Can You Sue Someone If You Are Severely Burned?

Burns can result in severe catastrophic injuries that could lead to permanent disabilities and affect your future income and wages. If you or a loved one have suffered burn injuries, whether it was at home, at work, or while at a business, contact our California personal injury attorneys for a free no risk consultation.

One of the most common questions our personal injury attorneys in Los Angeles receive is whether you could sue for burn injuries. This depends on the circumstances of the accident. This blog below discusses the different ways you could sue the at fault party for your burn injuries suffered.

How Do Burn Injuries Occur?

• Chemical burns
• Gas explosions
• Radiation Burns
• Electrical Burns
• Fire Burns (in restaurants, hotels, home)
• Car accidents
• Construction accidents

 What Are the Different Types of Burn Injuries?

Burn injuries are categorized into various different types. Usually, medical providers will categorize burn injuries into one of three categories. These different categories are:

• First degree burns: these are burns that are very minimal compared to the other categories of burns. This degree of burn refers to the outer layer of the skin, and would cause some level of discomfort. Usually, over-the-counter medication and treatments could usually treat the first degree burn injury. First degree burn injuries could result in temporary disability; however, the patient will be able to return back to normal life.
• Second-degree burns: this level of degree burns cause blisters and several days, even weeks of pain. Second-degree burns are burns that go under the first layer of the skin, and could cause swelling and fluid buildup. Second-degree burns need urgent medical treatment, and oftentimes extensive medical treatment could restore the patient back to their normal life. However, second-degree burns may cause some scarring.
• Third-degree burns: third-degree burns are the most severe kind of burn injuries. This occurs when there is a burn at the tissue of the skin, and causes dryness and severe scarring. This requires urgent medical attention, and could potentially cause permanent disability. Constant medical attention may be needed.

Can You Sue If You Are Burned at Work?

 If you are burned at work, you could sue your employer for the injuries sustained. This requires you to file a negligence claim against your employee for failing to maintain a safe work environment. The plaintiff, which is the burn injury victim, will have to prove:

• The employer has a duty of care to their employees who are working within their office
• The employer failed to exercise their duty of care when they failed to act in a reasonably safe manner
• The employer’s failure to keep the premises safe caused the burn injury victim to sustain injuries
• The burn injury victim now has damages as a result of their injuries. Examples of damages include lost wages, and hospital bills.

Can You Sue Someone for Burning You?

Depending on the party who caused the burn injuries, you will be able to sue the negligent at fault party for any burn injuries suffered. You will have to file a claim of negligence against the at fault party. This depends on what the party’s relationship is to you. For more information, and to determine if you could file a lawsuit against the at fault party, contact our burn injury attorneys today for a free no risk consultation.

What Is The Average Settlement Amount For Burn Injuries Suffered?

Burn injury compensation depends on the circumstances of the accident. For example, our attorneys look at a variety of factors to determine how much the settlement amount could be for a burn injury lawsuit. The different factors include:

• The harm suffered by the burn injury Victim (whether they suffered first-degree, second-degree, or third-degree burn)
• The financial harm suffered by the burn injury victim (the hospital bills, along with any lost wages)
• How negligent the at-fault party was in causing the injuries

What Are Some Effects Burn Injuries Could Have?

Burn injuries could have lifelong effects, and include:

• Organ failure
• Internal bleeding
• Breathing problems
• Scoring
• Infection
• Tissue damage
• Traumatic brain injury from the inhalation

 Could I Sue A Product Manufacturer For Getting Burned?

If you have been burned by a faulty product, you have the ability to file a lawsuit against the product manufacturer, along with the product retailer. You will be able to hold these parties liable under a strict product liability claim. A strict product liability claim is a claim brought against a product manufacturer for any defective products that they produced.

Can You Sue Someone for Getting Burned in A Car Accident?

 If you have been involved in a car accident, and the liable party who caused the car accident also causes a fire, you will be able to hold the negligence party liable for the fire injuries. Car accidents could result in very catastrophic injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries and burn injuries. No person should have to pay out-of-pocket for these injuries by themselves.

 What Compensation Could I Receive for My Burn Injuries?

 If you have been severely burned as a result of another party’s negligence, you could receive compensation for the injuries suffered. The injuries depend on the at-fault party, along with what you have suffered. Examples of compensation you could receive include:

• Lost wages: this refers to the wages that you missed out on for being in the hospital recovering from your burn injuries at home.
• Hospital bills: this refers to the treatment, medication, and physical therapy needed for the burn injuries suffered
• Wrongful death: this is damages and compensation asserted when the burn injury victim passes away. This requires the burn injury victim’s family members to assert claims on the victim’s behalf. They can recover a variety of expenses including burial expenses, funeral expenses, loss of consortium, loss of society, loss of companionship, etc.
• Punitive damages: this is in very rare occurrences, and requires the defendant to engage in malicious behavior.

What Should I Do After My Burn Injuries?

If you have experienced any type of burn injuries from accidents caused by another party, there are necessary steps you may have to take after sustaining a first-, second-, or third-degree burn. The different steps include:

1. Seek medical attention immediately: burn injuries require immediate assistance, and should be evaluated by a medical provider immediately. If you fail to go to seek medical assistance, the at fault party may blame you for contributing and aggravating your own injuries.
2. Document the circumstances of the accident: this includes getting the information of any witnesses, at fault parties, taking photos of the accident scene, and taking photos of your injuries suffered. It is very important to gather as much evidence as possible regarding the injuries suffered from the accident.
3. Contact our burn injury attorneys for a free no risk consultation. Our experienced California burn injury attorneys will look into your claim and investigate how the at fault party caused your injuries. Along with asserting legal claims, our attorneys will also make sure you receive maximum compensation for your injuries suffered.

***Disclaimer: This page is created by Heidari Law Group for educational purposes. This article provides a general understanding of the law. It does not provide specific advice. By using this site and reading through this page, there is no attorney-client relationship created between you and any member of Heidari Law. Further, due to the constant change of the law, some parts of the information above may no longer be good law.