On top of being exceptionally painful injuries, burns can also cause long-term and sometimes even permanent disfigurement and disability. When you sustain harm because someone else is reckless or careless around you, that person should be held financially liable for the losses you will have to deal with due to your injury.
Unfortunately, knowing someone else is at-fault for causing your burn and holding them legally liable for its effects are two different things. Receiving the appropriate compensation for your injuries requires the guidance of an experienced catastrophic injury attorney. A Williamsville burn injury lawyer from our firm can provide vital assistance with establishing fault for your accident and recovering comprehensively for the various negative impacts your injury may have on your life.
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How Burn Severity Can Affect an Injury Claim
Burn injuries are generally graded into one of three degrees by medical professionals based on the extent of damage done to the body. This distinction can have a surprisingly significant impact on someone’s right to file suit over a burn. For example, first-degree burns—which affect only the skin’s outermost layer and are characterized by slight redness and topical pain—often cannot be the basis for a claim, even if they stem directly from someone else’s negligence. This is because they only require professional medical care in extreme situations where they impact a substantial percentage of the whole body and/or sensitive areas like the face or groin.
On the other hand, second-degree burns can often serve as grounds for a civil lawsuit or settlement demand, since prompt medical care is often necessary to prevent or minimize long-term scarring and loss of sensation in affected areas. These burns are characterized by substantial skin discoloration, blistering, and severe pain.
Finally, third-degree burns are considered extremely serious injuries which can permanently destroy nerve endings and result in lifelong scarring, even with intensive medical care. They are characterized by black or brown skin, which may be leathery to the touch. Regardless of the severity of the burn, a dedicated Williamsville attorney can help individuals understand their legal options and help them work towards the best possible outcome in their circumstances.
Recovering Compensation for the Long-Term Effects of a Burn
It is vital when filing suit over a burn injury to account for the long-term negative effects it will likely have and the short-term ones that have already come to pass. These impacts fall under one of two categories: economic damages or non-economic damages. Economic damages cover the direct financial costs associated with the injuries. This can mean recovering for all current and future medical treatment and care, lost wages, and future earning capacity.
Non-economic losses are subjective and can be more challenging to place a value on accurately. A comprehensive case should incorporate physical pain and suffering, emotional trauma, lost enjoyment/quality of life due to disfigurement or disability, and potentially lost consortium. A burn injury attorney in Williamsville will strive to understand exactly how an event has impacted an injured party’s life to determine what losses they might be eligible to recover for.
Contact a Williamsville Burn Injury Attorney
Burns are debilitating and sometimes deadly injuries. With so much already on your plate, you should not have to bear the financial costs associated with a burn injury if you were not the person to blame for your accident. If you believe someone else is responsible for your harm, you have help available from seasoned legal professionals with experience fighting—and winning—on behalf of people just like you.
A Williamsville burn injury lawyer from Richmond Vona, LLC, can be your ally from beginning to end of whatever legal proceedings are necessary to get you fair compensation. Call us today to learn more.
With over 25 years of combined personal injury experience, our co-founding attorneys, John E. Richmond and Keith R. Vona, have helped injury victims and their family members recover more than $150 million in financial relief.
John E. Richmond
Co-Founding Member
As one of New York’s top personal injury attorneys, John E. Richmond understands that clients come first. With over a decade of experience representing plaintiffs, he knows how to hold negligent corporations and big insurance companies liable.
In his nearly 15 years in practice, Keith has been consistently recognized for his client service and record of results. He has been selected for inclusion in the New York Super Lawyers® Rising Stars list four times (2013 to 2016), an honor reserved for the top up-and-coming attorneys.
