A burn injury is a catastrophic injury that can result in long-term impairment, disability, and scarring and disfigurement. They are among the most painful, devastating types of injuries. The road to recovery after a serious burn injury can be long and daunting. It is crucial that injured victims have the tools, resources, and support that they need to get justice and compensation.
At the law offices of Sullivan & Galleshaw LLP, our Queens burn injury lawyers understand how disruptive a burn injury attorney is for your life and your future. If you have suffered a serious burn injury due to the fault of another party, our lawyers can help. Call our law firm today to learn more about how we can assist you in recovering the settlement you deserve. Consultations are free.
Serious Burn Injuries Require Immediate Medical Attention
Burns are among the most common serious injuries reported in the United States. While a very minor burn may be effectively treated at home with cold water and other non-professional interventions, serious burns require treatment by a doctor. According to the American Burn Association, nearly 500,000 people seek medical attention for burn injuries each year. With burn injuries, it is always better to be safe rather than sorry. Be cautious. Here are three signs that your burn injuries require medical attention:
- The initial burn penetrated the skin and deep tissue has been exposed (third-degree burn);
- You have seen signs of infection (pus, oozing, severe redness, etc); or
- You are in serious pain and/or concerned that you may have a severe injury.
After suffering a severe burn injury, it is important to see a medical professional for your own health, safety, and well-being. Early intervention after a burn injury can help to prevent infections and promote better recovery. Beyond that, you need to see a doctor if you suffered a serious burn injury due to the negligence—carelessness or recklessness—of another party. You can only recover compensation through a personal injury claim if you have official medical records.
What are the Most Common Causes of Burn injuries?
A burn injury can be caused as a result of heat and exposure to fire (thermal burn), electricity or electrocution (electrical burn), the skin making contact with the ground, at speed, for a period of time (friction burn), and also from exposure to certain chemicals (chemical burn). These types of burn injuries may be the result of:
- Home or building fires;
- Car accidents;
- Motorcycle accidents;
- Workplace accidents;
- Dangerous and defective products; and
- More.
If you have suffered a burn injury and you are now facing serious medical bills and other economic and non-economic harm, schedule a consultation with our lawyers to discuss your options.
An Overview of the Different Degrees of Burns
Not only can burns be thermal, electrical, or chemical, but they also happen at different levels of severity, known as degrees. The more severe the burn injury, the more consequential the long-term effects.
- First-degree burns. First-degree burns are the least severe type of burn injury. These types of burns only affect the outermost layer of the skin and, while painful, typically can be treated at home and will heal fully with time.
- Second-degree burns. Second-degree burns, on the other hand, are more serious. A second-degree burn injury affects two layers of skin – the outermost layer, called the epidermis, and the second layer of skin called the dermis. These types of burns can result in blisters, a high degree of pain, and permanent scarring. A second-degree burn should be treated by a medical professional.
- Third-degree burns. Third-degree burns are extremely serious, and can even be fatal in some cases. Third-degree burns impact all layers of the skin and also reach the layer of fat throughout the skin. While these burns are more significant and serious, they may initially hurt less because the nerve endings are burned off. Third-degree burn injuries can lead to various complications, including a lack of sensation and mobility, the risk of infection, and permanent scarring.
Some medical professionals also recognize fourth-degree burns, in which the burn injury extends past the fat into other tissues, muscles, and even the bone.
You Have a Limited Amount of Time to Take Action After an Accident
If you or your loved one sustained a serious burn injury in an accident, you only have a limited amount of time to file a legal claim. How much time you will have depends on several different factors, including the how and why your burn injury occurred.
That being said, there is a general three-year statute of limitations for negligence-based personal injury claims in New York, including for burn injury claims. Any burn injury negligence lawsuit not filed within three years may not be heard by the court at all.
To be clear, you may have even less time than that to start your case. For example, you have to report your burn injury to your employer immediately if you were hurt on the job. Do not wait to get started: Consult with a Queens burn injury attorney as soon as possible after an accident.
Liability for a Burn Injury
Sometimes, accidents happen for which no one is responsible; in other cases, though, there is someone to blame for a burn injury and the losses suffered by the victim. For example, if your burn injury was the result of a defective product, then the manufacturer or distributor of that product could be held liable for your damages. Or, if your burn injury happened at work due as a result of an electrocution injury or a chemical spill, an attorney can investigate to determine whether or not you may have a third-party liability claim.
Most burn injuries are fault-based legal claims. To hold a negligent defendant liable for a burn through an at-fault personal injury lawsuit, a plaintiff needs strong, compelling evidence that proves liability. For this reason, it is crucial that all accidents that result in significant burn injuries are comprehensively investigated by an experienced attorney. Our Queens, NY burn injury lawyers are always ready to hit the ground running—working tirelessly to gather the evidence that our clients need to prove fault, get justice, and maximize their financial compensation.
What Type of Compensation Can Be Recovered for a Burn Injury in Queens?
When the negligence, recklessness, or lawlessness of another party leads to a burn injury, you can hold that party liable for your damages. In New York State, burn victims can seek financial compensation for both economic and non-economic damages. Sadly, at-fault defendants and their insurance companies are not known for making the claims process easy on everyday people. Even after a serious burn accident, insurers fight aggressively to protect their own bottom line. At Sullivan and Galleshaw, LLP, we have what it takes to help injured victims maximize their financial recovery after a serious accident. Our Queens, NY burn injury lawyers are devoted to getting justice and accountability for victims and their families. Types of damages recoverable in a burn injury claim include compensation for your:
- Any property damages;
- Emergency room care;
- Medical expenses;
- Physical therapies;
- Lost wages;
- Diminished earning potential;
- Pain and suffering;
- Mental distress;
- Permanent scarring; and
- Any other economic or noneconomic losses you’ve suffered.
How Our Queens Burn Injury Attorneys Can Help
Burn injury claims are complicated. You do not need to go through the personal injury process all alone. Professional legal guidance and support is just a phone call away. When you work with the Queens burn injury attorneys at the law office of Sullivan & Galleshaw LLP, we’ll help you by:
- Conduct a free, comprehensive review and evaluation of your burn injury case;
- Opening an investigation into your case in order to determine what led to circumstances that caused your burn injury, such as what caused a house fire, or why a chemical spill occurred at work;
- Hiring experts, including accident reconstructionists and other investigative professionals, who can help us to build your case and make a determination about fault;
- Determining liability and organizing evidence in a way to prove it;
- Determining the value of your claim and issuing a demand letter to the insurance company;
- Negotiating a settlement offer; and
- Filing your case in court and litigating it if necessary.
We know that every burn injury claim is different. One-size-fits-all legal representation is not good enough in your case. With a documented record of testimonials from former clients, you can rely on our Queens burn injury attorneys for top quality, personalized guidance, and support.
Call Our Queens Burn Injury Lawyers Today
Suffering a burn injury is incredibly serious, and maybe something that permanently changes your life. At the law office of Sullivan & Galleshaw LLP, we understand the pain–both physical and emotional–that you’re going through and we want to help. For your free consultation with our Queens burn injury lawyers, please call us directly today at 718-215-9574 or send us a message online at your convenience. From our law office in Queens, we handle burn injury claims in New York City, Long Island, and throughout the surrounding communities in New York.
What Our Clients Say
James is the best lawyer I have ever had. I would strongly recommend him. I would even go as far as to say you would have to be crazy to use anyone else. He is extremely knowledgeable, quick thinker and always available to answer your questions. He is motivated, energetic and will do whatever it takes to win. The best quality James has and one that you will not find in other lawyers is that HE CARES!!!.