Experiencing a severe burn is an emotionally traumatic event, leaving you facing long-term repercussions on your physical health and mental well-being. After a burn injury, the changes in your life, coupled with medical costs, may be overwhelming and lead to confusion about what to do next and who to hold accountable. Take your power back by seeking compensation for your injury and speaking with a trusted burn injury lawyer who can help you file a claim.
We’ve put together this blog post to guide you through the key points you need to know to hold the responsible party accountable.
Common Causes of Burn Injuries and Negligence
Proving Negligence
Understand that it’s not easy to prove a burn injury case. As the plaintiff, the burden of proof falls on you to show that another party is legally responsible. You will need to prove that a legal requirement was not adhered to or that your burn injury was due to someone else’s negligence. After that, you must also have evidence showing that the defendant must compensate you fairly for your injuries.
Because a burn injury is life-altering, it could have a long-term impact, greatly affecting the rest of your life. When a burn injury happens, it may be for several reasons. Sometimes, these injuries result from a fire or explosion; however, these types of incidents do not happen as often as some others. When pursuing a legal remedy, it’s critical to understand the common causes of burn injuries before seeking compensation.
Here are some examples:
- Car accidents: It’s not uncommon for vehicles to be subject to recalls or malfunction due to a manufacturing defect. Sometimes, these issues lead to smoke or fire, and in these instances, the vehicle manufacturer has a responsibility to ensure your safety.
- Substandard products: Today, many companies, large and small, are flooding the marketplace with body care products, from skincare to hair care, and even expanding into pain relief creams. Expired ingredients or additives may cause chemical burns from the alkalines, acids, or allergens in these products. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) govern these businesses, providing them with guidelines and stepping in when best practices are not adhered to.
- Residential fires: If you’ve experienced a burn injury at home, it’s important to examine the situation that caused the fire before blaming yourself. Often, these injuries are a result of circumstances beyond your control. For example, many residential fires are caused by defective appliances, faulty wiring, or caustic product chemicals. Furthermore, if your injury happened in an apartment, a rapidly spreading fire may have been triggered by the building not being up to code.
- Workplace injuries: Where were you when you were injured? You may work around chemicals, or perhaps you’ve commonly participated in unsafe work practices. In either case, your employer is responsible for adhering to specific OSHA guidelines, which are designed to protect your rights as a worker.
Contact our team today so we can fight to help you get the compensation you deserve.
Understanding Burn Severity Levels
There are different types of burns that individuals deal with; both the types and the severity levels have a profound impact on the final compensation amount. Burn injuries are classified according to the degree or level of the burn, ranging from mild (first degree) to severe (fourth degree). While each of the four necessitates its own treatment plan, claimants could pursue compensation no matter the type of burn they’ve experienced. However, when a burn is more severe, an individual will require more intense care, making these cases easier to prove and win.
First-Degree Burns
This level of mild burn injury affects the outer layer of the skin and may be likened to a red, unblistered sunburn. While first-degree burns may cause infections that require professional care, a high level of treatment is typically not needed in such cases. Nevertheless, getting the necessary medical attention is important to prevent further complications.
Second-Degree Burns
These injuries extend deep into the skin tissue layers and inflict intense damage, including blisters and severe pain. To heal from a second-degree burn injury, the patient will often require skin grafts or stitches. Follow-up treatments may also be required.
Third-Degree Burns
Third-degree burns are very serious and consist of skin damage that has penetrated all layers of the skin and extended into the muscle fibers, connective tissues, and even internal organs. Individuals who suffer from this burn type will require immediate critical care.
Fourth-Degree Burns
Fourth-degree burns are the most severe and cannot be remedied by skin grating methods. Often, these burns go all the way to the bone and require amputation for the body to heal fully.
Legal Representation for Burn Injury Cases
When you’ve suffered a burn injury, evidence plays a key role in bolstering your claim. Keep in mind that without the proper evidence, it will be impossible for you to seek compensation through the proper legal channels. There are several key steps you can take before seeking legal representation, including:
- Gathering all information related to your claim
- Filing an incident report with your local police
- Taking photos and video footage at the injury scene
- Using eyewitness accounts as supporting statements
After diligently completing each step, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible to stay within the statute of limitations. Let an experienced, qualified attorney help you further refine the details of your burn injury case. Legal representation from a burn injury lawyer is critical in helping you calculate losses, including pain and suffering damages, so finding an attorney to assist you in effectively navigating your compensation claims is imperative.
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Take Action Today
If you’re dealing with a burn injury due to another party’s negligence, an attorney can help. It is paramount to take prompt action to secure appropriate compensation and have a higher probability of success. Accident Hotline offers no-cost, 24/7 consultations and will connect you with a personal injury attorney today. Connect with an agent in under 30 seconds! Complete our online form or give us a call at (562) 249-1474.
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