Severe burns cause enormous physical and psychological suffering. If you suffered severe burns in an accident that was not your fault, you can claim compensation from the responsible parties.
Consult a Kissimmee burn injury lawyer at Colling Gilbert Wright soon after the accident. Our catastrophic injury attorneys provide compassionate representation to injured Floridians and achieve excellent results. Most of our clients come as referrals from other lawyers and community leaders who recognize the strength of our commitment and the quality of our advocacy.
Negligence Can Lead to Burns
Burn injuries can occur in many contexts. Many happen in the workplace, where you might be burned in a fire, explosion or by electrocution. High speed vehicle accidents can cause explosions leading to burns.
Whenever you suffer a burn in an accident, negligence likely has a role. A person, company, and government agency could be guilty of negligence if they failed to use reasonable caution and you were injured due to their failure. When you can prove negligence, you can hold the responsible party liable for your losses.
Our attorneys have achieved substantial settlements and verdicts for numerous people who have suffered burn injuries in Kissimmee and surrounding communities. We obtained $1million for a client who was burned by a flaming alcoholic drink, more than $5 million for a client who was burned in a car wreck, and more than $16 million for workers burned in a job site explosion.
What Damages Can You Receive for a Burn Injury?
Burn recovery is a painful process that often requires multiple surgeries and medical procedures over many months. Even with the best medical care, serious burns often leave permanent physical and emotional scars. You will need help from a Kissimmee attorney with experience in complex burn injury cases to obtain fair compensation.
Economic Damages
Your economic damages are your past and future out-of-pocket expenses related to your burns. These include all your medical and rehabilitation care for your physical and psychological injuries. You can claim the income lost while you were recovering, and receive compensation for diminished future earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from returning to your job.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages compensate you for the suffering you endured, both physical and mental, during your recovery and into the future. You can seek financial compensation for scarring, lost ability to enjoy life, and other impacts of the injury.
Punitive Damages
Florida Statutes § 768.72 allows you to seek punitive damages when you have evidence that the responsible party was grossly negligent or acted intentionally. Punitive damages are extra money the responsible party must pay you as punishment for their wrongdoing and to deter others from similar behavior.
The law puts a cap on the amount of punitive damages you can collect, at the greater of $500,000 or three times your economic and non-economic damages combined. However, when there is proof the wrongdoer acted for financial gain, the cap is raised to $2 million, and there is no cap when you can prove the responsible party acted with the intent to harm.
Restrictions on Your Time to Sue
Recovery from serious burns can take a long time. Unfortunately, the law requires you to take legal action within two years of your injury. This may seem like plenty of time, but in the case of serious burns, you might still be undergoing reconstructive and cosmetic surgeries two years out from the accident.
Contact a Kissimmee lawyer at The Florida Firm soon after you sustain your burn injury. We will ensure you do not miss any legal deadlines, but there are numerous other advantages to engaging legal counsel early.
We can communicate with the responsible parties and their insurers, and help you apply for financial support, such as disability benefits. We can make arrangements with healthcare providers and other creditors to relieve financial pressure during your recovery.
Work With a Kissimmee Attorney to Claim Damages After Suffering Severe Burns
Serious burns are devastating injuries that impact every aspect of your life. The attorneys at Colling Gilbert Wright have the experience and resources to support you through your recovery and ensure the compensation you receive reflects the severity of your injuries. We never take money from you until we win your case. Reach out today to schedule a free consultation and get a skilled Kissimmee burn injury lawyer working for you.