Burn injuries are among the most painful and permanently scarring injuries a person can sustain. They can occur for a wide variety of reasons, but when they happen because of another person's negligence, victims and their families may be able to recover damages through a burn injury lawsuit.
While burn injuries are most often associated with fires, people can also sustain burns in other ways, such as from exposed electrical circuits, heavy friction on the skin, and exposure to toxic chemicals. The medical complications associated with burns can persist for years and result in a lot of medical expenses, not to mention the psychological and emotional distress associated with a serious injury.
As a result, it is extremely important for burn injury victims to contact a Clearwater burn injuries lawyer as soon as possible after an accident. They can help you assess your damages, file a claim with the at-fault party's insurance company, and recover damages.
Why You Should Choose Dolman Law Group for Help With Your Burn Injury Claim
Following a burn injury, the last thing you should worry about is a prolonged legal battle as you pursue the compensation you deserve. If a negligent party caused the burn accident that scarred your skin and caused immense long-term pain, contact the burn accident lawyers at Dolman Law Group.
We have over a decade of experience handling Clearwater burn injury cases and can use that experience and our resources to help you negotiate a fair settlement with the at-fault party's insurance company. Our personal injury lawyers specialize in providing personalized attention and support through the claims process, so you can recover from the injury and receive fair compensation for your burn injury.
Contact Dolman Law Group for help from one of Florida's leading personal injury law firms. You can contact us for a free consultation to see how we can help you pursue compensation for your burn injury. You can schedule an in-person visit at our Clearwater location at 800 N Belcher Road, or you can call us at (727) 451-6900.
Dolman Law Group Case Results for Burn Injury Victims
Dolman Law Group has assisted personal injury victims across Florida recover damages for injuries for over a decade. We have experience helping victims in personal injury accidents, such as:
Our personal injury lawyers also have experience in handling Clearwater burn injury cases. We will dedicate our time and resources to ensure the negligent party is held responsible and you recover compensation for your debilitating damages. We know the financial toll a severe burn injury can cause and are committed to helping you survive the economic fallout with a fair settlement or award.
The following are some of the case results Dolman Law Group has earned for our personal injury clients:
- $5 Million for Car Accident Resulting in Burn Injuries
- $1.4 Million for Motorcycle Accident Resulting in Many Serious Injuries
- $1 Million for Car Accident Resolution
- $775 Thousand for Full Recovery from a Car Accident
What is a Burn Injury?
A burn injury is an injury to the skin caused by exposure to heat, radiation, electricity, friction, or dangerous chemicals. Burn injuries lead to intense heat destroying the cells and tissues of the skin and potentially other organs in severe cases.
According to the World Heath Organization, burn injuries result in approximately 180,000 deaths yearly. These severe burn injuries can also result in intense pain, challenges in performing daily tasks, and emotional trauma due to anxiety about the skin's appearance.
What Can Cause a Burn Injury?
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, burns and fires are the fifth most common cause of accidental death in children and adults, accounting for an estimated 3,500 deaths per year.
Burn injuries vary greatly in severity with mild burns requiring little to no treatment or specialized medical care On the other hand, some burns may cause long-term damage and require extensive medical care. These often impact the victim physically and psychologically, leaving them with lost wages, severe pain, and crushing medical bills.
The following are some of the ways you can suffer a burn injury:
- Exposure to an open flame
- Touching a hot stove
- Electrical currents
- Dangerous chemicals coming into contact with the skin
- Radiation
- Road rash
- Malfunctioning airbag exploding
- Overinflated airbags causing skin friction
What are the Different Types of Burn Injuries?
While a burn accident is typically associated with flames from a fire, people can also sustain catastrophic burn injuries in other ways. The type of burn you suffered will vary based on how the burn occurred. There are five different types of burn, each providing a different set of symptoms and timeline for recovery.
The following are the five different types of burn injuries:
- Chemical burns: These result from the skin coming into contact with strong acids, detergents, or solvents. They may also result from a chemical explosion.
- Thermal burns: Thermal burns result from a person coming into contact with steam, scalding liquid, fire, or hot objects like irons or ovens. Thermal burns can also occur if your vehicle's airbag deploys during an accident. Your skin may injure by direct contact with the airbag surface or exposure to the hot gas that escapes from the airbag's deflation vents.
- Electrical burns: Electrical burns can cause severe injuries when you come into contact with an electrical current.
- Friction burns: Friction burns may result when a rigid object or surface like the road's asphalt scrapes off some of your skin. They are common in motorcycle and bike accidents. You can also get a burn from an airbag pressing against your skin.
- Radiation burns: Radiation burns are your skin's reaction to ultraviolet rays, sunlight, or exposure to nuclear radiation, including x-rays or cancer-treating radiation therapy.
What are the Classifications of Burn Injury Severity?
Classification of burns is generally organized into four categories based on how deep the damage goes and how much of your skin's surface is affected. The higher the degree, the more severe the burn is.
The following are the four degrees of burn injuries:
- First-degree: These are the least damaging burns. First-degree burns affect only the outermost layer of skin and cause temporary pain, swelling, and redness. Medical attention is typically not required for 1st-degree burns, and they usually heal on their own within one week.
- Second-degree: A second-degree burn penetrates through the outer layer of skin (epidermis) into the second layer (dermis). This often results in blisters, significant pain, and swelling. These injuries may take several weeks to heal, and they often leave behind permanent scars or changes to the skin color in that area.
- Third-degree: Sometimes called "full-thickness burns," this type of injury destroys two entire skin layers. Rather than turning red, these burns can take on a white or charred appearance. These extensive burns do not typically cause pain since they also damage the nerve endings beneath the skin. Doctors sometimes use skin grafts to treat third-degree burns.
- Fourth-degree: These are the deepest and worst type of burns. Fourth-degree burns can be life-threatening since they destroy all skin layers as well as tendons, muscles, bones, and even internal organs.
A burn's degree can also change if the damage spreads over a larger area of skin or if the injury penetrates more deeply in the dermal layers. Burns can lead to severe health complications, including bone issues, joint problems, and infections.
Types of Fire and Burn Injury Lawsuits
There are many different kinds of burn and fire injury claims that Dolman Law Group can help you pursue, including:
- Apartment complex fires
- Chemical spills
- Airbag deployments
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Tanker truck accidents and explosions
- Industrial accidents
- Electrical accidents and power cord fires
- Thermal burns– caused by contact with fire, steam, hot liquids, or other sources of extreme heat
- Cooking accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Defective products, including computers and other electrical devices
- Faulty fire-safety equipment
- A locked or blocked escape route or fire exit
- Scalding pipes and water
- Propane tank explosion
- Industrial accident
After sustaining a burn injury, victims of burn injuries should record as much information about the accident as possible. Additionally, those with severe burns should seek appropriate medical treatment as soon as possible.
The attorneys of the Dolman Law Group are dedicated to helping burn victims recover from their injuries. We will help you file a burn injury lawsuit to recover the highest possible settlement or award for each client we represent.
Potential Damages for Catastrophic Burn Injuries
If you or a loved one suffered severe burn injuries due to the wrongful actions or negligence of someone else, you might be able to recover partial or complete damages, including:
- Physical pain and suffering: If you are experiencing ongoing physical issues or are experiencing additional injuries, this may increase your settlement or award.
- Medical expenses: These damages will help cover your emergency care, ongoing medical care, and physical therapy to recover.
- Loss of companionship: Family members may recover damages if the patient's injuries interfere with them continuing their everyday household obligations and roles.
- Lost wages: Burn victims need to undergo lengthy recovery programs and complex surgeries, which removes their ability to work, temporarily or permanently.
- Mental suffering: Patients may recover financial compensation for the mental distress or anxiety stemming from the burn injuries.
Why Should You Choose a Burn Injury Attorney to Help With Your Case?
Fire and burn victims are often left with physical, psychological, and financial scars that cause extensive medical treatment costs, lost wages, and life-altering pain and suffering.
Insurance companies, employers, and other at-fault parties may work hard to minimize their payout to burn injury victims. That's why if you or a loved one suffered from severe burn injuries, it's vital for you to talk to an experienced burn accident attorney as soon as possible following your accident.
A burn injury lawyer can help you hold a liable party responsible for their actions and potentially get fair compensation for pain and suffering. At Dolman Law Group, we advocate for burn accident victims that have been injured by negligent property owners or employers, sometimes securing millions in compensation.
Our legal team has extensive experience to help you navigate your way through this complicated legal process. Feel free to call or write to us for a free consultation. We will assist you through the legal action with guidance to help you recover financial compensation for lost wages, medical expenses, physical pain, and other damages.
Frequently Asked Questions About Burn Injury Claims
The claims process for a burn injury can be long and complicated, which is why hiring a burn accident attorney is vital. However, it's essential for you to know some important information before you enter the claims process.
The following are some of the frequently asked questions about burn injuries:
What is the Statute of Limitations for a Burn Injury Claim?
According to Florida Statute 95.11, a personal injury victim has four years from the date the incident occurred to file a personal injury claim with the at-fault party's insurance company. This also applies to burn injuries.
Do not wait until the last minute to file your burn injury claim. Contact a burn accident lawyer soon after the accident, so you can prepare your burn injury claim plan while the events and the injury are still fresh in your mind.
Can You Recieve More Compensation for a More Severe Burn Injury?
The level of compensation you pursue changes based on the severity of your injury. What compensation you pursue depends on how expensive the cost of the injury is. The factors that can determine what you pursue include medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering,
A more severe burn injury will require a higher settlement to pay for the damages. For example, you will have higher medical costs for a third-degree burn than for a first-degree burn, thus you will need more money to pay for the medical costs.
How Can You Prove Liability in a Burn Injury Case?
Liability in a burn accident requires your burn injury lawyer to prove the at-fault party owed you a duty of care, failed to provide it, and caused a burn injury through negligent behavior. Your burn accident attorney can do so by collecting evidence proving negligent behavior took place.
The following is some of the evidence that can help prove an at-fault party's liability in a burn accident:
- Police reports
- Medical records
- Videos and photos of the accident
- Expert witness testimonies
Contact a Dolman Law Group for Help With Your Clearwater Burn Injury Claim
If you've experienced a severe burn injury caused by another party's negligence, you may be able to file a burn injury claim and gain the maximum compensation for your economic and non-economic losses. The most effective way to ensure you'll get the compensation you deserve after a burn injury is to talk to an experienced Clearwater burn injury attorney right away.
The experienced burn injury attorneys of the Dolman Law Group are committed to helping people who have sustained devastating injuries. We have experience in handling burn injury claims through years of dedication to Clearwater burn injury victims. We can apply our experience to your case to help you file your claim, negotiate with the insurance company, and represent you in court if need be.
Contact Dolman Law Group today for a free consultation so we can show you how we can help you recover compensation for your burn injury damages. Call our Clearwater office today by giving us a call at (727) 451-6900 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys.
Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA
800 N Belcher Rd
Clearwater, FL 33765
Phone: (727) 451-6900