Burns are among the most severe and painful injuries that an individual can suffer. While minor burns generally heal relatively quickly without leaving permanent damage, more severe burns can cause nerve damage and physical disfigurement that can last for the rest of the victim’s life—not to mention the intense pain that the victim must endure. If you or someone you love has suffered a severe burn injury due to the negligence, wrongdoing, or recklessness of another party, filing a personal injury claim may be in your best interest. By doing so, you may be able to collect a wide range of damages from the at-fault party.
Determining Fault in a Burn Injury Case
If you wish to recover damages for a burn injury through a personal injury claim, you and your lawyer will need to show that the party in question is responsible for causing your burns. In many cases, burn injuries are the result of negligence by an individual or entity. Severe burns can be caused by electrical accidents, residential fires, construction accidents, accidents at a restaurant, car accidents, and many other types of incidents.
It can be very challenging to determine which party or parties were responsible for your burn-causing accident, but an experienced attorney can help you do so. Your lawyer will work with you to collect evidence, organize testimony from witnesses, and collaborate with experts who can testify to the fact that the at-fault party’s actions or inaction led to your burns.
Compensation and the Severity of Your Burns
A painful burn that does not cause you to incur hefty medical bills or substantially affect your ability to work or enjoy your life might not be worth the time and energy necessary to pursue a personal injury lawsuit. However, if your burns required a stay in the hospital, surgery, skin grafts, or physical therapy, or you had to miss time at work due to your burns, you deserve to be compensated for these costs. In addition to these measurable expenses, your burns could also result in non-economic harm.
For example, you might have disfiguring scars, reduced function in the parts of your body that were burned, and psychological damage. Suffering a serious burn injury can leave a victim severely traumatized by the entire experience. You might be subject to nightmares, flashbacks, and debilitating anxiety that interferes with your everyday life.
Through a personal injury lawsuit, you may be able to collect compensation for:
- Current medical expenses
- The cost of future medical care
- Lost wages due to time away from work
- Lost earning potential due to your injuries
- Pain and suffering
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Any other losses that are shown to be related to your burns
Contact a Green Bay Burn Injury Lawyer
For more information about seeking compensation for a serious burn injury, contact an experienced Appleton burn injury attorney at Herrling Clark Law Firm, Ltd. Our team will provide the guidance you need as you look to rebuild your life. Call 920-739-7366 for a free consultation and case evaluation today.
Sources:
https://www.webmd.com/first-aid/types-degrees-burns