What You Need to Know About Filing a Severe Burn Injury Claim

A severe burn injury is almost by definition a devastating injury because it is permanent and often comes with the emotional trauma of extreme pain and sudden disfigurement and scarring. During the treatment and healing process, burn victims usually experience expensive medical bills, lost income and intense pain. If you are suffering from a serious burn injury caused by the negligence of another, you may be entitled to a settlement through a burn injury claim.

Burn injuries

Severe burns fall into the category of a catastrophic injury when they are fatal, or cause permanent disability or disfigurement. In most cases, burns that cause this type of suffering are 3^rd degree burns that break through the layers of the skin and destroy tissue. Anyone who experiences a 3^rd degree burn should seek immediate emergency room care. As the burn heals, the skin becomes dry and leathery in texture, and may change color to white, brown, or black.

Serious burn injuries may be caused by:

• Scalding from hot liquid
• Chemical burns
• Electrical burns
• Radiation burns
• Thermal burns
• Inhalation burns

Burn injuries vary in severity, partially based on which part of the body is burnt and the type of burn suffered. For example, a 3^rd degree burn to the arm is going to have different long-term effects than a burn to the face. In addition, some people struggle more than others to heal from burns, particularly the elderly.

What You Need to Know About Filing a Severe Burn Injury Claim

If you are suffering because of a serious burn caused by the negligence of another, you may be able to recover damages through a burn injury claim. The purpose of a personal injury claim is to restore the plaintiff to the position they were in before they suffered the injury.

Seek the advice of a Seattle personal injury lawyer; a local attorney knows the laws in your state and is best qualified to assess your case and help you get the maximum settlement for your injuries.

Common causes of burn injuries caused by negligence:

• Truck and car accidents
• Defective products
• Unsafe premises
• Fires in public places such as a nightclub
• Fires in an apartment building
• Workplace accidents*

* If you were burned on the job – while in the workplace or while performing work-related tasks – you may file a workers’ compensation claim to recover compensation for your medical bills, income replacement, job retraining, etc. Learn more about filing a claim here.

In order to recover damages from an accident or injury that occurred outside of the workplace, the plaintiff must prove the following elements of negligence – typically with the help of an injury lawyer:

1. The defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care, which is the obligation to avoid causing harm to another person. For example, a manufacturer has a duty of care to manufacture a product that is safe to use in the way it was intended.
2. The duty was breached because of negligent conduct. Negligent conduct may be characterized as either an act, or an omission to act when there is a duty to do so.
3. The breach caused the injury. The plaintiff must show how the breach was the cause of their injury. In some cases, an expert witness is called to explain how the defendant’s negligence caused the plaintiff’s injuries.
4. The injury resulted in financial loss (damages). Damages include medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

The Seattle Personal Injury Attorneys You Want on Your Side

The personal injury attorneys at Tinker Law Firm have been winning birth injury, medical malpractice, and personal injury cases for individuals and their loved ones in Seattle and across Washington State since 1974. We seek justice for injury victims who have been harmed by preventable medical errors, and the negligent or abusive actions of another. Our clients pay no fees or expenses to file a personal injury claim; our firm advances out-of-pocket expenses and is only reimbursed when we recover a settlement on your behalf. Do not delay; personal injury claims in Washington State have a statute of limitations, which means they must be filed within a certain time from the date of the injury.

Call us now at (206) 752-4366 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with one of our skilled and experienced injury attorneys.