Can I Sue for Burn Injury?

3 min read time

Victims of many different types of injuries can pursue financial compensation through legal actions. In the event of a severe burn, you may have the ability to pursue compensation for your injuries.
 
In legal terms, the foundation for a personal injury lawsuit is called “grounds.” Typically, the person filing the lawsuit is the victim of the accident or injury. 
 
The harm done to a person may be physical, emotional, or financial. If you or someone you love has sustained a burn injury because of another person’s negligence, reach out to an accomplished personal injury attorney.
 
Many victims wonder, “Can I sue for burn injury damages?” Your ability to pursue financial compensation will depend on the specific circumstances of your case.
 
If you need legal advice, do not hesitate to contact the firm at Morgan & Morgan. Our skilled legal professionals know what it takes to successfully file legal claims for accident victims.
 
You should not have to bear the financial and personal burdens from a burn injury that you did not cause. The experts at the firm of Morgan & Morgan will work tirelessly to get justice in your burn injury case. 
 
When you are wondering, “Can I sue for burn injury damages?” — reach out to Morgan & Morgan. Fill out the simple contact form on our website to arrange a no-cost case evaluation today.

Different Types of Burn Injury Lawsuits

Not all burn injury lawsuits are the same. The type of injury does not determine the category of legal claim that the victim can file.
 
No matter what the circumstances of your burn injury, you should talk with a legal professional following the incident. The attorneys at Morgan & Morgan have plenty of experience in representing the victims of burn injuries.
 
We will assess your situation and help you to determine the best type of legal action to pursue. Some of the most common types of lawsuits following a burn injury include:

  • Premises liability claims
  • Product liability claims
  • Assault and battery 

Below, we will discuss each of these categories of burn injury cases.

Premises Liability Claims

When someone is injured on another person’s private property, they may be able to pursue financial compensation. This type of legal action is known as a “premises liability claim.”
 
Slip and fall injury claims often involve an element of premises liability. But dangerous environments can come in many forms.
 
If your burn injury is caused by the property owner’s negligence, you may be able to pursue a successful premises liability case. 

For instance, suppose that you were in a store containing an exposed hotplate.
If this negligence caused you to sustain a burn, the careless business owner or operators may be held accountable. Businesses are legally required to ensure that customers experience a reasonably safe environment.
 
Restaurants and businesses are not the only locations that can be implicated in premises liability claims. Private property owners also have a duty to their visitors.
 
You may be wondering, “Can I sue for burn injury if I was hurt in a private residence?” In many cases, you can.
 
If you have been burned while visiting an individual’s private property, you may have a valid burn injury claim. Suppose that you sustained a burn because someone’s stove was left on and the owner neglected to inform you. In this case, you might have grounds for a successful premises liability claim. 

Reach out to the skilled legal team at Morgan & Morgan. Our attorneys have plenty of experience representing the interests of burn injury victims. When you wonder, “Can I sue for burn injury damages?” — let us review the facts of your case.

Product Liability Claims

In some cases, product defects result in burns to accident victims. When this happens, the injured person has the right to pursue financial compensation for the losses associated with their accident.
 
There are three primary types of product liability lawsuits. These include:

  • Manufacturing defects
  • Design errors
  • Improper labeling

Manufacturing defects occur when a specific product was built or fabricated incorrectly. Manufacturing errors may result in products that do not function properly. 
 
But when a product is built wrong, it may present a fire hazard or potential for burn injuries. Recently, some electric cars were recalled because the batteries tended to overheat and catch fire.
 
Suppose that you were burned as the result of one of these overheating batteries. If this happened, you may have grounds for a strong product liability claim. 
 
Design errors happen when a product is developed or engineered in an unreasonably dangerous way. This type of hazard tends to affect all of the products in a particular line. 
 
Defectively designed errors may function exactly as they were intended. However, the designers overlooked the fact that using the product involves an inherent danger.
 
Suppose that a motorcycle is designed such that rider’s legs tend to touch the outside of the engine. If motorcyclists burn their legs because of this bike design, they may be able to pursue a legal claim.
 
Improper labeling claims are possible when the manufacturer does not include proper instructions or warnings. If a product may foreseeably cause harm, the company must take proper steps to warn consumers of the possible danger.
 
Failing to do so leaves manufacturers and distributors open to the possibility of lawsuits. Consumers have the right to be informed about the potential hazards of using particular products.
 
If you have been burned after using a faulty or defective product, do not hesitate. Reach out to the knowledgeable product liability attorneys at Morgan & Morgan.
 
Our skilled legal experts will help you to determine which parties are responsible for the damages that you sustained. You deserve financial compensation for the harm that you suffered.

Assault and Battery

In some cases, a victim’s burns happen because of another person’s intentional actions. If someone purposefully burns you, they may face criminal charges.
 
However, victims also have the option to pursue a civil assault lawsuit. This is true whether the perpetrator is found guilty in their criminal case or not.
 
By filing a civil lawsuit, the person who assaulted you can be held financially accountable for a “tort.” This is the term for a negligent or harmful action.
 
Unlike in a criminal case, a successful civil lawsuit only requires that the plaintiff provide a “preponderance of the evidence.” This means that it is more likely than not that the defendant caused the damages in question.
 
In criminal cases, a defendant must be proven guilty “beyond a reasonable doubt.” Some examples of civil assault cases include: 

  • Assault with a deadly weapon
  • Domestic assault
  • Battery causing bodily injury
  • And more

No matter what type of assault led to your burn injury, you deserve justice. When you are wondering, “Can I sue for burn injury damages?” — contact the attorneys at Morgan & Morgan.

Common Examples of Burn Injury Lawsuit Damages

The term “damages” refers to monetary payments to the victim of an accident or injury as the result of a civil legal claim. There are two primary types of damages in most burn injury cases. These two categories are “non-economic” and “economic” damages.

Economic Damages

When most people think of financial payments for a personal injury, they think of economic damages. These payments are intended to make the injury victim financially whole.
 
Burn victims do not only experience physical and mental pain. They also typically face significant financial challenges as a result of their injuries. 
 
Economic damages are meant to make up for the direct and indirect monetary losses that victims experience. Some of the most typical examples of economic damages include payments for:

  • Property damage
  • Past medical expenses
  • Current and future medical costs and bills
  • Lost wages due to missed workdays
  • Loss of long-term earning capacity
  • And more

Victims typically underestimate the wide range of monetary losses that result from a burn injury. If you have sustained a severe burn, make sure to speak with an experienced legal expert to determine the amount of economic damages you may be eligible to receive.

Non-Economic Damages

Some of the most devastating consequences of a burn injury do not result in monetary losses. For instance, severe burns may cause victims to experience:

  • Bacterial infections
  • Loss of fluids, including blood
  • Extremely low body temperature (hypothermia)
  • Scarring and overgrowth of scar tissue called “keloids”
  • Joint and bone issues or damage
  • And more

These symptoms can cause victims to have a lower quality of life. Burn injury victims deserve financial recovery for these losses, even though they are not monetary in nature.
 
The payments for this type of loss are known as “non-economic” damages. Some of the common examples of non-economic damages are:

  • Physical pain and suffering
  • Emotional strain and discomfort
  • Mental distress, such as anxiety, panic, and depression
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Loss of ability to enjoy life
  • Inability to engage in recreational activities
  • Disability and disfigurement
  • And more

Calculating the appropriate amount of non-economic damages in a burn injury case is a complex process. Oftentimes, tightfisted insurance companies will try to downplay the severity of non-economic losses. 
 
That is why it is crucial to hire a seasoned legal expert. When you hire America’s largest personal injury firm, we will negotiate forcefully to secure maximum compensation for you. 
 
You should not have to worry that the opposing party will dismiss the intangible harm that you suffered from your burns. Reach out to our skilled personal injury lawyers today.
 
Let the legal experts at Morgan & Morgan recover the money that you deserve.

 

What Are Common Causes of Burn Injuries?

Burns happen as the result of skin being exposed to excessive heat. Some of the most common causes of burn injuries include:

  • Fire
  • Hot steam or liquids
  • Electrical currents
  • Sunlight and ultraviolet radiation
  • Acids, paint thinner, gasoline, and other substances
  • And more

Regardless of the type of burn you have sustained, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit if another party contributed to your injuries.

 

Contact the Experienced Legal Team at Morgan & Morgan

If you have sustained a burn injury because of another person’s negligence, reach out to Morgan & Morgan today. We will work hard to recover the compensation that you are entitled to.
 
With our contingency fee approach, clients pay nothing unless we successfully win or settle their cases. To schedule your free consultation, complete the easy-to-use contact form on the Morgan & Morgan website today!

Disclaimer
This website is meant for general information and not legal advice.

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