President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990, which stipulated that employers and other organizations could not discriminate based on disability – generally defined as a mental or physical impairment. The act was good news for millions, including those suffering from burns.

One of the biggest challenges to burn victims is to convince the ADA their injury falls under the definition of disability. A person may have a burn injury that is very unsightly or perhaps somewhat limiting, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it is covered under the ADA. The ADA has lost some of its influence in recent years, due to certain legal decisions. The act also has come to have an increasingly narrow definition of disability and has been most effective for only the most severe and long lasting burn injuries.

Burn victims need extensive treatment

 Many burn victims find it difficult to get a job. Their appearance may be off-putting and they may need extensive time off from work for treatment or therapy. It isn’t uncommon for a person suffering from serious burns to undergo treatment or counseling for many years.

Employers are encouraged to take steps to make the work environment easier not only for burn victims, but for other employees. Such steps might include educating employees on how to treat a co-worker who has burn injuries, making specialized equipment or resources available or even transferring the employee to another position or location.

Houston burn injury attorneys can help

If you are a burn victim and feel you are being discriminated against, know your rights. An experienced burn injury attorney can assist you.

If you or a loved one has been injured or burned in a car accident, contact a burn injury lawyer or car accident lawyer from Jim S. Adler & Associates. The firm offers a free case evaluation.

Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri | Montana | Nebraska | Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | New York | North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee | Utah | Vermont | Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming

Along with its Houston principal offices, Jim S. Adler & Associates has offices at City Place Building, 2711 North Haskell Ave., Suite 2100 LB40, Dallas, Texas 75204-2887; Bank of America, 12605 East Freeway, Suite 400, Houston, Texas 77015-5619 (serving Channelview, Texas); and San Pedro Plaza, 7330 San Pedro Ave., Suite 700, San Antonio, Texas 78216-6237.