A burn injury will mean pain and often extensive medical care that includes many rounds of treatment. If your injuries are serious enough, they could impact the rest of your life. In the near future, you may be unable to work or handle important household responsibilities.
If another person’s negligence caused your injuries, you may be able to hold them financially responsible for your hardships. Our San Diego burn injury lawyers can investigate your burn accident, find out who was responsible, and seek the compensation you need.
At Sweet James, our legal team has experience helping injury victims for more than 25 years. Call now to schedule your free consultation and learn how our California burn injury lawyers can assist with your case.
Why You Should Hire a Lawyer After a Burn Injury
Severe burns often need medical treatment for months or even years, and insurance companies are aware of this. Insurance adjusters often propose a settlement early on, before you know the total cost of your recovery, in the hope that you will accept less than your case is worth.
You could end up giving up your right to future compensation. Our burn injury lawyers know how insurance companies assess claims and the methods they use to reduce payouts. We will make sure you are treated fairly.
If the insurance company refuses to offer you a fair settlement, we are ready to take your case to trial and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Damages in a Burn Injury Case
Our personal injury lawyers will assess your losses to determine the full compensation you are entitled to. You can typically recover both economic and non-economic damages in a burn injury case. In rare situations, you may also qualify for punitive damages.
Economic Damages
This includes past and future medical bills, ambulance and hospital costs, and lost wages for time away from work. If your injuries limit your ability to return to your previous job, you may also recover for loss of future earning capacity.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic compensation takes into account pain and suffering, emotional distress, and the effects of permanent scarring or disfigurement on your daily life.
Punitive Damages
Where the liable party acted with oppression, fraud, or malice, California law also provides for punitive damages, which are intended to punish the responsible party and deter similar conduct rather than to provide direct compensation to you. These are generally only available in rare cases.
Accidents That Cause Burn Injuries
Our personal injury lawyers serving San Diego often see burn injuries that result from a range of accident types.
- A car accident can cause a burn injury if the collision triggers a vehicle fire, a fuel leak, or an explosion.
- Workplace exposure to industrial chemicals, electrical equipment, welding tools, or malfunctioning machinery can result in serious burns.
- Defective products such as faulty appliances, batteries, or heating devices are a common source of burn injuries.
- Apartment and building fires caused by faulty wiring, malfunctioning smoke detectors, or negligent property maintenance often lead to severe burns.
- Burn injuries often happen in restaurants and commercial kitchens when people touch hot equipment or get splashed by scalding liquids.
- Contact with exposed or downed electrical lines and equipment can cause severe electrical burns.
- Construction accidents involving torches, exposed wiring, or flammable materials put workers at heightened risk of burn injuries.
Our San Diego fire and burn injury lawyers will investigate the incident that led to your injuries in order to fully understand who is liable for your damages.
Types of Burn Injuries
Burn stages or degrees are classified by the depth at which they penetrate the skin and the underlying tissue, as this affects the treatment and the long-term prognosis. More serious injuries generally lead to larger settlements.
- A first-degree burn damages only the outer layer of skin and usually heals within a week without scarring.
- A second-degree burn damages the outer layer and part of the layer beneath it and often requires medical treatment.
- A third-degree burn destroys both layers of skin and can damage the underlying tissue. It often leaves the area numb and requires skin grafts to heal properly.
- A fourth-degree burn extends beyond the skin into muscle, tendon, or bone, and carries the highest risk of permanent disability, amputation, or death.
When assessing the severity of burns, doctors also consider the total percentage of body surface area affected. Burns affecting a greater part of the body are more likely to lead to infection, shock, and long-term complications and generally need care in a specialized burn unit.
Get Help from Our Burn Injury Attorneys Serving San Diego
You may have a long road ahead of you after a burn injury. Recovery takes time, and you will need to endure pain and rehabilitation. If someone else caused your injury, you should not have to worry about the financial costs, as well.
Our burn injury attorneys serving San Diego will work to hold the at-fault party liable for your damages. We’ll handle the legal burden so you can focus on healing.
Sweet James stands up for injured accident victims in California. Call now to schedule your free consultation.
