Burn injuries cause some of the most painful and life-altering damages in personal injury law. Severe burns require specialized treatment at burn centers, months or years of surgeries and rehabilitation, and leave permanent scarring that affects victims physically and emotionally for life. Legal claims against those responsible for burn injuries can provide substantial compensation reflecting the severity of these devastating injuries.
Common Causes of Burn Injuries
Thermal burns from fires, flames, and hot surfaces represent the largest category of burn injuries. House fires, vehicle fires, industrial accidents, and cooking-related incidents all cause thermal burns. The heat source, duration of exposure, and affected body areas determine injury severity.
Chemical burns result from contact with corrosive substances including acids, bases, and industrial chemicals. These burns may continue damaging tissue until the chemical is neutralized or removed. Chemical burns can also cause internal injuries if substances are ingested or inhaled. Workplace exposures and defective products commonly cause chemical burns.
Electrical burns from electrocution and arc flash cause both external and internal damage. Electrical burns often cause more internal injury than external appearance suggests as electricity damages tissue along its path through the body. These injuries may affect the heart, nervous system, and internal organs.
Scalding burns from hot liquids including water, steam, and cooking fluids are particularly common in children and the elderly. Water heaters set above safe temperatures, spilled hot beverages, and cooking accidents cause painful scalding injuries that may require significant treatment.
Liability Theories for Burn Claims
Negligence claims apply when someone's carelessness causes burn injuries. Drivers whose accidents cause vehicle fires, property owners who fail to address fire hazards, and individuals whose careless acts start fires all face negligence liability. Proving negligence requires showing the defendant owed a duty of care, breached that duty, and caused the burn injuries.
Product liability claims target manufacturers when defective products cause burns. Products that overheat, catch fire, explode, or release harmful chemicals may have design defects, manufacturing defects, or inadequate warnings. Manufacturers face strict liability for defective products, meaning victims need not prove negligence.
Premises liability holds property owners responsible for burn injuries caused by hazardous conditions. Landlords who fail to maintain fire safety equipment, businesses with fire code violations, and property owners who ignore known hazards may face premises liability claims. The duty owed depends on the victim's status as invitee, licensee, or trespasser.
Proving Burn Injury Claims
Fire investigation reports document how fires started and spread. Professional fire investigators determine ignition sources, contributing factors, and responsibility. These reports provide crucial evidence for establishing liability in fire-related burn cases.
Medical records document the extent of injuries and treatment provided. Burn center records detail wound classifications, surgeries performed, complications encountered, and prognosis for recovery. These records quantify damages and establish the severity of injuries.
Expert testimony from fire investigators, engineers, medical professionals, and economists supports various aspects of burn claims. Fire experts establish causation. Medical experts explain injuries and treatment needs. Economists calculate lost earnings and future expenses. Complex burn cases typically require multiple expert witnesses to prove liability and damages.
Treatment and Damages Overview
Serious burns require treatment at specialized burn centers with expertise in wound care, infection management, and reconstructive surgery. Initial treatment may include debridement, skin grafts, and extensive hospitalization. Ongoing treatment includes physical therapy, occupational therapy, scar management, and additional surgeries. Treatment costs for severe burns routinely exceed hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Pain and suffering damages reflect the extreme physical pain of burn injuries and recovery. Burn wound care involves painful debridement and dressing changes. Skin graft procedures and rehabilitation cause additional suffering. The psychological trauma of burn injuries compounds physical pain.
Disfigurement damages compensate for permanent scarring that affects appearance and self-image. Visible scarring, particularly on the face and hands, significantly impacts quality of life and may affect employment and relationships. These non-economic damages often constitute a major component of burn injury recoveries.
Building Your Burn Injury Case
Prompt evidence preservation is critical in burn cases. Fire scenes change quickly, and evidence of product defects may be destroyed or lost. Attorneys should be engaged quickly to ensure evidence is preserved through spoliation letters and prompt investigation.
Documenting the injury progression through photographs shows the severity of wounds and the appearance of resulting scars. Photos taken during treatment and at various recovery stages demonstrate the extent of suffering and permanent effects.
Life care planning documents long-term needs for serious burn injuries. Life care planners project future medical expenses, therapy needs, and equipment requirements. These comprehensive projections support claims for future damages extending throughout the victim's life.
Conclusion
Burn injuries cause devastating physical and emotional harm that justifies substantial legal compensation. Understanding liability theories, treatment requirements, and damage categories helps victims pursue full recovery for their injuries. Working with attorneys experienced in burn cases ensures proper investigation, expert engagement, and damage documentation to maximize compensation for these life-altering injuries.