Compensation for fire damage

What is fire damage?

A burn occurs when the skin, mucous membranes and deeper tissues are exposed to radiation or intense heat, damaging or killing the skin cells.

Are there different types of fire damage?

Fire damage is normally divided into three categories:

First-degree burns, characterised by red, swollen and painful skin.
Second-degree burns, characterised by the epidermis loosening, the skin surfaces becoming fluid and fluid-filled skin blisters appearing.
Third-degree burns, which are characterised by firm, leathery skin (with colour depending on the mechanism of injury) without sensation.

What is the most common cause of burns?

The most common causes of burns are:

Fire in connection with fire, bonfire or explosions
Hot liquids, such as hot oil or boiling water
Electric current, including lightning strikes

By power damage and lightning strikes, the damage to the skin is minor compared to internal damage to the muscles, nerves and organs.

Where is it common for burns to occur?

Most burns occur in accidents during leisure time, at work and in traffic.

How many burns occur each year?

Fire damage is often serious injuries, and 600 children, firefighters and other patients are hospitalised for such injuries in Norway every year.

What do I do if I have suffered a burn injury?

In the event of a burn injury at work, your employer is obliged to send Claim notification to NAV, and report the injury to the Labour Inspection Authority.

The fire damage must also be reported to the responsible occupational injury insurance company and you must apply for NAV for recognition of the injury as an occupational injury within one year.

After a burn injury in your leisure time or on the road, you should notify your own insurance company or companies of the accident as soon as possible. It is also very important that all symptoms and injuries are thoroughly documented in your medical records.

Am I entitled to compensation for fire damage?

Answer. You may be entitled to compensation for fire damage:

If the injury occurred at work, for the employer at the workplace, during working hours - and is the result of an accident - you are probably entitled to compensation for occupational injury.
If the damage occurred in traffic, you are probably entitled to compensation under the responsible motor vehicle's liability insurance.
If the damage occurred as a result of malpractice in healthcare, you are probably entitled to compensation for patient injury from Norwegian Patient Injury Compensation.
If the injury occurred due to violence, you may be entitled to compensation from the perpetrator, their liability insurance or from Office for Victim Compensation.
If the injury occurred during leisure time you may be entitled to compensation under accident insurances or travel accident insurance if you had such insurance.

Is there a disability table for burn injuries?

Yes. Disability table is the starting point for the assessment of the injured party's medical degree of disability (VMI), and thus what you are entitled to in compensation for loss of earnings after a burn injury, and to determine how much you are entitled to receive under accident insurance policies.

The Disability Table sets out the medical disability percentage for a number of diagnoses and this sets the framework for the assessment of your medical disability, which is determined by a medical expert.

For injuries and illnesses that are not included in the table, the degree of disability is determined on the basis of a discretionary comparison with other injuries covered in the table.

The disability table is set out in a separate regulation called Regulations on workers' compensation for occupational injuries, but is also used in other injury situations, such as after occupational disease, road accidents, leisure accidents, boating accidents and aircraft accidents.

What types of compensation am I entitled to for fire damage?

As an injured person, you may be entitled to the following types of compensation:

If you have a claim related to accident insurance, the amount of compensation will depend on your degree of medical disability, the terms and conditions of the insurance and the amount for which insurance has been taken out.

Read also: How an occupational injury compensation case works

How much can I receive in compensation after fire damage?

For occupational injuries, traffic accidents and other so-called liability cases, the amount of compensation depends on the severity of the injury, the consequences it has had for your ability to work and the expenses you have incurred as a result of the injury.

This will need to be assessed in more detail by a lawyer, but the compensation may amount to several million kroner.

The amount of compensation under accident insurances depends on the degree of medical disability (VMI), the insurance terms and the amount for which insurance has been taken out.

Do I need a lawyer if I suffer fire damage?

Answer. Fire injuries often lead to complicated compensation cases, both legally and medically. It is therefore necessary to contact a lawyer to clarify the insurance companies' liability and the financial consequences of this liability.

Do I have to pay for my own lawyer if I suffer a burn injury?

No, in compensation cases following, for example, occupational injuries and traffic accidents, your legal expenses will normally be covered by the responsible insurance company to a reasonable and necessary extent.

In accident insurance cases following burn injuries during leisure time, you normally have to pay for the lawyer yourself.

If the compensation case after a fire injury goes to court, many people will have a legal expenses insurance which in most cases covers part of the legal fees.

Why should I choose Advokatfirmaet Halvorsen & Co?

Halvorsen & Co is one of the country's leading law firms specialising in fire damage.

Over almost 30 years, our clients have received billions of kroner in compensation. We are nationwide and have only specialised lawyers with extensive experience.

With us, you always get a free call to assess your compensation case. Get in touch with us today.