualify for a Jones Act claim? Take our seaman eligibility quiz based on the 30% vessel-time test.
If a company doctor has declared you at MMI while you still need burn reconstruction surgeries, learn how to dispute a premature MMI determination and protect your maintenance and cure benefits.
Burn cases with employer safety violations may support punitive damages on top of your compensatory settlement.
Find a Local Jones Act Attorney
Injured on the Gulf Coast? Connect with a Jones Act lawyer who handles maritime cases in your area.
Protect Your Burn or Chemical Exposure Claim
Burn and chemical exposure injuries are medically complex and produce some of the highest-value Jones Act claims. Your settlement must cover years of surgical reconstruction, permanent scarring, and lost earning capacity.