Were Your Burn Injuries Someone Else’s Fault?

The American Burn Association, relying on CDC data, states that as of 2016, around 486,000 people were admitted to Emergency Departments with burn-related injuries each year. That’s almost one burn injury every minute.

The mortality rate for burn injuries is low, statistically speaking. What the statistics do not convey is the pain, suffering, scarring, anguish, and permanent disabilities which can result from burn injuries.

You could be burned in many types of accidents: house fires, car accidents, truck accidents, and workplace hazards and thermal, chemical and electrical incidents. The result is a painful injury that could have lifelong consequences. In addition to intense pain, you may have to endure skin grafts, lengthy rehabilitation, and disfigurement.

How do you know what compensation may be available for your burn injury? How much should you seek? Who from? How do you place a value on care you might need in the future as the result of your injury? Our personal injury lawyers have experience in burn cases. Put that experience and our resources to work for you to help you answer those questions.

What Kind of Burn Injury Did You Suffer?

Types of burn injuries may include:

• Thermal burn injury from contact with a flame, as you might encounter in a car accident or house fire
• Chemical burn, which may result from exposure to a dangerous household product or a chemical in a workplace, such as a healthcare facility or construction site
• Electrical burns, which may occur if a worker makes contact with a power line in an unsafe work environment, or to a homeowner injured due to a defective product

When another driver’s mistake causes an accident – and a fire starts – you’re at risk through no fault of your own. Similarly, employees have an expectation of a safe work environment that gives them ample protection from hazards. And no homeowner expects a defective product to ignite. If you’re burned as in these examples, you may be suffering the consequences someone else’s negligent choices. The only questions are how bad were you burned, and how should you seek compensation.

How Bad Is Your Burn – Burn Categories

Burns are categorized by degrees:

• 1st degree — Less serious burns that may include minor pain and redness of the epidermis (the top layer of skin; what you see)
• 2nd degree — Burns causing blisters and superficial destruction of the dermis (the deeper part of the skin that you can’t see)
• 3rd degree — Burns that extend into the deeper tissue, causing destruction of both the epidermis and the dermis
• 4th degree — Deep tissue burns that completely destroy the skin and sometimes damage muscle, fascia or bone

What Could Your Burn Injury Be Worth?

That depends on many, many factors including the severity of the burn, cost of treatment, permanence of the injury and more. It’s easier to offer some things for which you may seek compensation.

• Medical costs (present and future)
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of consortium
• Disability

There are other factors at play. There is likely at least one insurance company involved. What if there are more? Burn injuries sustained on the job are more complex, as there may be multiple avenues to compensation with different rules governing them. Defective product claims can also fall under different rules. Confusing? It doesn’t have to be.

Experienced Burn Injury Attorneys Can Focus on Your Case While You Focus on Getting Better

The results of a burn injury may last a lifetime, but your opportunity to seek compensation does not. If you were harmed by the negligence of others, contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin today for a free case evaluation. We’re available 24/7 at 1-866-900-7078, or you can contact us online and even chat with us.

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Serious injuries demand serious attention. Don’t leave your future to chance. Take action, and tell them you mean business.