Burns are some of the most devastating types of injuries. Burns can affect both the superficial and deep layers of tissues, along with the underlying muscles and tendons. Serious burns may even lead to scarring, disfigurement, and serious emotional damage.
If another person’s negligent actions led you to sustain burn injuries, you could be entitled to financial compensation. Our burn injury lawyers at The Super Lawyer can help with your personal injury case. Call us today at 404-574-4308 to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation.
Common Causes of Burn Injuries
Here are 5 types of burn injuries as well as their most common causes:
- Thermal Burns: Result from excessive heat, such as contact with an open flame or hot surface.
- Electrical Burns: Result from contact with a live wire, a piece of machinery, or even an appliance.
- Radiation Burns: Result from exposure to high levels of radiation. Sunburn is the most common example but burns can result from PET Scans, CT Scans, radiation therapy, and X-rays.
- Chemical Burns: Involve strong acids, solvents, or detergents that come into contact with the skin.
- Friction Burns: Differ from thermal burns since the source of heat comes from friction between the skin and another surface.
Categories of Burns
Burns can be incredibly painful, causing swelling, blistering, and stinging of the superficial dermal tissue and deeper layers of the skin. The most serious burns cause damage to the underlying flesh, muscles, and tendons.
Here are the different categories of burns:
1st Degree
1st-degree burns are the most common burn injuries and are the least serious. Here, the skin’s outermost layer is burned, but not all the way through. The burns involve pain, swelling, and redness. Generally, no medical attention is needed for 1st-degree burns and they usually heal within 1 week.
2nd Degree
2nd-degree burns are where the epidermis (skin’s outer layer) and dermis (skin’s second layer) have been burned. Blisters generally develop and are often accompanied by significant pain and swelling. The burns can take several weeks to heal and can leave a scar or cause a permanent change in skin color.
3rd Degree
3rd-degree burns are also referred to as full-thickness burns. The burns destroy 2 full layers of skin. Instead of turning red, the burn can take a white or charred appearance. Third-degree burns damage nerve endings, which means there won’t be any pain. A skin graft may be required to treat this type of burn.
4th Degree
4th-degree burns are the most serious type of burn injury. Fourth-degree burns not only destroy all the layers of the skin but are also potentially life-threatening. Furthermore, the burns destroy your bones, muscles, tendons, as well as organs.
Recognizing the 4 degrees of burns and their symptoms can help you know when to go to the hospital. The degree of the burn can change sometimes. This may happen if damage to the skin keeps spreading and the injury becomes deeper.
Damages You Can Recover Through a Burn Injury Claim
If you or a loved one has suffered a burn injury due to the reckless or negligent actions of someone else, the burn injury lawyers at The Super Lawyer can help you recover the following types of compensation:
Economic Damages
Burn injury victims can recover economic damages, which are a form of compensation for their tangible losses. Examples include, but aren’t limited to:
- Medical and rehabilitation expenses
- Lost wages
- Property damage
Non-Economic Damages
Unlike economic damages, non-economic damages are aimed at compensating burn injury victims for their intangible losses. Examples include, but aren’t limited to:
- Disfigurement
- Emotional and mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Pain and suffering
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages may be awarded by the jury in some rare cases where there was gross negligence or conscious indifference. Punitive damages aren’t aimed at compensating the victim but rather punishing the at-fault party and deterring such behavior in the future.
How Long Do You Have to File a Burn Injury Claim?
The time you have to file a burn injury claim, like other personal injury claims, is determined by the statute of limitations, which varies depending on the state where the injury occurred. Generally, you have between one and three years from the date of the injury to file a claim.
However, this period can differ based on the specifics of the case, such as whether the claim is against a government entity or if the burn resulted from a product defect, which might be subject to different rules.
It’s crucial to act promptly after sustaining a burn injury, as filing within the designated timeframe is essential to preserving your right to seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.
Consulting with an attorney soon after the injury can help ensure that your claim is filed in a timely manner and that all legal requirements are met.
How Much Will an Attorney Cost?
If you decide to work with our burn injury lawyers at The Super Lawyer, you’re in luck since we work on a contingency fee basis, which means that you only have to pay us if we successfully recover compensation for you.
How Can a Burn Injury Lawyer Help My Claim?
Experienced burn injury lawyers can help you in the following ways:
Case Preparation/Filing a Lawsuit
Your lawyer will in most cases suggest that you file a settlement claim against the other party since it is simpler, cheaper, and less costly for both parties. The lawyer will then help you with all the paperwork involved in filing a claim.
Settlement Negotiations
It is difficult for burn injury victims to negotiate their own settlement since they are struggling with their physical and emotional recovery. Fortunately, the burn injury lawyers at The Super Lawyer can negotiate a favorable settlement without the need to go to trial.
Trial Preparation and Representation
If settlement negotiations fail after the other party’s insurance company refuses to provide reasonable compensation, your lawyer can then file a lawsuit on your behalf, present your case in court, gather witnesses to testify on your behalf, and guide you on proper court procedures to increase your chances of a favorable verdict.
Have You Suffered Burn Injuries? We Can Help!
Burn injuries cause victims debilitating pain and financial burden due to the costs associated with treatment. If another party’s negligent or reckless actions caused your burn injuries, you should receive full compensation for your injuries and losses.
Our experienced burn injury lawyers at The Super Lawyer are committed to helping burn injury victims recover from their injuries. Call us today at 404-574-4308 to schedule a free consultation and case evaluation with our lawyers to discuss your case.
