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495+Suffer a Serious Burn Injury in an Accident? Call Our Riverside Personal Injury Lawyer Today
The American Burn Association reveals that over 450,000 serious burn injuries occur every year. Depending on the cause and burn’s severity, burn injuries can be emotionally, physically, and financially impactful. You may need to undergo months of extensive treatment and care to complete your recovery, and some burns leave a lifetime of effects.
Have you suffered a serious burn injury? Professional representation is available. If you or your loved one experienced a burn injury in Riverside, contact a catastrophic injury attorney. The team at The JLF Firm can explain everything you need to know about burn injury claims and available legal remedies. Contact us at our Riverside law office today for a free, no-obligation case review.
What Are The Causes Of Burn Injuries?
Burn injuries can happen for a wide range of different reasons. Evaluating the cause of the burn injury can help pinpoint the right defendant, which could be a product manufacturer or an employer. The most common causes of burn injuries in Riverside include:
- Car accidents
- Defective products
- Chemical spills
- Electrocution
- Workplace accidents
- Improper use or lack of safety equipment
- Explosions and fires
- Physical abuse
You Need To Prove Liability To Hold Another Party Liable For A Burn Injury
Every serious accident that results in a bad burn injury requires a thorough investigation. If someone’s negligent actions, callous misconduct, or recklessness caused you or your loved one to experience burn injuries, you may be eligible for burn injury compensation. Among the initial steps your Riverside burn injury attorney will perform is to assess the situation to determine whether someone is liable for the burn injury.
Severity Of Burn Injuries
It is worth noting that not all burns are the same. The severity of the burn injury dictates the type of treatment it requires. Below are the common classifications of burn injuries:
First-Degree Burns
Referring to superficial burns, these only affect the skin’s top layer. Your skin’s outer layer may experience inflammation, pain, and redness, especially at the injury site. Common treatments include cold compresses and applying the appropriate lotions.
Second-Degree Burns
Damage from these burns affects the skin’s underlying tissue, resulting in scab-like tissues and blisters forming at the injury site. These burns require more comprehensive treatment, including a bandage to cover the site from infections and an antibiotic prescription.
Third-Degree Burns
Among the more serious burn types, these involve damaging the skin’s nerve endings, causing the skin to appear black or gray. While these burns can be life-threatening and cause skin grafting, they are usually painless. Common treatments for third-degree burns include taking antibiotics, fluids to avoid dehydration, and personalized therapy to enable you to return to normal living while restoring mobility.
Fourth-Degree Burns
Regarded as the most severe burn type, these burns damage the skin, tendons, muscles, and, in some cases, the bones. If there is excessive blood loss or the burn injury becomes infected, these burns can be life-threatening.
Note that third and fourth-degree burns can result in severe damage or death if not treated appropriately. Some common complications include:
- Disability
- Psychological trauma
- Breathing problems
- Sepsis, tetanus, or other infections
- Permanent scarring
- Chronic pain
What Damages Are Available In A Burn Injury Case?
In California, injured victims have the right to seek compensation for the full extent of their damages, including non-economic losses. Not only can burn injuries be devastating to the victim, but they can also have long-lasting effects on the victim’s family. It is imperative that you are able to secure the maximum available financial support. Do not trust any insurance company to protect your best interests. They try to settle claims for less. However, an experienced Riverside burn injury lawyer can help you and your loved one receive the burn injury compensation you deserve. You do not have to take on the claims process alone. Our Riverside, CA burn injury lawyer can help. This could be in the form of the following:
- Loss of wages
- Medical damages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Property damage
- Disfigurement or physical impairment
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of earning capacity
- Legal fees
- Punitive damages
At The JLF Firm, our team of injury attorneys has fought for hundreds of clients to obtain the compensation they deserve. Through our personal and dedicated services, we aim to assist our burn injury clients in living as satisfied as possible. Once you come to our offices for representation, we will listen to your case objectively, evaluate your losses, and estimate what your burn injury compensation could be worth. Notably, we are ready to fight to make sure that you are properly compensated for the full extent of your damages, including future medical costs, pain and suffering, and scarring/disfigurement.
How Long Do You Have To File A Burn Injury Lawsuit?
Burn injury claims are time-sensitive. Section 335.1 of the California Code of Civil Procedure provides that a burn injury victim has a two-year limit to file a burn injury lawsuit from the actual date the accident occurred. If your burn injury lawsuit is against a local government agency or employee or the State of California, you must file your lawsuit within six months.
Generally, it is good practice to begin the filing process once you experience a burn injury. However, if you have severe burns, your burn injury attorney will advise you to refrain from sending a demand letter to the defendant’s insurer or lawyer until you attain maximum medical improvement (MMI). A proactive approach is best: Consult with a Riverside burn injury lawyer as soon as possible after a serious accident.
Why Trust Our Riverside Burn Injury Attorney
Burn injury claims are complicated. You need a knowledgeable burn injury attorney to assist you in determining whose insurance may pay for your claim and the admissibility of your case in court. At The JLF Firm, we use every option at our disposal to seek a positive outcome for your burn injury case. If you recently experienced a burn injury in Riverside, contact us today and schedule a free case review to discuss your legal options. When you reach out to our Riverside office, you will have a chance to connect with a California burn injury lawyer who can:
- Hear your story and answer questions about your legal case.
- Investigate your accident, gathering the evidence to prove liability.
- Ensure you are connected with the right medical care and document your damages.
- Represent you in any settlement negotiations with insurance companies.
- Take aggressive action to help you get the maximum financial compensation.
We are proactive, justice-focused, and community-driven. Our attorneys always invest time, resources, and attention to detail into every case. Our firm has a conveniently located law office in the 92506 zip code of Riverside, and we are proud to fight for justice for victims and families throughout the entire community. Riverside sits along the Santa Ana River in Southern California’s Inland Empire, about an hour east of Los Angeles. It is home to the University of California, Riverside, the historic Mission Inn, the famous Mount Rubidoux trail, as well as a number of other sites and attractions.
Burn Injury Claims In Riverside, California: FAQs
When Does A Burn Require A Trip To The Emergency Room?
If a victim experiences a burn bigger than their palm, has blisters, and the burns are on their face, genitalia, or any flexion point, they must seek medical attention immediately. It is always better to be safe rather than sorry with burn injuries. If you are dealing with serious pain, get yourself checked out right away.
Does A Burn Injury Lawsuit Have To Be Completed Within The Statute Of Limitations?
The statute of limitations only applies when a burn injury victim can file a case. The case can legally proceed if the victim files a burn injury lawsuit within two years of when it happened. If you wait too long to file a claim, you could lose out on your right to recover burn injury compensation at all. Do not miss your chance at justice: Speak to a Riverside, CA burn injury lawyer right away.
Who Can Be Held Liable For My Burn Injuries?
It depends. In California, liability for a burn injury is based on how, where, and why the burn happened. Property owners, product manufacturers, employers, or careless drivers may be responsible. For the most part, burn injury claims are negligence claims. You will need to prove that a defendant’s carelessness or recklessness caused your burn. A Riverside, CA burn injury lawyer can handle the investigation.
How Do Medical Experts Determine The Severity Of A Burn Injury?
Burns are classified into four different degrees of severity. Different degrees of burns measure the extent of the tissue damage. Beyond that, medical professionals also assess the Total Body Surface Area (TBSA) that is affected and the degree of tissue damage. Tools like the Lund-Browder chart help calculate TBSA. Other factors impact severity as well, including the risk of infection, the specific location of the burn injury, and whether or not a smoke inhalation injury occurred.
Can I Still File A Claim If I Was Partially At Fault For The Accident That Caused My Burn Injury?
Yes. You can if you were burned in an accident in Riverside. The reason is that California follows a pure comparative negligence rule (Civil Code § 1714). You can still recover compensation even if you were partly to blame for causing the accident. With that being said, your total damages will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
What Long-Term Medical Complications Can Result From Severe Burns?
Unfortunately, serious burns can lead to chronic pain, limited mobility, nerve damage, and the risk of chronic infections. Further, scar tissue may restrict movement or require reconstructive surgery. Victims with serious burn injury also face risks of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is crucial that you are able to access all available resources after a bad burn injury.
CONTACT OUR RIVERSIDE BURN INJURY ATTORNEY TODAY
At The JLF Firm, our Riverside burn injury attorney is aggressive, experienced, and justice-focused. If you have any questions or concerns about burn injury claims, we are here to help. Contact us right away for a free, no-obligation consultation. With an office in Riverside in the 92506 zip code, we handle burn injury claims throughout the surrounding region, including in 92501, 92502, 92503, 92504, 92505, 92507, 92508, and 92509.
