Victim of a burn injury?

The world seems to stop when you’ve suffered a severe burn. The pain is often so intense and inconsolable that it’s hard to think of anything else. Even as you heal, the trauma endures and deepens. The financial pressures start to close in fast, compounding your stress.

You may be unable to work, worried about mounting hospital bills, or undergoing surgeries and painful treatments you never expected. If someone else’s negligence caused your injury, you shouldn’t be left dealing with this, and you shouldn’t have to fight with insurance adjusters while you’re trying to heal.

At Sweet James Accident Attorneys, we’ve stood up for countless burn victims across California, helping them fight for the compensation they need to move forward. Our Newport Beach burn injury lawyers understand how devastating these injuries can be and how urgent it is to act quickly. Whether your burns were caused by a fire, a chemical explosion, or an electrical hazard, our legal team is ready to go to work for you.

Key Takeaways

• Burn injuries can lead to long-term medical care, permanent disfigurement, and significant financial loss.
• Many serious burns are caused by someone else’s negligence, including property owners, employers, or manufacturers.
• A lawyer can help you pursue compensation for surgeries, lost income, rehabilitation, and pain and suffering
• Hiring an experienced burn injury lawyer levels the playing field with insurance companies that try to undervalue and minimize burn cases.
• Sweet James Accident Attorneys has recovered over $2 billion for injury victims and is accepting new burn injury cases in Newport Beach.

Why Choose Sweet James for Your Burn Injury Case

When you hire Sweet James, you’re hiring a team that’s built a reputation for winning and for fighting hard when it counts. Here’s what sets us apart.

Unmatched trial experience

We’ve taken over 500 cases to trial and won. That matters because insurance companies know which firms are ready to take a case all the way. We won’t settle your case just to move it off our desk. We prepare every case like it’s going to court, and that preparation gets results.

Track record of high-value recoveries

We’ve secured over $2 billion in settlements and verdicts, including millions for clients who suffered severe injuries in fires, explosions, and accidents. That includes multiple cases involving permanent scarring, skin graft surgeries, and long-term care.

Dedicated to catastrophic injury cases

Not every personal injury law firm has experience with burn cases. We do. We understand how to calculate long-term care costs, assess future medical needs, and bring in medical experts when necessary to strengthen your case.

Available when you need us

Call us anytime, day or night. Our legal team is here to answer your questions and start your case right away. You can call (800) 900-0000 or contact us online for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Free consultations and no out-of-pocket costs

You never pay out of pocket to hire Sweet James. We offer free consultations and handle burn injury cases on a contingency fee basis, which means we only get paid if we win for you.

The High Cost of a Serious Burn Injury

Burns are among the most painful injuries a person can endure, and they’re often just the beginning of a long recovery. Beyond the initial trauma, victims frequently require multiple surgeries, painful rehabilitation, and psychological support for the emotional toll.

Burn victims in Newport Beach are often initially treated at Hoag Hospital, one of the region’s top acute care hospitals. For more complex injuries, patients may be referred to the Regional Burn Center at Orange County Global Medical Center or UCI Medical Center in nearby Orange. These facilities provide specialized burn care, including surgeries, infection control, and long-term rehabilitation.

Depending on the severity and location, burn injuries may involve:

• Skin graft surgeries to repair deep tissue damage
• Infection risks that require ongoing, round-the-clock wound care
• Limited mobility or permanent physical impairments
• Scarring and disfigurement, especially to visible areas
• Chronic pain, nerve damage, or sensitivity to heat or cold

The costs go far beyond what insurance typically covers. That’s why identifying all liable parties and pursuing maximum compensation is so important to your recovery.

Common Causes of Burn Injuries in Newport Beach

Newport Beach residents and visitors may suffer burn injuries in a wide range of scenarios. Many of these incidents occur because someone failed to follow safety protocols, maintain their property, or warn others about dangerous conditions.

Some of the most common causes we see in local burn injury cases include:

• Residential or commercial fires caused by faulty wiring or unsafe buildings
• Car accidents that result in fuel fires or explosions
• Scalding injuries from dangerously hot water in rental units or hotels
• Chemical exposure in the workplace or at unsafe properties
• Defective products, including appliances, batteries, or machinery
• Worksite burns, especially in construction, restaurants, or industrial settings

Even minor negligence, like a landlord failing to maintain a water heater or a driver causing a fiery crash, can result in life-altering harm to others. In each case, we investigate whether another party’s carelessness caused or contributed to the injury.

What Compensation Can You Pursue for Burn Injuries?

California law allows burn injury victims to recover compensation when their injuries were caused by another person or company’s negligence. While every case is different, your compensation may include:

• Medical expenses: Includes payment for emergency care, surgeries, hospital stays, prescriptions, and rehabilitation related to burn injuries.
• Future medical needs: Covers anticipated costs for long-term treatments such as skin grafts, follow-up surgeries, or ongoing therapy.
• Lost income and reduced earning potential: Provides recovery for wages already lost and accounts for diminished ability to earn a living in the future.
• Pain and suffering: Addresses the physical pain and emotional distress that accompany serious burns.
• Loss of enjoyment of life: Recognizes the ways severe burns limit hobbies, relationships, and daily activities.
• Punitive damages: These damages are rarely awarded and only apply in cases involving reckless or intentional conduct. They are meant to punish the wrongdoer and discourage them from engaging in similar behavior in the future.

Severe burns often lead to permanent scarring or disfigurement, which can have deep psychological and social consequences. That’s why burn injury settlements tend to be higher than many other injury cases, and why insurance companies are often quick to push for a low settlement before a victim understands the full scope of their damages.

Do I Need a Burn Injury Lawyer in Newport Beach?

If you’re searching online for a “burn injury attorney near me,” you probably already know you’re in over your head. And that’s okay. These cases are complicated, and trying to handle everything yourself can cost you far more in the long run.

An experienced burn injury lawyer in Newport Beach can help you:

• Handle all communication with insurers so you’re not taken advantage of
• Document your injuries properly for maximum compensation
• Calculate future damages — not just your past medical bills
• Work with burn specialists, economists, and life care planners
• Negotiate aggressively or take your case to trial if needed

California Civil Code § 1714 holds individuals and property owners responsible when their actions or inaction lead to harm. But proving negligence requires more than pointing fingers. You need a firm that’s built to fight.

Types of Burns and Their Legal Impact

Burn injuries are categorized by their severity, and this classification affects not only your treatment but also how your legal claim is handled. The deeper the burn, the greater the likelihood of long-term damage and higher compensation needs.

First-degree burns

These affect only the outer layer of skin. They’re painful but generally heal on their own. Most first-degree burns are not the subject of legal action unless they were caused by serious negligence in a public or commercial setting.

Second-degree burns

Second-degree burns reach the second layer of skin and often result in blistering, intense pain, and risk of infection. Victims may need outpatient care, and in more serious cases, surgical treatment or long-term wound management.

Third-degree burns

These full-thickness burns destroy both layers of skin and can damage tissue, muscle, or bone. They frequently require skin grafts, hospitalization, and long-term rehab. The emotional toll can be significant, especially when burns result in disfigurement. These are the cases we often see at Sweet James Accident Attorneys, because they are the ones that demand the help of a top-performing personal injury law firm.

Electrical, chemical, and thermal burns

Different burn types have different causes, and liability isn’t always obvious. An electrical burn might occur on a job site with poor safety protocols. A chemical burn could result from an unlabeled or improperly stored substance at a hotel or retail store. Each situation requires its own legal strategy, which is why we dig deep into the facts of every case.

What Should You Do After a Burn Injury in Newport Beach?

If you were taken to Hoag Hospital, UCI Medical Center, or another area hospital for emergency care, the next thing you should do is to make sure your legal rights are protected while you recover. Once you’ve started undergoing treatment, the next steps you take can make a real difference in your case.

Here’s what you should do to protect your rights and maximize your recovery:

• Hire a lawyer immediately. Don’t wait. Insurance companies move fast to minimize their liability. You need someone on your side to level the playing field and make sure all evidence is preserved from day one.
• Keep all follow-up appointments and treatments. Insurance companies may see gaps in medical care as opportunities to challenge and undermine your claim.
• Start a journal or video log. Record your pain levels, emotional struggles, and how your injuries affect daily life. Doing this serves as evidence of your less visible damages, such as pain and suffering and loss of quality of life.
• Preserve evidence. Save receipts, prescriptions, discharge paperwork, and photos of your injuries.
• Don’t speak with insurance adjusters. They may seem helpful, but their goal is to settle for the lowest amount possible.

Burn injury claims are time sensitive. Waiting too long can damage your case or prevent you from filing altogether.

What Is the Deadline for Filing a Burn Injury Lawsuit in California?

California’s statute of limitations generally gives you two years from the date of your injury to file a personal injury lawsuit (California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1). However, there are exceptions. If your injury involves a government agency, such as a fire caused by a city utility or public property hazard, you may need to file a claim within six months under the California Tort Claims Act.

These deadlines are strict. If you miss them, you could lose your right to recover anything. Call Sweet James Accident Attorneys as soon as possible. Our burn injury lawyers in Newport Beach evaluate your case for free and let you know exactly what your timeline looks like.

Federal Laws That May Affect Your Burn Injury Case

In some cases, national laws may come into play, especially those involving workplace burns, product defects, or federal property.

For example:

• The Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) may apply if a defective appliance or lithium battery caused your injury
• The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) sets workplace safety standards that may support your claim if an employer failed to provide a safe environment

We’ll determine which federal and state laws apply and pursue all avenues to strengthen your case.

Take Control of Your Future. Talk to a Burn Injury Lawyer in Newport Beach Today

The sooner you call us, the sooner we can start protecting your claim. Burn injuries are complex, and so is the process of holding the responsible party accountable. Whether you were hurt in a fire, explosion, car crash, or workplace accident, the legal team at Sweet James Accident Attorneys is ready to help.

We’ve won cases that others have turned down. We routinely take on big corporations and beat them in court. And we’re not afraid to fight hard for what you need to recover — physically, emotionally, and financially. If you’re searching for a dedicated Newport Beach personal injury lawyer, you can count on Sweet James to deliver results.

Don’t wait. Call (800) 900-0000 now or contact us online to schedule your free case review. We’re available 24/7, and we’ll walk you through what comes next. With Sweet James, you’ll have a team of proven legal champions in your corner.