Burn Injury Lawyer

A severe burn can leave more than a temporary injury. Extensive burns can require weeks or months of treatment, multiple surgeries, skin grafts, and rehabilitation—and the effects can continue long after the wounds have healed. Permanent scarring, disfigurement, nerve damage, restricted movement, and chronic pain can affect a person’s ability to work and live normally.

Burn injuries can happen in an instant, whether a vehicle catches fire after a crash, an explosion occurs at a job site, a defective product ignites, or someone is exposed to dangerous chemicals or electrical current. When a burn was caused by someone else’s negligence or a defective product, the consequences may extend far beyond the initial medical bills.

Langdon & Emison represents clients nationwide in catastrophic injury cases involving severe burns and other life-altering injuries. With $1 billion recovered for our clients, our attorneys have the experience and resources to investigate what caused a burn injury and pursue compensation for the treatment, losses, and lasting effects that follow.

If you or a loved one suffered a serious burn because of an accident, call an experienced catastrophic injury lawyer at Langdon & Emison on 866-931-2115 to discuss your legal options.

Why Choose Langdon & Emison?

Severe burn cases can involve complicated questions about how an accident occurred, who was responsible, and what treatment the victim may need in the future. Langdon & Emison represents clients nationwide in catastrophic injury cases and has recovered more than $1 billion for clients. Our attorneys have the resources to investigate complex accidents, work with qualified medical and other experts, and pursue compensation that accounts for the full impact of a serious burn injury.

What Makes a Burn Injury Severe?

Not every burn has the same consequences. The seriousness of a burn depends on factors such as how deeply the tissue is damaged, how much of the body is affected, and where the burns are located. Severe burns can damage more than the outer layer of skin and may require extensive medical treatment.

Burns are commonly classified by their depth:

First-Degree Burns

First-degree burns affect the outermost layer of skin. They can cause redness, pain, and sensitivity and often heal without extensive medical intervention.

Second-Degree Burns

Second-degree, or partial-thickness, burns extend deeper into the skin and may cause significant pain, swelling, blistering, and changes in the appearance of the affected area. More serious second-degree burns may require specialized treatment or skin grafting.

Third-Degree Burns

Third-degree, or full-thickness, burns destroy the full thickness of the skin and can extend into underlying tissue. These injuries may require surgery, skin grafts, and prolonged rehabilitation.

Fourth-Degree Burns

Fourth-degree burns extend beyond the skin into deeper structures such as muscle, tendons, or bone. They are among the most severe types of burns and can result in permanent disability, disfigurement, or amputation.

The location of a burn can also affect its consequences. Burns involving the face, hands, feet, major joints, or other sensitive areas may interfere with movement, function, or appearance and can require extensive treatment.

Burns can also be classified according to how they occurred. Thermal burns result from heat, while chemical, electrical, and radiation burns involve different mechanisms and may cause additional complications.

Common Causes of Serious Burn Injuries

A burn injury can occur in many different settings, and the circumstances surrounding the accident may help determine who is responsible. Some serious burns happen because someone failed to take reasonable safety precautions, while others result from dangerous products, defective equipment, or hazardous conditions.

Common causes include:

• Fires and explosions: Fires, explosions, and flash fires can cause extensive thermal burns and inhalation injuries.
• Vehicle crashes: A collision can cause a vehicle to catch fire, exposing occupants to flames, smoke, hot surfaces, or leaking fuel.
• Truck accidents: Commercial vehicles may carry fuel, chemicals, or other materials that can increase the risk of fire or hazardous exposure during a crash.
• Workplace and construction accidents: Workers can suffer burns from fires, explosions, welding equipment, electrical systems, chemicals, and industrial machinery.
• Defective products: A product that overheats, catches fire, explodes, or exposes users to dangerous substances may cause serious burns.
• Chemical exposure: Contact with corrosive chemicals can cause severe tissue damage and may continue damaging tissue until the substance is removed and properly treated.
• Electrical accidents: Electrical current can cause internal tissue damage as well as burns at entry and exit points.
• Property hazards: Unsafe wiring, inadequate fire protection, dangerous heating equipment, or other hazardous conditions can contribute to burns on residential or commercial property.
• Scalding accidents: Hot liquids, steam, or other heated substances can cause significant burns, particularly in children, older adults, and vulnerable individuals.

Identifying the source of a burn is an important part of determining whether another party may be legally responsible. In some cases, the evidence may point to more than one contributing factor or potentially liable party.

How a Burn Injury Can Affect Your Future

Severe burns can force a person to make changes that extend well beyond the recovery period. Someone who once worked, traveled, exercised, or handled everyday tasks without assistance may need to adapt to new physical limitations, ongoing treatment, or permanent changes in appearance.

The impact can include:

• Employment changes: Scarring, reduced mobility, chronic pain, or ongoing treatment may make it difficult to return to the same job or career.
• Physical limitations: Burns affecting the hands, arms, legs, or joints can interfere with movement and everyday activities.
• Daily living: Severe injuries may make bathing, dressing, cooking, driving, or other routine tasks more difficult.
• Ongoing medical care: Burn survivors may need continuing appointments, rehabilitation, medications, scar treatment, or reconstructive procedures.
• Changes to social and personal life: Visible scarring or permanent disfigurement can affect relationships and social interactions.
• Emotional challenges: Adjusting to a changed appearance, chronic pain, or permanent limitations can be difficult.
• Reduced quality of life: A burn injury may prevent someone from participating in hobbies, sports, travel, and other activities they previously enjoyed.

These effects can be especially significant when a burn injury occurs early in a person’s career or life. A younger victim may face decades of medical treatment, reduced earning capacity, and other consequences that are difficult to predict immediately after the accident.

Who May Be Responsible for a Burn Injury?

The person or company responsible for a burn injury depends on what caused the accident. In some cases, responsibility may be relatively straightforward. In others, identifying the liable parties requires investigating the product, property, workplace, vehicle, or other circumstances involved.

Potentially responsible parties may include:

• Negligent drivers: A driver who causes a collision that results in a fire or other burn hazard may be responsible for resulting injuries.
• Trucking companies: A trucking company may potentially be liable when negligent maintenance, unsafe practices, or other conduct contributes to a truck accident involving fire or hazardous materials.
• Employers: Depending on the circumstances and applicable law, an employer may have responsibility for unsafe workplace conditions or practices that contribute to a burn injury.
• Property owners: Owners or operators of homes, businesses, or other properties may potentially be liable when dangerous conditions contribute to a fire, electrical accident, or other burn injury.
• Product manufacturers: A manufacturer may be responsible when a defective product catches fire, explodes, overheats, leaks dangerous chemicals, or otherwise causes a burn.
• Contractors: Improper electrical work, construction, installation, or other services may contribute to a fire or hazardous condition.
• Other third parties: Suppliers, maintenance companies, property managers, and other parties may potentially share responsibility depending on their involvement.

More than one party can sometimes contribute to a burn injury. Establishing liability may require determining not only what caused the burn, but also whether someone failed to follow safety requirements, properly maintain equipment, warn about a known hazard, or provide a reasonably safe product or environment.

What Compensation Can You Recover for a Burn Injury?

The financial impact of a serious burn can extend well beyond the initial emergency treatment. Depending on the circumstances, an injured person may be able to seek compensation for both the immediate costs of the accident and the long-term consequences of the injury.

Potential damages may include:

• Emergency and hospital care: Ambulance transportation, emergency treatment, hospitalization, and specialized burn-center care.
• Surgeries and skin grafts: Costs associated with procedures needed to treat damaged tissue and promote healing.
• Rehabilitation: Physical and occupational therapy and other services needed to restore movement and function.
• Medications and pain management: Treatment for pain, infections, scarring, and other complications.
• Reconstructive treatment: Future procedures to address scarring, contractures, disfigurement, or loss of function.
• Future medical care: Ongoing treatment and monitoring related to the burn injury.
• Lost wages: Income lost while recovering from the accident or receiving treatment.
• Loss of earning capacity: A severe burn may permanently affect someone’s ability to work or earn the same income.
• Pain and suffering: Compensation for the physical pain and discomfort associated with the injury and recovery.
• Disfigurement and scarring: Permanent changes to appearance may be considered when evaluating damages.
• Emotional distress: Severe burns can have lasting psychological and emotional effects.
• Loss of enjoyment of life: A serious injury may prevent someone from participating in activities, hobbies, or other aspects of life they previously enjoyed.

The full value of a burn injury claim cannot always be determined early in the recovery process. Future surgeries, rehabilitation, scarring, and other long-term effects may become clearer over time, making it important to consider both current and anticipated losses.

Contact a Burn Injury Lawyer At Langdon & Emison

A severe burn can leave lasting physical, financial, and emotional consequences. Even after the initial wounds heal, victims may face additional surgeries, rehabilitation, permanent scarring, chronic pain, and other challenges that affect their work and quality of life.

If another person, company, or defective product caused your burn injury, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and future losses. Langdon & Emison has the experience and resources to investigate the circumstances of your injury and pursue the compensation you deserve.

If you or a loved one suffered a serious burn injury, call Langdon & Emison at 866-931-2115 to discuss your legal options.

Burn Injury Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sue if a defective product caused my burn injury?

Potentially. If a defective product caused or contributed to your burn injury, you may have a product liability claim against the manufacturer, distributor, retailer, or another responsible party. The specific requirements depend on the product and applicable law.

Can I recover compensation for permanent burn scars?

Potentially. Permanent scarring and disfigurement can be significant consequences of a severe burn and may be considered when determining compensation. The location, extent, permanence, and effect of the scarring on your life can all be relevant.

Who pays for future reconstructive surgery after a burn injury?

If another party is legally responsible for your injury, the anticipated cost of reasonably necessary future reconstructive treatment may be included in your claim for damages. Medical evidence can help establish what procedures may be needed and their expected costs.

Can I recover damages for emotional distress after a burn?

Potentially. Severe burns can cause significant emotional and psychological effects, particularly when they result in permanent scarring, disfigurement, chronic pain, or changes to a person’s ability to live independently. Depending on applicable law, emotional distress may be included as part of a personal injury claim.

What if my burn injury prevents me from working?

You may be able to seek compensation for income lost because of the injury as well as diminished future earning capacity. The analysis may consider your occupation, income, work history, physical limitations, and whether you can return to the same type of work.

How do I prove someone else was responsible for my burn injury?

Evidence may include accident reports, photographs, witness statements, surveillance footage, damaged equipment or products, workplace records, and expert analysis. Medical records can also help establish the severity of your injuries and connect them to the accident.

Can I still file a claim if the burn injury happened months ago?

Possibly. The fact that time has passed does not automatically prevent you from pursuing a claim, but legal deadlines can apply. Because the applicable statute of limitations depends on factors such as where the accident occurred and who is responsible, it is important to seek legal advice as soon as possible.

How long do I have to file a burn injury lawsuit?

The deadline varies by state and by the circumstances of the claim. Different rules may apply to claims involving government entities, minors, employers, or defective products. Missing an applicable deadline can prevent you from recovering compensation.

How long does a burn injury lawsuit take?

Every case is different. The timeline can depend on the severity of the injuries, the amount of investigation required, the number of potentially responsible parties, the need for expert testimony, and whether the case settles or proceeds to trial. Complex burn injury cases may take considerable time to resolve.