What Causes Serious Burn Injuries?
Burn injuries can happen in many kinds of accidents. Some happen at work. Others happen on unsafe property, in vehicle crashes, or because of dangerous products.
Common causes of burn injuries include:
- House and apartment fires
- Workplace fires and explosions
- Electrical accidents
- Chemical exposure
- Unsafe wiring
- Defective products
- Car, truck, and motorcycle crashes involving fire
- Scalding injuries from hot liquids or steam
Not every burn injury leads to a legal claim. But when someone else failed to act safely, there may be a case.
Who May Be Responsible for a Burn Injury?
Liability depends on how the injury happened. A burn injury claim may involve:
- A property owner
- A landlord
- A driver
- A product manufacturer
- An employer
- A third party at a job site
For example, a property owner may be responsible for failing to fix a known fire hazard, as Wisconsin law requires property owners to exercise reasonable care in maintaining safe conditions for people lawfully on their property. A manufacturer may be responsible for a defective appliance or product. A negligent driver may be responsible for a crash that caused a fire or explosion.
In work-related burn cases, workers’ compensation may apply, but in some situations, a separate third-party claim may also be available. Wisconsin law recognizes third-party actions in some workplace injury cases.
Types of Burn Injuries
Not all burns are the same. The depth and location of the burn can affect treatment, recovery time, and the long-term impact on your life.
Burns are commonly described this way:
- First-degree burns: Affect the outer layer of skin
- Second-degree burns: Go deeper and often cause blisters and severe pain
- Third-degree burns: Destroy all layers of the skin and may require skin grafts
- Fourth-degree burns: Extend into deeper tissue like muscle or bone
Burns can also become more serious when they cover a large area of the body or affect the face, hands, feet, or airways. Smoke inhalation and chemical exposure can also cause serious internal injury.
What Compensation May Be Available?
A burn injury claim may include compensation for:
- Emergency medical care
- Hospital stays
- Surgery
- Skin grafts
- Rehabilitation
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning ability
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Serious burns can affect nearly every part of daily life. A strong claim should account for both the current costs and the long-term impact of the injury.
In some cases involving especially wrongful conduct, punitive damages may also be pursued under Wisconsin law, but they are not available in every case.
What To Do After a Burn Injury
The steps you take after a serious burn can affect both your health and your legal claim.
Get Medical Care Right Away
Serious burns need immediate treatment. Prompt medical care protects your health and creates a clear record of the injury.
Preserve Evidence
If you can do so safely, keep anything that may help show what happened, including:
- Photos of the scene
- Photos of the burn
- Damaged clothing
- The product involved
- Witness information
- Incident reports
Be Careful With Insurance Companies
Insurance companies may move quickly after a serious accident. Be careful about recorded statements or quick settlement offers before you know the full extent of your injuries.
Talk to a Burn Injury Lawyer
Burn injury cases can be complex. A lawyer can help investigate the cause, identify who may be responsible, preserve evidence, and deal with the insurance companies for you.
Why Burn Injury Cases Can Be Complex
Serious burn cases are often more complicated than people expect. The damage may go far beyond the initial hospital stay. Some victims need future surgeries, long-term therapy, mental health treatment, or help returning to work.
Insurance companies may try to treat a burn injury like a short-term problem. That can leave out the true cost of scarring, chronic pain, trauma, and future care. That is why these cases need a careful, thorough approach from the start.
Why Choose Pemberton Personal Injury Law Firm?
At Pemberton Personal Injury Law Firm, we help injured people in Eau Claire and across Wisconsin stand up to insurance companies after serious accidents.
We investigate what happened, identify who may be responsible, gather the evidence needed to support the claim, and prepare every case as if it is going to trial. That matters because insurance companies know which firms are ready to fight. We do not get paid unless you do.
Contact an Eau Claire Burn Injury Lawyer Today
A serious burn can turn your life upside down. You should not have to handle the legal and financial stress on your own.
If you suffered a burn injury in Eau Claire or the surrounding area because of someone else’s negligence, Pemberton Personal Injury Law Firm is here to help. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
