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Our burn injury lawyers in Shelby understands the profound impact a burn injury can have on you and your loved ones. The physical pain, emotional trauma, and financial burden can be overwhelming, and it’s unjust that your family should bear this alone due to someone else’s negligence. We firmly believe those responsible should be held accountable for the damages they’ve caused.
Our commitment to you is rooted in compassion and a deep sense of justice. Our Shelby personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis, meaning we only get paid if we win your case. If you or a loved one has suffered a burn injury, call us for a free consultation. We can support your family’s needs and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Accidents Our Shelby Burn Injury Lawyers Have Handled that Caused Burn Injuries
Burn injuries can occur in a wide variety of accidents, each bringing its own set of challenges and implications for recovery. Here are some common accidents that we’ve seen our clients suffer burn injuries:
- Car accidents: High-speed collisions can lead to fires, especially if a vehicle’s fuel system is compromised. Occupants may suffer burns before they can escape the wreckage.
- Workplace accidents: Industries involving chemicals, hot machinery, and electrical equipment pose significant risks for burns. Explosions and fires in these settings can cause severe injuries.
- Electrical accidents: Coming into contact with live electrical wires or equipment can cause electrical burns, which may damage not only the skin but also internal organs.
- Chemical spills: Accidents involving corrosive substances, whether at work or due to product malfunctions at home, can cause chemical burns upon skin contact.
Each of these accidents can lead to burn injuries that vary in severity. Our burn injury attorneys in Shelby understand how much pain and suffering these injuries can cause our clients and can help you obtain the care you need. Call Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC for a free case review.
Identifying the Liable Party to Your Burn Injuries
Identifying the at-fault party in your burn injury accident means proving negligence. For there to be negligence, we must be able to prove these four things:
- Duty of care: The other party had a responsibility for your health and safety.
- Breach of duty: They behaved in a way that endangered you, either through an action or inaction.
- Causation: This behavior led to an accident and your injuries.
- Damages: Your injuries have a financial, mental, and emotional impact on your life.
To prove these four things, we need evidence. Our legal team has investigators on staff who will visit the accident scene and collect relevant evidence to your claim. Evidence of your burn injuries could include:
- Medical records: Documentation of the injuries, treatment received, and prognosis.
- Photos of injuries: Images taken immediately after the incident and throughout the recovery process.
- Accident scene photos: Pictures of where the incident occurred, focusing on any hazards or conditions that contributed to the injury.
- Witness statements: Accounts from people who saw the incident or have relevant information about the circumstances.
- Expert testimony: Insights from medical professionals, fire safety experts, or accident reconstruction specialists.
- Employment records: Documentation showing lost wages and the impact on your earning capacity.
- Product information: In cases of defective products, details about the item, including manuals, warnings, and recalls.
- Safety records: For workplace injuries, records of safety protocols, training, and any previous incidents.
- Fire department and police reports: Official reports that detail the incident and any immediate findings regarding cause and fault.
- Surveillance footage: Video evidence from cameras that may have captured the incident or conditions leading to it.
It’s also important that we start the claim process before the statute of limitations expires in your case. Per N.C. Gen. Stat. §1-52, you have three years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. If we cannot reach a settlement with the liable party or the insurance companies, we will pursue compensation through a court award.
Burn Severity Affects the Value of Our Losses
Burn injuries are classified into degrees, with each degree representing the severity of the injury:
- First-degree burns are the most superficial, affecting only the outer layer of skin and typically requiring minimal medical care, such as over-the-counter pain relief and topical treatments.
- Second-degree burns involve the first and second layers of skin, often necessitating more comprehensive treatment, including infection prevention and possibly skin grafts for recovery.
- Third-degree burns extend through all layers of the skin and can affect underlying tissues; these injuries require immediate medical attention, potentially involving surgical intervention and long-term rehabilitation.
- Fourth-degree burns are the most severe, impacting muscle and bone, and often require extensive surgical treatment, including reconstruction.
The degree of the burn and the necessary medical care directly impact the compensation you may pursue. More severe burns often result in higher medical bills, longer periods of lost wages, and greater pain and suffering, all of which are considered in personal injury claims.
Victims of third and fourth-degree burns may also pursue compensation for long-term care, physical therapy, and psychological counseling, reflecting the comprehensive impact of their injuries on their lives.
Burn Injury Victims Can Pursue Various Types of Compensation
In addition to medical care, burn injury victims can pursue compensation to cover a broad spectrum of losses they suffer. This compensation is generally categorized into economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages aim to reimburse you for actual financial losses. They include such things as:
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Home or vehicle modifications
- Other out-of-pocket expenses
Non-economic damages address the more subjective, non-monetary aspects of your suffering and how the burn injuries have affected your life. These damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of consortium
These categories encompass the financial and personal impacts of burn injuries. The severity of the burn, the extent of medical care required, and the long-term effects of the injury significantly influence the compensation you can pursue.
For Guidance and Support, Call Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC Today
A Shelby burn injury attorney can handle the claims process of investigating your accident, filing claims, negotiating with the insurance companies, and, if necessary, taking your claim to court.
If you or a loved one has suffered a burn injury due to someone else’s negligence, don’t hesitate to seek the professional support you need. Call today for a free case review and take the first step towards securing the compensation you deserve.
