A burn injury can turn your life upside down in an instant. The pain is severe, the healing process is long, and the costs can add up fast, from emergency care to surgeries to months of rehabilitation. If someone else’s negligence caused your burn, you shouldn’t have to carry that burden on your own.
Pemberton Personal Injury Law Firm has helped injured people across Wisconsin get the compensation they deserve. With decades of combined experience and a track record that includes achieving a landmark jury verdict in a high-stakes personal injury case, our team knows what it takes to stand up for burn injury victims in Sun Prairie. We handle the legal fight so you can focus on healing.
How Do Burn Injuries Happen?
Burn injuries don’t just happen in house fires. They can occur in many types of accidents, often because of someone else’s careless actions. According to the American Burn Association, the CDC reported approximately 398,000 fire or burn-related injuries in the United States in 2021 alone.
Common causes that may give rise to a personal injury claim include:
- Vehicle accidents: Fuel ignition and explosions in car or truck crashes can cause severe burns to drivers and passengers.
- Defective products: Faulty appliances, electronics, or machinery can overheat, catch fire, or explode without warning.
- Dangerous workplaces: Inadequate safety measures around chemicals, electrical equipment, or open flames can put workers at serious risk.
- Negligent property maintenance: Poorly maintained heating systems, exposed wiring, or blocked emergency exits can lead to fires and burns on someone else’s property. If your injury occurred under these circumstances, our Sun Prairie premises liability lawyers can help you understand your legal options.
- Chemical and electrical exposure: Contact with hazardous substances or live electrical currents can cause deep-tissue damage, even without an open flame.
When a burn happens because of someone else’s negligence, the injured person may have grounds to pursue a legal claim. Our dedicated attorneys can also help if your injury occurred on someone else’s property.
What Kinds of Burn Injuries Can Lead to a Lawsuit?
Not all burns are the same. The severity of a burn plays a big role in the long-term impact on your life and the value of your legal claim.
First-degree burns affect only the outer layer of skin and typically heal without major medical intervention. Second-degree burns go deeper, causing blistering, significant pain, and a longer healing time. Third-degree burns destroy the full thickness of the skin and often require skin grafts, extended hospital stays, and ongoing care.
Third-degree burns and more severe cases can rise to the level of catastrophic injuries, permanently affecting a person’s ability to work, move, and live independently. Cases involving electrical burns or chemical exposure can also cause nerve damage and internal injuries that aren’t immediately visible.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Burn Injury?
If another party’s negligence caused your burn, you may be entitled to compensation for a wide range of losses. Every case is different, but the following types of damages are commonly pursued in burn injury claims:
- Medical expenses: Emergency treatment, surgeries, skin grafts, and hospital stays, both past and future
- Lost wages: Income you missed while unable to work during your healing period
- Pain and suffering: Compensation for the physical pain and emotional toll of your injuries
- Rehabilitation costs: Ongoing physical therapy, occupational therapy, and specialized care
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement: Burns can leave lasting physical changes that affect your quality of life
The goal is to make sure the full extent of your harm is accounted for, not just the bills you’ve already received.
What Is the Deadline to File a Burn Injury Claim in Wisconsin?
Time matters in a personal injury case. Typically, a lawsuit must be filed within 3 years from the date of the accident, and this time period generally applies to burn injury claims under Wisconsin law. However, exceptions and other details of your case may affect the deadline you have to file.
The sooner you speak with an attorney, the better. Evidence can disappear, witnesses’ memories fade, and insurance companies move quickly to protect their own interests. Getting legal guidance early puts you in a much stronger position.
Why Choose Pemberton Personal Injury Law Firm for Your Burn Injury Case?
When you’re dealing with a burn injury, you need a team that truly has your back. Our firm works on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we win your case. We believe everyone deserves access to experienced legal representation, regardless of their financial situation.
We take the time to understand what you and your family have been through, and we fight to make sure you are treated fairly. Learn more about our commitment to clients through The Pemberton Promise.
Contact a Sun Prairie Burn Injury Lawyer Today
If you have been seriously burned because of another person’s or a company’s negligence, Pemberton Personal Injury is ready to help. We’ll listen to what happened, explain your options clearly, and stand by your side every step of the way.
You don’t have to figure this out alone. Contact our office today to schedule your free case evaluation and speak with a member of our team.
