How Burn Injuries Happen
Burn injuries can happen in many different ways. Some are caused by accidents at work. Others happen because of unsafe property conditions, which may require the expertise of premises liability lawyers, defective products, vehicle fires, chemical exposure, or electrical hazards. In the most tragic cases, these incidents can lead to fatal injuries, and wrongful death lawyers can help families seek justice for their loss.
Common causes of serious burn injuries include:
- Workplace fires and explosions
- Defective appliances or products
- Unsafe buildings or rental properties
- Car and truck accidents involving fire
- Chemical burns
- Electrical burns
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 Liable for a Burn Injury?
Liability depends on how the burn happened. For example:
- A property owner may be responsible for failing to fix a known fire hazard.
- A manufacturer may be responsible for a dangerous or defective product.
- A driver may be responsible for a crash that caused a fire or explosion.
- In some work injuries, a third party may be responsible even if workers’ compensation also applies. Wisconsin law allows certain third-party claims in workplace injury cases.
Every burn injury case starts with the same basic question: who caused the unsafe condition, and could it have been prevented?
The Real Impact of a Serious Burn Injury
A severe burn affects much more than the skin. Burn victims may face:
- Multiple surgeries
- Skin grafts
- Infection risks
- Permanent scarring
- Nerve damage
- Chronic pain
- Loss of movement
- Emotional distress
- Trauma and anxiety
These injuries can affect nearly every part of daily life. Some people cannot return to the same job. Others need long-term physical and emotional support. That is why burn injury cases need to account for both the immediate costs and the long-term effects.
What Compensation May Be Available?
A Wisconsin burn injury claim may include compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Future medical treatment
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning ability
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Permanent scarring
- Disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
If the burn injury happened at work, workers’ compensation may cover some losses. If a third party contributed to the injury, a separate personal injury claim may also be possible under Wisconsin law.
If a burn injury results in death, a wrongful death claim may also be available in some cases. Wisconsin law addresses wrongful death claims, including who may bring them and what damages may be recoverable.
What To Do After a Serious Burn Injury
The steps you take after a burn accident can affect both your health and your legal claim.
Get Medical Care Right Away
Serious burns need immediate medical attention. Prompt treatment protects your health and creates a clear record of the injury and the care you needed.
Preserve Evidence
If you can, keep anything that may help show what happened. That may include:
- Photos of the scene
- Photos of the burn
- Damaged clothing
- The product involved
- Witness information
- Incident reports
Be Careful With Insurance Companies
Do not assume the insurance company is there to help you. Be careful about recorded statements or quick settlement offers, especially before you know the full extent of your injuries.
Talk to a Burn Injury Lawyer
A serious burn case can involve complex medical issues, future treatment needs, and multiple possible sources of liability. An attorney can help protect your rights, preserve evidence, and deal with the insurance companies.
Why Burn Injury Cases Are Different
Burn injury claims are often more complex than other injury cases. Insurance companies may challenge the need for future treatment or argue that long-term complications are uncertain.
But serious burns often do lead to long-term consequences. A case must account for what the injury will cost, not just today, but months and years from now.
That is why it is important to work with a law firm that understands the full impact of a catastrophic injury and prepares every case thoroughly.
Why Choose Pemberton Personal Injury Law Firm?
At Pemberton Personal Injury Law Firm, we help injured people in Fitchburg, Madison, 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.
