If you or your child suffered serious burns in an accident, contact an experienced catastrophic injury attorney at Colling Gilbert Wright. We have been providing excellent representation to injured people for more than two decades. We are proud that other lawyers, medical professionals, and prominent members of the community call us when they need a personal injury attorney.
A DeLand burn injury lawyer could assist you with numerous matters throughout your recovery, from obtaining disability benefits to pursuing a legal claim against the parties responsible for your burns.
Understanding the Impact of Severe Burns
Severe burns can be life-altering, even fatal. First- and second-degree burns typically heal without significant medical intervention. However, if you suffered third-, fourth-, or fifth-degree burns, you may require multiple medical procedures, including surgeries and extensive rehabilitation.
Recovering from severe burns is physically painful. It can also have a significant psychological impact, especially if you undergo an amputation or have severe scarring. Even if you retain all of your limbs, you might lose some functionality if your burns damaged muscle or connective tissue.
When another party’s careless or reckless act led to your injury, you could pursue legal action against them. Our skilled DeLand attorneys could review the circumstances of your burn injury to identify negligent conduct and collect evidence for a legal claim.
When Is a Burn the Result of Negligence?
Burns can occur in many situations. Motorcycle accidents, exposure to caustic chemicals, electrocution, explosions, and fires are just some of the common ways people suffer severe burns. When any type of accident leads to a burn, negligence might be at the root.
Our DeLand attorneys look for evidence to prove that another person, company, or unit of government failed to use an acceptable degree of care and that failure led directly to your burn damage. If a car crash caused your burns, we look for evidence that the other driver was operating their vehicle recklessly. If your injury occurred in an apartment fire, we could investigate whether the landlord stored flammables improperly, kept the wiring up to code, and took all reasonable precautions to prevent fires.
When there is proof that another person’s negligence led to your burns, the other party may be legally responsible for compensating your losses. In most cases, negotiations with the responsible party and their insurer result in an acceptable settlement. We have obtained multi-million dollar settlements or verdicts for several of our burn injury clients.
Obtaining Adequate Compensation
When someone else’s actions have caused you harm, you deserve compensation for all the losses you suffered. This compensation is called your damages.
Your economic damages are verifiable expenses such as medical care, rehabilitation, diminished income, and mental health counseling to help you cope with your injuries. You can claim the cost of reasonably anticipated burn-related medical care that you may require in the future. If your injuries limit your capacity to work or prevent you from returning to your former job, you can claim compensation for your reduced future earnings.
You can also claim compensation for non-economic losses such as physical pain, scarring, emotional trauma, and disability. You can prove the impact your burns had on your quality of life through photographs, medical and pharmacy records, journals, and statements from you, your family, and other close associates.
Punitive Damages May Be Available
The law allows you to claim punitive damages when you can establish that a responsible party acted with conscious disregard for your safety. If your case qualifies for punitive damages, the court may award you extra money as a punishment to the wrongdoer.
Florida Statutes § 768.73 limits the amount of a punitive damages award in most cases, but the limit varies depending on the responsible party’s intent. Our lawyers in DeLand could explain whether punitive damages might be available in your burn injury case, and if so, the limits that might apply.
Contact a DeLand Attorney About Seeking Compensation for Burn Injuries
Severe burns can be challenging to overcome. It helps to have a compassionate, capable DeLand burn injury lawyer advocating for you.
The Florida Firm has the resources and skills you need to help you move forward after suffering serious burns. We work on a contingency basis, so there is no risk to you, we only receive payment if you obtain compensation. Contact us today to discuss your legal options after a burn injury.