What Damages Can a Burned Claimant Recover?

Burn injuries can range from mild to severe, and in some cases they can even be fatal. Treatment can require someone to take a significant amount of time off from work and may necessitate multiple, expensive surgeries. In some cases, a burn injury could permanently leave someone unable to work in the capacity they did before.

A local attorney could help someone who sustained a burn due to negligence request formal compensation for their out-of-pocket expenses, including past and future wage loss, emergency room costs, surgery expenses, medical bills, and prescription costs. Compensation for the claimant’s non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and emotional distress may also be available.

In addition to the individual’s out-of-pocket and non-economic costs, their attorney may be able to pursue an award of punitive damages from the court. The court will sometimes deem it appropriate to award a claimant in a burn injury case punitive damages if the conduct of the defendant was deemed egregious in nature.

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What are the Various Degrees of Burns?

The severity of someone’s burn injury will depend on several factors, including how widespread the burn is and the source of the burn (i.e., chemical, thermal, electric, etc.). Burns are separated by degrees, with first-degree burns being the mildest, while fourth, fifth, and sixth-degree burns being the most severe as they are almost always fatal.

First-Degree

A first-degree burn will usually heal on its own in a matter of days or up to a week. These burns require a little to no care and only cause mild inflammation of the epidermis.

Second-Degree

Second-degree burns extend beyond the epidermis and into the dermis. A person with a second-degree burn will take far longer to heal and may require emergency treatment. Second-degree burns are characterized by significant inflammation, blotchiness, and blistering. While these burns are not typically fatal, they can be if the burn covers a significant enough portion of the person’s body.

Third-Degree

Third-degree burns occur when the damage extends beyond the epidermis and dermis, and into the bones, ligaments, and/or tissues. These burns can result in major nerve damage and will often require skin grafts. Long-term scarring after a third-degree burn is common.

Fourth-Degree

Fourth through sixth-degree burns are frequently life-threatening. These burns are recognizable by significant scorching of the skin, damage to the nerves, bones, and muscles, and in some cases, permanent impairment of the affected region. Depending on the burn degree someone sustains and how extensive the damage is, they may also be far more vulnerable to infections, such as sepsis.

Talk with a Parker Burn Injury Attorney About Pursuing a Claim

If you endured a devastating burn and are unsure what your legal options may be, a Parker burn injury lawyer could provide skillful guidance. A seasoned attorney could review your case, identify any potentially liable parties, and execute a clear case strategy to pursue the most effective approach for a successful claim. Call us to book your confidential case consultation.

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Get The Help You Need Contact McCraw Law Group

If you are in need of a personal injury attorney in North Texas, please contact the team at McCraw Law Group today. We are ready to help you in a broad range of serious accident and injury legal issues, and offer multiple ways to reach us.

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If you are in need of a personal injury attorney in North Texas, please contact the team at McCraw Law Group today. We are ready to help you in a broad range of serious accident and injury legal issues, and offer multiple ways to reach us.

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