Los Angeles Burn Injury Attorneys
Burn injuries are one of the most severe injuries you can ever sustain. They will typically require an extended stay in the hospital, surgery, and long-term care in a burn center for specialized treatment.
Suppose you or a family member has sustained burn injuries due to negligence or a wrongful act. In that case, you might be entitled to receive compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and physical and mental suffering.
At Injury Justice Law Firm, our Los Angeles burn injury lawyers have helped people recover damages for severe burns and other catastrophic injuries. We have the experience and resources to litigate complex burn injury cases.
Burn injuries are some of the most severe and painful injuries a person can suffer. Unfortunately, they are also quite common, accounting for more than 416,000 emergency room visits annually.
Burn injuries can occur in various ways, such as car accidents, house fires, product defects, construction accidents, and electrical accidents. As noted, they often result in long-term physical and emotional damage.
If you or someone you love has suffered a burn injury due to someone else's negligence, you may be eligible for compensation under California's personal injury laws. An experienced burn injury lawyer can help you understand your legal options and seek maximum compensation.
What Are the Types of Burn Injuries?
There are several categories of burns, each caused by a different type of energy:
- Thermal burns occur when the skin comes into contact with hot liquids, gases, or objects. They are the most common type of burn, accounting for about 86% of all severe cases.
- Chemical burns: Occur when the skin comes into contact with strong acids or bases, such as household chemicals or chemicals at work. They can cause severe damage to the skin and underlying tissue.
- Electrical burns occur when the body comes into contact with an electrical current. They can damage the skin, muscles, and nerves.
- Radiation burns: Occur when the body is exposed to excess radiation, whether from UV rays from the sun (i.e., sunburn), overexposure to X-rays, or exposure to radioactive elements.
- Explosions that can occur in motor vehicle crashes or workplace accidents.
What Are the Severity of Burns?
Burn injuries are also classified by their severity, as discussed below.
First-Degree Burns: These burns only affect the outer layer of skin (epidermis). They are typically not severe and will heal independently within a few days.
Second-Degree Burns: These damage the outer layer of skin and the layer of tissue below it (dermis). They can be pretty painful and typically require medical treatment to manage the pain and prevent infection.
Third-Degree Burns: These burns damage all layers of the skin and the tissue below it. They are frequently life-threatening and require immediate medical treatment. They can also cause permanent damage and may require surgery to repair.
Some medical professionals use additional categories to specify injuries that burn into ligaments, tendons, muscles, bones, or internal organs.
Complications of Burn Injuries
Burn injuries aren't just painful—they can be extremely dangerous and cause a victim to suffer severe physical damage requiring multiple surgeries and sometimes years of rehabilitative treatment.
Burns wounds may be susceptible to dangerous infections, leading to amputation or even death if not controlled. In addition, most burns leave the victim with significant scarring. Burns can also cause emotional trauma, anxiety, depression, or PTSD symptoms, any of which may require therapy to address.
What Are the Ongoing Complications?
Burns don't always heal quickly, but while each patient may experience a different outcome, some common ongoing complications from burn injury cases include the following.
- Infection and sepsis;
- Breathing issues from lung damage;
- Scars that require skin graft and surgery;
- Joint issues, such as tendons and ligaments;
- Organ failure;
- Psychological, such as mental and emotional issues.
The treatment costs for burn injuries are often substantial because of these ongoing complications for a victim.
What Are the Causes of Burn Injuries?
There are many different ways a person can suffer a burn injury. However, some of the most common causes include the following:
- Vehicle accidents: Burns can occur in a car wreck if a victim comes in contact with hot engine parts, if the vehicle catches fire, etc.
- House fires: Fires in the home are among the leading causes of burn injuries in the United States. Victims can suffer direct burns from the flames or contact with hot surfaces.
- Product defects: Defective products such as space heaters and toasters can cause victims to suffer burns from heat, electrical shock, etc. More recent examples include certain types of smartphones and hoverboards, which have been prone to spontaneous combustion due to design defects.
- Occupational hazards: Employees may suffer burns by exposure to hot machinery, chemicals, etc.
Who Is Liable for a Burn Injury?
If you have been injured in a burn accident created by someone else's negligence, California law holds the negligent person liable to compensate you for your injuries and losses. Multiple careless persons or entities might contribute to a serious burn injury.
Experienced lawyers who have handled burn injury cases know what to prove and how to provide proper documentation and evidence to demonstrate fault.
Depending on the circumstances and the cause of the burn, your personal injury attorney may file a claim against any of the following parties who may be liable:
- The at-fault driver in an accident: If you suffered burns in a car accident, the driver at fault should cover the cost of treatment for those burns and any other injuries you sustained. The trucking company might also share some liability if the at-fault vehicle was a truck.
- Product manufacturers: If a defective product injures you, the manufacturer may be liable for your injuries, including burns. Likewise, the automobile manufacturer may be responsible if you're burned in a car wreck caused by design or parts defects.
- Property owners: If you were injured in a fire occurring on another person's property, that person might be liable based on the principle of premises liability.
- Employers: If you were burned on the job, your employer's worker's compensation insurance typically covers the employer's share of liability for your injuries.
Damages You May Recover in a Burn Injury Accident Claim
If you prove another party's liability for your burn injuries, you may recover damages for your economic and noneconomic losses. These may include:
- Medical expenses related to the treatment of your burn injuries (present and future);
- Lost wages (present and future) if your injuries prevent you from working or result in a reduction in earnings;
- Pain and suffering;
- Emotional distress;
- Loss of consortium if your spouse or partner suffers a loss of companionship or intimacy as a result of your injuries;
- Wrongful death damages if you lose a loved one in a burn accident.
Our law firm has a record of success in recovering damages for burned people due to negligence or wrongful conduct. You must retain an attorney who can handle complex injury cases to obtain your entitled compensation. We offer a free case evaluation. Injury Justice Law Firm is based in Los Angeles, CA.