Call Us Today Burns happen in many ways and in many settings, but when another party is at fault, you should not have to pay for their negligence and mistakes. The costs of treating your burns can rapidly multiply, and healing can take months or even years to complete.
Severe burn claims usually mean that large sums of money are at stake, and the defendants will work hard to fight your claim. Don’t risk your claim by dealing with the insurance company alone. A Cape Coral personal injury lawyer can protect your rights and your claim.
The Cape Coral burn injury attorneys of Viles & Beckman have been helping South Florida injury victims for over 40 years, and we have successfully recovered substantial compensation on their behalf. Reach out to us today to learn how we can help you so you can focus on healing.
Classification of Burns
Pain doesn’t indicate the severity of a burn. The most severe burns can be painless because the nerves and pain receptors have been damaged or completely burned away.
The severity of a burn is measured by determining how many layers of skin have been compromised. Here is how burn injuries are categorized:
First-Degree Burn
First-degree burns affect the outermost layer of your skin, the epidermis. These burns are not usually associated with long-term damage, even though they can be quite painful and turn your skin red temporarily. Bad sunburns or burns from brief contact with certain hot items are usually first-degree.
Second-Degree Burn
The epidermis and the dermis are both damaged when you experience a second-degree burn. Blistering is common; the outer layer of skin is bright red, and it may look shiny and swollen. The burned areas will be painful if touched and can be extremely uncomfortable.
Touching your skin with a hot iron or being splashed with hot grease while cooking can generally cause a second-degree burn and blistering. These burns can be superficial or deep. They may or may not result in scarring or permanent color changes to the skin.
Third-Degree Burn
This severe burn damages the complete dermis, epidermis, and subcutaneous tissue. It may or may not hurt because of the damage done to your nerves.
The skin may appear white, yellow, brown, or black and can appear leathery. It is often called a full thickness burn and will nearly always require surgery.
Fourth-Degree Burn
This is the most severe classification of burns and is often life-threatening. This type of burn affects all skin layers, muscles, and tendons, and may expose the bone. These extreme burns often require years of rehabilitation and may involve amputation. Permanent scarring and disfigurement are nearly always associated with this type of injury.
Our experienced attorneys may work with construction experts, chemical engineers, forensic experts, product safety specialists, or fire forensics specialists to make a complete evaluation of what exactly happened.
Your burn injury lawyer in Cape Coral will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the sources of liability and develop a legal strategy based on the evidence to hold the responsible parties accountable.
Expect More, Receive More: Legal Support That Feels Like Family
Damages in a Burn Injury Claim
Negligence, motor vehicle accidents, workplace accidents, lack of fire escapes, malfunctioning sprinkler systems, industrial accidents, and many other circumstances cause burn injuries that should have been prevented.
When negligent behavior, violations of safety regulations, or defective products are involved in your burn injuries, a burn injury attorney in Cape Coral can help you fight for the financial compensation you need.
Our lawyers have negotiated settlements or won court awards on behalf of our clients for compensatory damages in many burn injury cases. Economic and non-economic damages can include:
- Medical expenses: Medical bills to treat burn patients can be staggering. Hospitalization, repeat visits, surgeries, skin grafts, medications, follow-up visits, and emergency care are all covered.
- Future costs of treatment: Long-term medical care may be necessary. Physical therapy costs, mobility aids, reconstructive surgeries, and all associated costs will be considered.
- Lost wages: The income you lost while being treated and recovering from your injuries will be added to your damages. The costs of vocational rehabilitation or loss of future earnings will be considered if you become disabled.
- Emotional and psychological damages: The victims of severe burns can face a lifetime of stigma and PTSD, anxiety, and depression and suffer emotionally from the strain of enduring burn injuries and the subsequent treatment and life changes. These damages will be addressed.
- Pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life: Burns can have a profound impact on your quality of life. Pain from your injuries, the length of the treatment, the severity of the injuries, and the suffering you have been through are all factors in determining the damages for pain and suffering. Your personal injury lawyer can calculate these damages and back them with results from previously resolved cases.
- Loss of consortium: The spouse can be awarded damages for the strain put on the relationship that was a result of the burn injuries. A Cape Coral burn injury lawyer can help you to understand how these damages may be applicable.
- Punitive damages: These damages are designed to punish parties who are found to be grossly negligent. Many large companies have been forced to pay millions in punitive damages when their actions displayed no regard for the harm they should have known they would cause.
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What if My Loved One Died of their Burn Injuries?
If your loved one tragically passed away due to severe burn injuries, an experienced personal injury attorney can play a crucial role in helping you seek justice and compensation. In these heartbreaking circumstances, our wrongful death attorneys can guide you through the legal process and fight to hold the liable parties accountable.
A Cape Coral burn injury lawyer can file a wrongful death claim on behalf of the surviving family members. This legal action seeks compensation for damages such as:
- Medical expenses incurred before your loved one’s passing
- Funeral and burial costs
- Loss of income and future earnings
- Loss of companionship, guidance, and support
- Mental anguish and emotional trauma
- Punitive damages (in cases of egregious negligence or misconduct)
Click To ContactContact a Cape Coral Burn Injury Law Firm Today
Many burn injury victims and their families feel alone in their struggle. They often feel desperate to find a way to pay the bills and stay afloat when a primary source of income has been lost. You do not have to walk this path alone.
The Cape Coral burn injury attorneys of Viles & Beckman will be by your side through every step of the process of your personal injury claim. We can be your advocate in negotiations or, if necessary, a legal battle to collect the full and fair compensation you need and deserve.
Our services are offered on a contingency fee basis, so no payment is due unless we win your case or recover a settlement. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you by scheduling an appointment for a free initial consultation.
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