Irvine Burn Injury Lawyer

Burns are very painful and cause a lot of damage to the body. When the residents of Irvine, California suffer burn injuries due to the negligence of others, it is important to know how to get started with the legal process. Burn injuries lead to intense pain, missed time from work, expensive medical bills, and various kinds of lasting damage.

If you suffer from a burn injury due to another party’s negligence, you may be eligible to receive compensation. At Crockett Law Group, our Irvine burn injury attorneys are readily available to help you pursue your compensation claim. Contact our legal team today by calling (888) 965-3827 to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation with our experienced personal injury lawyers.

What Are the Common Causes of Burn Injuries?

Burn injuries can be caused by just about any source of heat. Here are the most common causes of burn injuries:

Auto Accidents

Auto accidents include car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, etc. Motor vehicle accidents can lead to burn injuries because the gasoline in a vehicle can ignite after an accident thus causing the vehicle to catch fire.

Defective Products

Products with one or multiple defects can cause catastrophic injuries to users. Such products can either overheat or spark, and once this happens, they can start a fire. The product manufacturer would be the at-fault party in such cases.

Apartment or Hotel Fires

Hotels and apartments are central locations that regularly experience fire outbreaks in the United States. The leading causes of apartment fires include heaters, cooking accidents, household appliances, electrical malfunction, etc.

Workplace Fires

Workplace accidents do occur and sometimes fires break out. The most common causes of workplace fires include improper storage of flammable materials, faulty electrical equipment, arson, lack of staff training, etc.

Gas Explosions

Gas explosions are not only the most hazardous but also cause the severest burns. The victims of gas explosions usually find themselves with third or fourth-degree burns. The two main causes of gas explosions are natural gas and propane gas.

Electrical Burns

Electrical burns occur when a person comes into contact with live electricity. If electricity passes through the human body rapidly, it may cause substantial damage. Unlike other types of burn injuries, electrical burns usually cause more sub-dermal damage, which means damage under the skin.

Chemical Burns

Chemical burns are the type of burn that’s most common in the workplace. Still, they can occur as a result of misusing industrial chemicals or household products such as beauty products or cleaners. Chemical burns are caused by strong acids or bases found in the products.

Thermal Burns

Burns resulting from direct contact with a flame or fire are referred to as thermal burns. Thermal burns cause damage to various layers of skin. The extent of the damage done and the layers of skin affected will depend on the temperature, type, and duration of contact with the heat source.

Radiation Burns

Radiation burns are a type of burn that may happen in the workplace if you work around radiation or can be caused by exposure to radiation such as the type used in cancer treatment. A radiation burn injury occurs when the ionizing radiation reacts with the body’s cells, damaging them.

Inhalation Burns

Inhalation burns result from the inhalation of smoke, vapors, harmful gaseous and particulate matter contained in smoke. Inhalation injuries, however, aren’t as visible as burns to the skin, but they can be equally detrimental.

Burns from Hot Liquids

Hot liquid burns also known as scald burns are the most common type of burn injury suffered by children. The injuries can range in severity from relatively mild to life-threatening. One common source of scald burns is overheated bathwater, but cooking-related scald burns are equally common. Hot liquids or steam can also cause serious burn injuries in the workplace.

What Are the Categories of Burns?

Burns can be categorized as follows in terms of their severity:

1st Degree

First-degree burns are those where only the skin’s top layer is damaged. They are characterized by redness and minor inflammation. The burns cause minimal damage that often heals within a week. They can usually be treated with cool water and Aloe Vera gel, but not with ice.

2nd Degree

Second-degree burns are those where the damage goes beyond the skin’s top layer. They are characterized by extremely red and blistered skin. Second-degree burns may take up to several weeks to heal and should be properly bandaged.

3rd Degree

Third-degree burns are also referred to as “full-thickness burns” and are those where the damage extends through all the skin’s layers. These burns are characterized by a black or white dry wound and charring. The burns can cause hypothermia, nerve damage, and even death, so seek emergency medical treatment if you suffer such burns.

4th Degree

Fourth-degree burns are the most serious type of burn injury. The burns are potentially life-threatening and may destroy all the skin’s layers along with muscles, tendons, as well as organs. The skin is completely destroyed and the underlying structures such as tendons, nerves, and bones are damaged.

Damages You Can Recover Through a Burn Injury Claim

Burn injury victims in Irvine, California have the right to recover compensation for their losses in the form of damages. The common types of damages that can be recovered in a burn injury claim include:

Economic Damages

Economic damages are the tangible consequences of the burn injury that lead to financial losses. Examples include but aren’t limited to:

• Medical Expenses
• Transportation Expenses
• Lost Wages
• Imaging Tests
• In-Home Care Expenses
• Childcare Costs
• Treatment Costs
• Rehabilitation Costs
• Prosthetics

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are aimed at addressing the intangible consequences of the burn injury that are very difficult if not impossible to quantify in monetary terms. Examples include but aren’t limited to:

• Pain and Suffering
• Loss of Consortium
• Property Damage
• Long-Term Disability
• Mental Anguish
• PTSD
• Depression
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life
• Wrongful Death

Punitive Damages

You may also be awarded punitive damages, which are typically awarded only if your burn injuries were the result of another party’s reckless behavior. Punitive damages are intended to punish the defendant for the harm they have inflicted as well as dissuade other people from engaging in similar behavior. Punitive damages are paid in addition to other forms of compensation.

How Long Do You Have to File a Burn Injury Claim?

Under California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, burn injury victims have 2 years from the day of the incident to file a claim. However, if your claim is against a California local or state government agency or employee, you are required to file a burn injury claim within 6 months.

How Much Will an Irvine Burn Injury Attorney Cost?

Our burn injury attorneys are paid through a form of payment known as a contingency fee arrangement, which means that our payment depends on the outcome of the case. We don’t charge you any money upfront for representing you. Instead, we take our fees out of the recovered amount. If your case doesn’t have a positive outcome, we won’t collect any fees from you.

How Can a Lawyer Help My Claim?

An Irvine burn injury lawyer at Crockett Law Group can help your claim in the following ways:

Case Preparation/Filing a Lawsuit

Prior to filing a burn injury claim, you have to first determine which negligent party is responsible for your injuries, which isn’t always easy. Our lawyers will examine the facts of your case and hold the right party liable for your damages. Our attorneys know the rules, statutes, and nuances that govern civil claims and ensure that everything is done right to avoid jeopardizing your claim.

Settlement Negotiation

Our lawyers will enter into negotiations with the at-fault’s party insurance company to claim the full damages you deserve. Our attorneys are skilled negotiators and enter into negotiations every day. The vast majority of people lack the negotiation skills needed to recover the maximum damages they deserve.

Trial Preparation and Representation

Negligent parties in burn injury cases and their insurance companies don’t like the idea of paying victims the full damages they deserve. If settlement negotiations fail and the at-fault party refuses to pay, the case may go to trial. Trials have certain procedures and rules that have to be followed and our lawyers know what they are. Our lawyers will also represent you at trial to ensure the most favorable outcome.

Suffered Burn Injuries in Irvine, CA? We Can Help!

Burn injuries are painful and can leave long-lasting physical and psychological scars. Whatever type of burn injury you or your loved one has suffered, you will need an experienced burn injury attorney to ensure that you are adequately compensated for your injuries, suffering, and monetary losses.

If you or a loved one have suffered serious burn injuries due to another party’s negligence, you can always count on Crockett Law Group in Irvine, California to answer any questions that you may have about your burn injury claim.

Call us today at (888) 965-3827 to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation with our burn injury attorneys!