Burn Injuries

San Diego Burn Injury Lawyer

Helping Burn Injury Victims Pursue Maximum Compensation and the Justice They Deserve

If a hot pan slightly burns you, you know how uncomfortable even a minor burn can feel. Severe burn injuries typically result in permanent scaring and intense physical pain. Many victims who have suffered severe burn injuries require extensive medical treatment, such as skin grafting and pain management. Most victims who have suffered a serious burn injury can need several weeks, if not months, to fully recover from their injuries.

Suppose you or a loved one have suffered burn injuries due to another person’s negligence. In that case, you can pursue compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and emotional distress. Due to the legal complexities of handling personal injury cases, hiring an experienced burn injury attorney who will act as your legal advocate is always best.

Finn Trial Attorneys APC is a San Diego law firm dedicated to helping those injured by negligence. Contact our office today to schedule a free consultation.

What are the Most Common Causes of Burn Injuries?

There are several common causes of burn injuries, all of which can be extremely painful. The most frequently reported types include thermal and electrical burn injuries. Other less common injuries include chemical, and friction burns.

Thermal Burns

Thermal burns are the most commonly reported burn injuries and are caused by direct contact with hot objects, flames, or scalding liquids, including hot water. Due to their curious nature, children are often prone to suffering thermal burn injuries, which can require medical treatment.

Electrical Burns

Although less common than thermal burns, electrical burns can also result in severe injuries. They result from contact with power sources, including outlets or wiring. Being struck by lightning can also result in life-threatening burn injuries. Electrical burns often occur due to workplace accidents.

Chemical and Friction Burns

Chemical and friction burns may result from contact with corrosive substances or road rash, as often reported in motorcycle accidents. Although less common, chemical burns or road rash can still be extremely painful and require medical attention.

How are Burn Injuries Classified?

Burn injuries are classified by their depth and severity and range from first-degree to fourth-degree burns.

First Degree Burns

First-degree burns are the least painful and only affect the outer layer of skin, known as the epidermis. Although accident victims may experience some redness or swelling, first-degree burns do not usually result in scarring.

Second-Degree Burns

Second-degree burns can be broken down into two groups: partial thickness and deep-partial thickness. Partial-thickness burns are painful as they extend past the outer layer of skin and into the dermis and may manifest themselves through painful blisters, which may take one to three weeks to heal. Deep partial-thickness second-degree burns extend into the deeper layers of the dermis and are generally less painful than partial-thickness burns due to damaged nerve endings in the skin.

Third-Degree Burns

Third-degree burns may result in severe injuries to skin layers of deep tissue and require skin grafting to heal correctly. These burns often appear to be charred or leathery and result in permanent scaring and extreme pain.

Fourth-degree Burns

Fourth-degree burn injuries are considered the most severe as they extend through all the layers of the skin and into underlying tissues. Underlying tissues include bones, muscles, and tendons. Although fourth-degree burns are typically less painful due to nerve damage, they can have life-threatening consequences for victims.

What are Catastrophic Burn Injuries?

Catastrophic burn injuries are those that are life-threatening or that result in permanent damage, significant scarring, or disfigurement. Burn victims with third and fourth-degree burns have the greatest risk of suffering permanent injury or death due to the severity of their injuries and damage to muscles or bones.

If the victim suffers burns to a large portion of their body, they may require ongoing and expensive medical treatment. Additionally, burns that affect vital body areas such as the face, hands, feet, or lower torso area are also at considerable risk.

Catastrophic burn victims are also at an increased risk of lung infections, multi-system organ dysfunction, and psychological trauma. Although catastrophic burn injuries can leave a victim permanently impaired, they can also result in fatalities.

If you or a family member are dealing with life-altering catastrophic burn injuries, you must seek legal representation immediately. The costs associated with ongoing medical treatment can quickly add up and cause a severe financial crisis for your family.

Our San Diego burn injury attorneys have in-depth experience handling catastrophic burn injury cases and will work tirelessly to ensure you obtain the maximum compensation you deserve.

What do the Legal Advantages of Hiring a San Diego Burn Injury Lawyer?

Regardless of how your burn injury occurred, you need a San Diego attorney who will help you with your legal needs. Experienced burn injury lawyers know the legal complexities and health concerns accompanying burn accidents.

A burn injury lawyer will act as your representative with the insurance company. Burn accident victims typically need significant time to recover from their injuries. If you have suffered burn injuries, one of the last things you want to do is deal with the insurance company. Your lawyer can assist you with the legal paperwork required to file a claim and ensure it is turned in on time.

Additionally, a burn injury lawyer has the legal and financial resources to gather critical evidence that will support your claim, including:

  • Police and medical reports
  • Eyewitness statements
  • Video footage and surveillance

One of the most considerable benefits of hiring a burn injury lawyer is they will negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. Many insurance providers are willing to offer a fair settlement when they realize that clients have skilled legal representation.

If the insurance company is unwilling to offer financial compensation that adequately addresses your needs, your lawyer will file a personal injury lawsuit to hold the negligent party accountable.

Can Your Law Firm Help Me Recover Compensation for Burn Injuries?

If another party’s negligence caused you to suffer a burn injury, you may be entitled to pursue compensation for accident-related damages. Finn Trial Attorneys APC has a proven record of helping burn injury victims recover full and fair compensation for damages.

California law allows accident victims to seek economic and non-economic damages, also called compensatory damages.

Economic Damages

Economic damages are awarded to burn injury victims to repay them for financial losses they have incurred due to negligence and may include:

  • Past and future medical expenses
  • Lost wages
  • Loss of earnings

Economic damages may also be ordered to pay for necessary medical devices, wound dressings, physical therapy, or rehab.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages, if awarded, are meant to compensate injury victims for intangible losses suffered. If non-economic damages are awarded, they are based on the unique facts involved in the case. Frequently awarded non-economic damages may include:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Emotional distress
  • Loss of consortium
  • Permanent disfigurement and scarring

How Do You Win a Burn Injury Case?

As with any other personal injury claim, a plaintiff must prove several legal elements to win a burn injury case. Because California is a fault-based state, anyone seeking financial compensation must prove that someone else’s negligence caused their injuries.

A plaintiff must prove that the defendant owed them a duty of care, meaning they had a legal obligation to reasonably protect others from harm. Next, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant breached their duty of care by failing to act as any other person would given the same circumstances. The plaintiff must also demonstrate a “causal link” showing how the breach of duty directly injured them. Lastly, the plaintiff must have suffered actual damages from their burn injuries. Damages include out-of-pocket expenses paid for medical treatment, pain and suffering, or lost income.

Proving negligence is key to winning a burn injury case and requires strong evidence, typically photos of your injuries and supporting medical documentation. A San Diego burn injury lawyer will also work to prove fault, whether it resulted from a faulty consumer product or another person’s negligence.

Insurance companies often try to argue that consumers or those injured in house fires are somehow to blame for causing their burn injuries so that they can deny or reduce compensation. Our attorneys will stand up for your rights if you suffer a burn injury caused by a preventable fire or poorly designed consumer product. We will not allow the insurance company to try and bully you by arguing that you are responsible for your injuries or try to convince you to accept a smaller settlement.

Does Your Law Firm Have the Experience It Takes to Help Me Win a Burn Injury Case?

Finn Trial Attorneys APC is a San Diego law firm that is passionately committed to helping burn victims recover full and fair compensation for their injuries. Our attorneys have comprehensive experience handling burn injury cases and know what it takes to obtain favorable results.

When you come to us for help, we will professionally evaluate your case, determine liability, and gather critical evidence substantiating your claim. California follows a comparative negligence doctrine, meaning that your compensation can be reduced if it is determined you share a degree of fault for the accident. Due to comparative fault laws, many insurance providers try to accuse burn injury victims of improperly using consumer products or accidentally setting a fire that injured them.

Our personal injury attorneys realize that insurers are more concerned about protecting their profit margins rather than focusing on the claimant’s well-being. We use our years of combined experience and skill to help clients obtain settlements that help them confidently face the future. 

Regardless of how you were injured, you need a fearless San Diego burn injury lawyer who ensures you are treated fairly by the insurance company. If you have suffered burn injuries, contact our law office today at 619-375-5105 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to learn how we can help.