Louisville Burn Injury Attorney

Burns are serious injuries and can be extremely painful, involving anything from a scalding water burn to a chemical burn from substances like car battery acid.

The aftermath of a serious burn often includes nerve and muscle damage that can require ongoing physical therapy and may result in permanent scarring that can require cosmetic surgery and cause a lifetime struggle with self-confidence.

In addition to bodily harm and psychological suffering, a burn victim may also face the financial strain of healthcare costs, making it even more difficult to recuperate. In cases where the burn injury was caused by a person or entity’s negligence, victims may qualify for financial compensation.

If you’ve suffered burn injuries, contact a catastrophic injury lawyer who specializes in this type of case to provide support and an element of relief to burn victims.

There are four degrees of burn classification, and what degree of burn you’ve suffered will be a significant factor in the outcome of a lawsuit and the amount of compensation you may receive.

The degrees of burns include:

• First-degree burns, also referred to as superficial burns, harm the outermost layer of skin. These burns may cause pain, include reddening of the skin, and generally heal in just a few days.
• Second-degree burns are burns to the top two layers of skin. They generally cause blisters and take longer to recover from than first-degree burns. In some cases, second-degree burns may require skin grafting.
• Third-degree burns reach the deepest layers of skin and the tissues beneath the skin. Third-degree burns will require medical care and a longer recovery time which may include pain management and skin grafting.
• Fourth-degree burns are a more severe form of third-degree burns and can cause nerve, ligament, muscle, and tendon damage. Fourth-degree burns are the most severe and can be fatal.

While we may typically assume that burns are caused by fire, there are a variety of hazards that can lead to many different types of burns.

• Thermal burns are caused by contact with heat, such as fire, explosions, scalding liquid or steam, and severe sunburns.
• Electrical burns are caused by contact with an electrical current, which can occur when active electrical wires are exposed to water, from a direct charge out of an electrical source, or even from lightning.
• Chemical burns can happen if you come into contact with a corrosive chemical substance, like battery acid, bleach, chlorine, ammonia, solvents, or acids.

Burns happen in a wide variety of settings. Some of the most frequent locations of burn injuries include:

• Workplace Accidents: Burns frequently occur in industries that can involve exposure to flames, hot surfaces, or hazardous chemicals, like construction, manufacturing, and food service.
• Vehicle Accidents: Car crashes, truck accidents, and motorcycle collisions can lead to fires or explosions, causing severe burns to drivers and passengers.
• Defective Products: Electrical appliances, household electronics, or industrial equipment can all malfunction, leading to fires, chemical burns, or other serious injuries.
• Residential Fires: Bad wiring, HVAC equipment, or faulty smoke alarms can lead to house fires and life-threatening burns.
• Chemical Exposure: Chemical burns from hazardous materials can happen in the workplace, at home, or even in public spaces when handled negligently or labeled improperly.

Burn injury victims often face complex legal challenges when seeking compensation.

Insurance companies often try to minimize payouts, and those liable may deny responsibility. A burn injury lawyer will play a crucial role in making sure that the victims they represent get fair treatment and maximum compensation to cover their medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.

An experienced personal injury lawyer will perform a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the injury, and gather evidence that helps prove negligence. This evidence can include medical records, witness interviews, and opinions by experts in fields like fire safety and medical care.

After building a strong case, your lawyer will be ready to negotiate with insurance companies or represent you in court.

Burn injuries qualify as injury liability claims in Kentucky, but the specific subsection of the law that a claim qualifies under depends on where and how the burn happened. The injury liability categories that these claims typically fall under include:

Premises Liability

It may be considered premises liability if you’ve sustained a burn injury because of a property owner’s negligence. For example, if you slipped and touched an exposed heating element that caused you second-degree burns, the burns can be the fault of the property owner, because the heating element shouldn’t have been exposed.

Product Liability

If you sustain a burn injury because of a defective product, the case may fall under product liability. For example, if you’re burned by a cell phone battery or other defective component of the phone, the burn can be the fault of the phone manufacturer.

Negligence Liability

If you’re burned because of the negligence of another party, your case may fall under personal injury. For example, if someone spills a scalding liquid on you, the person who spilled the liquid and caused the burn can be held accountable.

Burns can be among the most painful of injuries and often require medical care and ongoing treatments to recover. Depending on the severity, you may have to live with scarring and disfigurement as well as psychological trauma.

If you, or a loved one, has suffered a burn as a result of the negligence of another person or company, you deserve fair compensation to cover the costs of your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

At McCoy & Hiestand, PLC, our personal injury attorneys can help you hold the at-fault party accountable and get you maximum compensation for the financial and psychological burdens that you may still be facing after the burn injuries you’ve suffered.

Contact our firm today for a free consultation from our Louisville burn lawyers.