The pain of getting your skin burned doesn’t end after emergency care. The sting in your burn injuries remains for some time, and it’s a traumatic and devastating phase that you have no choice but to endure.
Whether your burn injury is caused by a faulty product, a workplace accident, or someone else’s negligence, it can turn your life around for the worse. Burn victims can suffer intense pain, emotional trauma, and the heavy burden of medical bills and lost income on the way to recovery.
That’s why it’s important to hire an experienced burn injury lawyer to handle your case. This guide outlines why you need one and the different kinds of burn injuries people may sustain.
Four Types of Burn Injuries
Before hiring a burn injury lawyer, you should know that each burn differs based on source and severity. Your burn may fall into one of these types, which determines the required medical treatment and scope of possible burn injury claims.
- First-Degree Burns: A first-degree burn affects the outer skin layer. You can see redness and feel mild pain on your skin.
- Second-Degree Burns: This kind of burn affects the skin’s deeper layers. You’ll feel intense pain and see your skin blister and swell.
- Third-Degree Burns: A severe burn injury of this scale can ruin all your skin layers and can cause nerve damage.
- Fourth-Degree Burns: These may be the most severe burns, possibly reaching your muscles and bones, and may need skin grafts and physical therapy.
Electrical burns, chemical burns, and burns from fire may cause these degrees of burns and can pose various medical challenges.
How a Burn Injury Lawyer Can Help
1. Expertise in Burn Injury Law
A burn injury attorney deeply understands burn injury cases, including insurance procedures, medical nuances, and the legal process to prove negligence. They can evaluate how deep your injuries are and interpret medical records to create a strong burn injury case.
2. Determining Liability and Proving Negligence
A burn accident is usually due to another person’s negligence. An expert personal injury attorney specializing in burn cases can:
- Gather evidence like accident reports, police records, CCTV footage, and witness statements.
- Identify the liable party.
- Clearly and legally prove that the negligent party really caused your serious burns.
3. Access to Maximum Compensation
Burn injury victims may settle for less than they should get when it comes to financial compensation. Your burn lawyer will fight tooth and nail to get fair compensation for your economic and non-economic damages, such as:
- Medical bills
- Ongoing medical care
- Lost wages
- Physical pain from sustained burn injuries, such as chronic pain in the burned area
- Mental anguish
- Psychological trauma
- Socials stigma
- Disfigurement
Non-economic damages may be overlooked if the personal injury attorney doesn’t fight for them as much as they do for medical costs and other economic factors.
4. Handle Insurance Companies
Insurance companies and lawyers often butt heads when it comes to payouts. The former usually tries to minimize it in personal injury cases, while the latter fights for fair payment.
An experienced attorney knows these tactics. They can push back against low offers, handle all kinds of communications with insurers, and make sure your personal injury claims reflect the real cost of the severe injuries.
5. Thoroughly Document the Medical Treatment
Proving a serious burn injury needs extensive medical evidence. Your personal injury lawyer can collect and organize all medical records and reports, showing the cost and scope of the required medical treatment, and establish the long-term impact of your severe injuries.
6. Calculate All Damages
After sustaining a serious burn, a personal injury lawsuit must show the full extent of the damage, including those that will be felt in the future. Your lawyer will assess and calculate the following damages:
- Immediate medical attention
- Ongoing treatment costs
- Long-term care
- Future medical expenses connected to the catastrophic injury
- Mental health treatment costs, such as medication and therapy
- Lost income due to reduced earning capacity
- Pain and emotional suffering
The damages could be higher if you have severe injuries.
7. Manage Statutes of Limitations and Legal Deadlines
Every lawsuit has its own legal timeline. Missing an important deadline can make you lose the right to seek compensation, no matter how strong or weak your case is.
The law firm handling your case will:
- Track and meet the statute of limitations
- Prepare and file all the legal documents promptly and correctly
- Minimize delays that could weaken your case
Your lawyer’s attention to detail can protect your legal rights and boost your chances of recovering more damages.
8. Provide Legal Support
Burn injuries are physically and emotionally damaging, especially when someone else’s negligence caused them. A compassionate legal team can offer you expertise and peace of mind during this difficult time.
Your law firm is expected to:
- Offer a free consultation to review your case
- Provide regular case updates and personalized guidance
- Handle all legal work so you can focus on recovering your mind and body
Your lawyer and the law firm can boost your chances of success with their skills and reputation in the legal world.
Final Thoughts
Burn injuries need immediate medical care and legal action to secure your recovery and future. Your burn injury lawyer is your best ally after getting burned in an accident. They’ll fight low offers from insurance companies and get you every dollar you deserve. They’ll also support your recovery by handling all legal paperwork so you can rest and get back on your feet.
