Even when the season for sun and lazing year-round is over, people still want to achieve that gold glow from spending a week at the beach. In the modern world, where there is less time and opportunity to get a good tan, tanning beds have become increasingly popular. Like any other business, tanning salons are expected to uphold a standard of care and provide safe facilities and services to their customers. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case, and sometimes lying on a tanning bed is not much safer than lying under the sun.
Either because of a manufacturing error or employees who do not act responsibly, tanning salons can put their customers at risk of serious injuries, burns, and even infections. If you suffered a severe burn while using a tan bed and believe the salon is at-fault for your injuries, you may be eligible to recover financial compensation. At The Cartwright Law Firm, our experienced team of personal injury lawyers is prepared to discuss your legal options and help you understand your rights.
How Does a Sunbed Tanning Injury Happen?
The key to tanning with sunbeds is exposure to the ultraviolet (UV) radiation they emit. UV radiation is an unseen wave of energy that accompanies normal sunlight. Overexposure to UV rays can cause burns, premature aging and put you at increased risk of skin cancer. In fact, according to a study cited by the study of Translational Behavioral Medicine, over 3,000 people seek emergency room treatment each year after a tanning burn injury, with over 75% percent of those visits being due to erythema.
Burns from tanning beds can range from mildness, redness, and sensitivity to severe blistering and peeling. These injuries are often painful and may require prompt medical treatment. Before hopping on to a tanning bed, the salon should inform you of the best tanning package for your skin type. If you have no experience with tanning, you should use a low-wattage bed and have shorter tanning sessions until you’ve developed a tolerance for the bulbs and temperature levels.
A tanning salon operator may be held responsible for any injuries caused by a tanning bed if they know you are new to tanning and set your time too high or assign you a stronger bed. Additionally, according to safety guidelines, tanning salon employees are required to replace all bulbs at the same time. Replacing only the faulty bulbs will result in the bulbs giving off unequal temperature levels. When this happens, customers may experience sporadic burn injuries all over their bodies.
Treatment For First-Degree Burns from Tanning Beds
Similar to burns from the sun, tanning beds can leave you with stinging, red skin. Unlike the sun, however, tanning beds can cause burns in spots that the sun usually doesn’t reach. In response to first-degree sunbed burns, your skin may begin to peel and form blisters. If you end up with a tanning burn injury, you will need to help your skin cool down by giving it some extra pampering.
Consider the following treatment options for a first-degree burn:
Applying aloe vera
- Taking over-the-counter pain medication
- Using a cool compress
- Taking a cold shower
- Applying lotions or oils containing vitamin E
- Hydrating with cold water
While most first-degree burns do not require treatment from a doctor, you should schedule an evaluation with your physician if your burn does not show signs of healing within 48 hours or worsens. You should seek immediate medical care for severe burns with symptoms such as consistent pain, swelling, fever, or discharge. If the blisters are bigger than two inches or become infected, consult your doctor as soon as possible.
Liability in Tanning Bed Injury Cases
Suffering skin damage after using a tanning bed doesn’t always mean you can make a claim. If you were burned using a tanning bed, you’d need to be able to prove that you were injured due to the negligence of the salon. When salons fail to abide by the strict laws around the use of sunbeds, they risk being held liable for any injuries clients suffer.
Here are some of the responsibilities businesses operating sunbeds should abide by:
- Checking ID and ensuring customers are over 18
- Maintaining sunbeds for safe use by carrying out regular maintenance
- Providing customers with proper instruction
- Warning customers of the risks of tanning bed use
To establish liability in a lawsuit against a tanning salon, you must prove that the salon breached its duty of care and, as a result of this breach, you were injured. Several parties, including the tanning salon, equipment manufacturer, or business operating the bed, may be found liable for any resulting injuries.
What Compensation Could Be Available for Tanning Burn Injuries?
After a burn injury, various factors, such as the severity of your injury and the extent of the damages you’ve suffered, are used to determine the compensation you can claim after a burn injury. If a salon’s negligence or the negligence of its employee caused your burn injury, the compensation you recover should cover losses stemming from the accident.
Compensation for tanning bed injuries may include:
- Medical bills and expenses (including costs of future treatment)
- Lost earnings or wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Emotional pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
Treating tanning bed burns can become costly and time-consuming. If you were injured due to the actions of a negligent employee or even a faulty tanning bed, it is essential to seek legal advice. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help determine whether you have grounds for a lawsuit and assist you in navigating the complex legal process.
How a Personal Injury Attorney in Discovery Bay Can Help
We understand the pain victims of tanning bed injuries endure in the wake of such incidents, and our team at The Cartwright Law Firm is prepared to help you navigate the complicated process of claiming under personal injury. Contact us for your free, no-obligation consultation today, and let us help you recover the compensation you need and deserve to move forward.
