Tucson Burn Injury Attorney
Burn injuries can lead to significant medical costs, negatively impact your ability to work and support your family, and lead to mental health issues that require costly treatment. If you or a loved one suffered a burn injury as the result of an accident caused by someone or something else, you could be entitled to compensation for the damages associated with your injuries. Determining whether you are entitled to damages, and if so in what amount, is best accomplished by working with an experienced Tucson burn injury lawyer.
At the Entrekin Law Firm, we can help. Our attorneys are standing by to provide a risk-free assessment of your burn injury and the accident that caused it to determine what you are entitled to.
Tucson Burn Injury Resources
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Common Causes of Burn Injuries
Burn Injuries Vary in Degree and Severity
How Can a Tucson Burn Injury Attorney Help?
Components of a Burn Injury Case
What is a Typical Burn Injury Case Worth?
Damages Available After Being Burned
Damages for Emotional Distress and Pain/Suffering
Arizona Burn Injury Statute of Limitations
What to Do After Being Burned
Speak to a Lawyer Today
Common Causes of Burn Injuries
Burn injuries can be caused by many different sources, depending upon the type of burn. Chemical burns are caused by exposure to toxic chemicals, while radiation burns are caused by exposure to harmful radiation.
Thermal burns are the most common type of burn associated with preventable accidents. Common cause of thermal burn injuries you could be entitled to compensation for include:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Hot liquid or chemical spills
- Electrical accidents
While the cause of burn injuries may vary, the degree of severity of their symptoms are the same once the injury has occurred.
Burn Injuries Vary in Degree and Severity
Burn injuries vary in severity depending upon how deep they injure you. The National Library of Medicine notes that even minor burn injuries can result in the necessity of surgical procedures and can lead to ongoing physical and mental health challenges.
The most common types of burn injuries include:
- First-degree burn – the first layer of your skin known as the epidermis is damages, which generally heals on its own and is the result of a common sunburn
- Second-degree burn – the first and second layer of your skin, the epidermis and dermis, are damaged, and this can lead to scarring and even skin graft procedures
- Third-degree burn – extends through both layers of skin and into the sweat glands and tissues below, and generally requires surgery and skin graft procedures, leading to scarring
- Fourth-degree burn and further – impact the skin, underlying tissues, and can extend through into muscle and even bone, causing severe and lasting injury
The extent of your burn injury will determine the medical and occupational costs associated with its treatment and that result after recovery. Given the complexity of burn injuries and the related damages, the best outcome in your case is supported by working with an experienced Tucson burn injury lawyer who is familiar with the process and how to ensure you collect what it entitles you to.
How Can a Tucson Burn Injury Attorney Help?
If you or a loved one has sustained a burn injury, you may not know where to turn for help. At this difficult time, it is important to remember that you have legal rights, and an experienced burn injury attorney can help guide you through the process of getting the compensation you deserve. Here’s how a lawyer can help you:
In many cases, insurance companies will approach victims of burn injuries with quick settlement offers that may not adequately compensate them for their losses. An experienced burn injury lawyer will be able to negotiate with the insurance companies to ensure that victims receive fair settlements that reflect the true value of their claim.
Without an attorney representing them, victims are often taken advantage of by large insurers who offer unreasonable low offers and take advantage of them in settlement negotiations.
Additionally, it may be necessary to take a case involving a burn injury to trial if no settlement agreement can be reached. A qualified personal injury lawyer will be able to handle every aspect of litigation, including gathering evidence, filing motions, and calling witnesses as needed in order to prove negligence on behalf of any responsible parties.
Without an attorney fighting for them at trial, victims will find themselves at a disadvantage when facing off against powerful attorneys representing large corporations or individuals with deep pockets.
What Are the Components of a Burn Injury Case?
Burn injuries can be devastating and life-altering. If you or someone you know has suffered an injury due to the negligence of another party, it is important to understand the components necessary to have a successful case. You must prove the following:
Duty of Care: First, it must be proven that the at-fault party had a duty of care towards the victim, meaning they were obligated to act reasonably in order to prevent an injury from occurring.
Breach of Duty: The at-fault party breached this duty of care. For instance, if a hair dryer malfunctioned and burned you because the manufacturer failed to provide appropriate warnings or it did not meet industry standards for safety, they may be liable for your injuries.
Causation: You must be able to show cause and effect between the breach of duty and your injury, meaning that your injury would not have occurred without their negligence. This is important because it shows that their actions directly caused your harm and they are therefore liable for damages.
Damages Suffered: Finally, you must prove that damages were suffered. Damages can include medical expenses for treatment, lost wages from missed time at work, or emotional distress or pain and suffering incurred by you or your family members as a result of the incident.
What is a Typical Burn Injury Case Worth?
The value of all burn injuries is different so it’s hard to say what one is worth, but there are some common factors that will impact your claim. They include:
Extent of Injuries and Medical Expenses
The extent of your injuries and medical expenses are significant factors in determining how much your burn injury case is worth. A more serious injury will lead to significantly higher damages than if you weren’t very affected by the injury.
The amount of medical bills you incurred from treatments and medications related to the injury will also need to be taken into account when calculating the value of your case.
Scarring and Disfigurement
Another factor that can affect how much your burn injury case is worth is whether you suffered scarring or disfigurement. These types of injuries can cause emotional distress for victims which needs to be accounted for in any settlement or award that you receive.
Additionally, some types of scarring or disfigurement may require additional medical treatments to repair, which could add to your total damages as well.
Ability To Enjoy Life
Burn injuries can have lasting effects on an individual’s ability to enjoy life, both now and in the future. If you are no longer able to play with your kids or take part in your favorite hobbies, this will be considered.
How Reprehensible The Defendant’s Behavior Was
Another factor that can influence how much a burn injury case is worth is whether the defendant’s behavior was particularly reprehensible at the time of the accident:
“In Arizona, punitive damages are only available when the plaintiff can prove that the defendant acted with an “evil hand and evil mind… It may be found where defendant intended to injure the plaintiff. It may also be found where, although not intending to cause injury, defendant consciously pursued a course of conduct knowing that it created a substantial risk of significant harm to others.”
If that can be established, an injured victim might receive punitive damages in addition to any other compensatory damages awarded in their case.
What Damages May Be Available After Being Burned?
A burn injury can lead to substantial costs both in terms of medical bills and also the impact on your ability to work and support your family. In terms of medical bills, your emergency room bills are covered, in addition to any long-term costs associated with surgeries, treatments, rehabilitation, and even mental health services. Severe burns may require significant skin grafts or even result in amputation.
When it comes to your ability to work and support your family, the purpose of your damages is also to replace the full amount of earnings that your household will lose due to your burn injury. This is calculated as the change in your ability to earn, calculated from the time of your injury through the remainder of your working life, measured in terms of present value.
The calculations to accurately and fully measure your damages are complex, and they require evidence. Determining the impact of your burn injury on your present and future health requires follow-up appointments from medical experts. To measure the impact of the symptoms of your burn injury in both the short- and long-term on your ability to work and earn income, the opinion of an occupational expert is necessary.
While it can be difficult and time-consuming to identify professionals who can provide evidence you could submit in court to help on your case, your local Tucson burn injury lawyer from The Entrekin Law Firm has a network of local professionals. We’ll find the experts to help on your case, and schedule your appointments with them to take the stress out of your life and make the process as easy and smooth as possible for you. We work to help you recover the full amount of compensation you are entitled to and handle the entire process associated with it so that you can focus on recovering from your injuries.
Damages for Emotional Distress and Pain/Suffering
Burn injuries can lead to not only substantial medical and occupational costs, but also mental health repercussions. The symptoms associated with burn injuries such as scarring and disfigurement can lead to mental health distress and require long-term, costly mental health services such as therapy and counseling. Our Tucson personal injury attorney fights to recover the maximum amount of damages in your case.
When an injury changes the way in which a person is able to live and enjoy their life, there are sometimes damages available for the associated pain and suffering. The damages available to burn injury victims can be extensive, and working with an attorney with experience in the area helps to ensure that all sources of compensation are considered and incorporated into your demand. Without a complete and accurate calculation of all damages linked to your burn injury, you and your family could be left with less than you need or deserve in relation to your accident.
Arizona Burn Injury Statute of Limitations
In Arizona, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is two years from the date of injury: “Except as provided in section 12-551 there shall be commenced and prosecuted within two years after the cause of action accrues, and not afterward, the following actions: 1. For injuries done to the person of another including causes of action for medical malpractice as defined in section 12-561.”
If you miss this deadline, your claim will likely be dismissed, and it could become impossible for you to recover any compensation for your losses and damages related to your injuries.
There are some exceptions to the two-year deadline, so always speak with a lawyer as soon as possible to determine if you have a claim.
What to Do After Being Burned
No one ever expects to suffer a serious burn injury, but it can happen in an instant. It’s important to be prepared and know what steps to take if you or someone you know has suffered a burn injury.
Get Treatment Right Away
If you have been burned, it is important to seek medical attention right away. Depending on the severity of the burn, you may require fluids, pain medications, surgery, physical or occupational therapy, or any combination of these treatments.
If you are unable to make it to the hospital immediately following the burn injury, there are some steps that can be taken at home until help arrives.
Remove Tight Items
Tight clothing or jewelry should be removed from the burned area if possible. This will help reduce discomfort and allow for proper treatment later on.
Run Under Cool Water
The burnt area should be run under cool water for several minutes or a cool wet compress should be applied to reduce pain and swelling. Avoid using ice directly against the skin since this could cause further damage due to extreme temperature changes.
Apply Lotion
After running the area under cool water or applying a cool compress, lotion can be applied gently but liberally over the affected area to keep it moisturized and protected from infection or further injury.
Bandage The Burn
You will want to loosely bandage your burn with sterile gauze and anti-bacterial ointment to prevent infection and decrease pain levels until professional medical attention can be provided.
Discuss Options with a Tucson Burn Injury Lawyer
The sooner you have an attorney on your case, the better the outcome will be. Your attorney will get started collecting evidence both to determine the cause of the accident and to accurately measure your damages. Your Tucson burn injury lawyer from The Entrekin Law Firm will handle your claim every step of the way from collecting evidence through the drafting and negotiation of your claim.
For your risk-free, cost-free initial assessment on your burn injury, schedule a consultation with The Entrekin Law Firm to discuss options and learn how we can help.