Arizona Burn Injury Lawyer

A brain injury can take on many forms, leaving you with temporary or permanent disfigurement that may require long-term medical treatment to improve your quality of life. Injured victims often face physical, emotional, and financial challenges. Undergoing the legal process to seek compensation may involve obstacles. But, with the help of a personal injury law firm, like West Coast Trial Lawyers, you can move forward with an ease of mind.

Our Arizona burn injury attorneys have over 20 years of extensive knowledge and experience handling personal injury cases, and recovered more than $1.7 billion in settlements. With our ongoing success, we are confident that we will deliver quality services as we pursue justice on your behalf and get you fair compensation to cover any losses you endured as a result of the event.

We run on a contingency-fee basis, meaning that you owe us nothing unless we settle your case. To schedule a FREE consultation, you can connect with our 24/7 legal team by calling (213) 927-3700 or completing our quick online contact form.

Most Common Causes of Burn Injuries

Burn injuries can happen due to various sources. Let’s take a look at each one below.

Electrical Burns

These burns happen when you are exposed to electrical systems. The intensity of the injury will depend on:

• Voltage
• Type of current
• Length of contact
• Pathway through the body

It can cause deep tissue or nerve damage, and often leads to internal injuries.

Chemical Burns

Chemical burns will occur when your skin or eyes are met with harmful substances. Certain types of hazardous materials that are involved in such a case include:

• Acids
• Alkalis
• Industrial chemicals

Bodily harm can range from mild to severe tissue damage.

Thermal Burns

Thermal burns are the leading cause of burn injuries. It happens when your skin makes direct contact with a heat source. This can be caused by:

• Flames
• Scalding
• Hot objects or surfaces
• Steam

Radiation Burns

Radiation burns are triggered by a prolonged exposure to particular sources, like UV rays or radiation therapy. It usually results in first- or second-degree burns. Long-term complications are possible under severe cases.

Degree of Burn Injuries

Burn injuries range from mild to life-threatening conditions. The depth and impact will be reviewed to identify the level of damage and required treatment needed to make a recovery. Let’s look at each type below.

First-Degree Burns

First-degree burns are mild, affecting the outer layer of the skin, known as the epidermis. Some symptoms that you may experience include:

• Redness
• Minor swelling
• Pain

This type of burn is commonly caused by hot objects or minor scalds. Treatment may involve applying lukewarm water or aloe vera to the affected area. Over-the-counter pain relievers could also be used if you are experiencing discomfort. A first-degree burn typically takes a few days to a week to recover, and does not involve permanent damage.

Second-Degree Burns

Second-degree burns extend to the lower layer of the skin, referred to as the dermis. It can trigger:

• Swelling
• Blisters
• Skin discoloration

This can bring on intense pain, and usually results from contact with flames or hot objects or liquids. Medical care may be implemented to prevent complications from progressively worsening. Some options that may be used include the following:

• Cool water on the injury site
• Antibiotics
• Bandage to cover the burn area
• Over-the-counter pain relievers

Healing can take several weeks depending on the extent of skin damage you sustained.

Third-Degree Burns

Third-degree burns can destroy all layers of the skin, and in some cases, the fat and muscle tissue underneath. It can appear:

• Stiff
• Waxy white
• Leathery or gray

Since it can cause severe nerve damage, immediate pain will not be felt. A third-degree burn will require immediate medical attention. Some common burn injury treatments that may be implemented to improve such harsh conditions include:

• Skin grafts
• IV fluids to prevent dehydration
• Long-term rehabilitation

Fourth-Degree Burns

Fourth-degree burns are the most severe and life-threatening, affecting not only all layers of the skin, but also deeper tissues, including the: 

• Muscles
• Tendons
• Bones

There will be no instant feeling following after the burn injury since the nerve endings have been destroyed. Maintaining a fourth-degree burn is a great clinical challenge that will require major solutions, like:

• Surgical procedures
• Cleaning and debriding
• Pain prescriptions
• Skin grafts
• Physical and occupational therapy

This type of bodily harm can take months or years to heal, and will require a lot of medical attention. 

What to Do After a Burn Injury

Prompt action is needed to minimize a burn injury. Knowing how to implement the following steps will allow you to find the best treatment that can help with your healing process.

Report the Incident

Depending on where your burn injury happened, you should have it reported to the right authority. If it was in a public place or business, be sure to let the property owner or store manager know about the situation and have them file an incident report. And if it was caused by an accident, like a car crash, you should reach out to your local law enforcement and have the police conduct a written report.

Seek Medical Attention

Regardless of the burn’s severity, you should get the affected area evaluated by medical professionals to get a diagnosis of your condition. Once you have been notified about the extent of skin damage you incurred, you will be given a suitable care plan to follow to help with your recovery.

Gather Evidence

Try to gather the following pieces of evidence to strengthen your burn injury claim:

• Photos or video footage of your burn and where it happened
• Witness statements
• A copy of the incident or police report and your medical records

Consult with an Arizona Burn Injury Lawyer

If your burn injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be given the right to pursue compensation. Our Arizona burn injury attorneys are readily available to step in and handle complicated tasks while you focus on recovering with a peace of mind. We will identify the at fault party, acquire evidence, and negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf.

How to Prove Liability

Proving liability in a burn injury case will require you to demonstrate how the defendant exhibited negligence, and that it directly caused you to sustain bodily harm and other losses. This includes gathering evidence that shows the following:

• The defendant owed you a duty of care
• The defendant failed to uphold their duty of care
• You suffer burn injuries as a result of the defendant’s carelessness
• You incurred damages, like medical bills and emotional distress, due to the incident

Under Arizona’s pure comparative negligence rule, you and the defendant will both be assessed to determine percentage of fault. Even if you are partially responsible for your burn injury, you can still recover compensation. But, it will be adjusted based on your level of negligence. So, if total damages are $100,000 and you are 20 percent responsible, you will be given an estimate of $80,000.

How Much Is a Burn Injury Settlement?

The value of a burn injury settlement will differ on a case-by-case basis. The following factors are typically considered when determining what you will be awarded:

• The extent of your burn injury
• Percentage of fault
• Current and future medical costs
• Lost wages and earning capacity

To get an estimate of what you could be awarded, you can use our personal injury settlement calculator by entering the expenses you sustained due to the defendant’s reckless behavior.

In personal injury cases, economic damages and non-economic damages will be granted. Economic damages refers to financial expenses, like hospital fees and lost income. Non-economic damages are intangible losses that are difficult to quantify in monetary terms, such as:

• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Pain and suffering

Schedule a FREE Case Evaluation with West Coast Trial Lawyers Today

Burn injury victims are entitled to seek compensation to cover damages caused by someone else’s negligence. At West Coast Trial Lawyers, our Arizona burn injury attorneys will protect your rights and advocate on your behalf to make sure you are satisfied with the results we deliver.

To schedule a FREE confidential case evaluation, you can reach out to our 24/7 legal team by calling (213) 927-3700 or filling out our convenient online contact form.

Burn Injuries FAQ

What Are the Psychological Effects of Burns?

According to a study conducted by Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, stress disorders, like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), are found in about one-third of burn patients. It was reported that a severe burn injury is more likely to cause such psychological effects, and can interfere with a victim’s long-term rehabilitation. 

How Can a Phoenix Burn Injury Lawyer Help?

A Phoenix burn injury lawyer can help you seek compensation if you have sustained a serious burn injury as a result of negligence contributed by another individual or entity. This type of bodily harm often involves extensive medical treatment to improve daily functioning. With the help of a skilled burn injury lawyer, you can get the financial compensation you deserve.

Below are some benefits that come with hiring a legal representative:

• The situation will be investigated
• Liability will be established
• Negotiations will be made with insurance companies to prevent lowball settlements
• A lawsuit will be filed, and you may be represented in court, if needed
• You will have a higher likelihood of receiving maximum compensation

Having a burn injury lawyer on your side can overall help you navigate the legal process while you recover with no added stress.

What Is the Time Limit to File a Burn Injury Claim?

In Arizona, the time limit to file a burn injury claim is two years from the date of when the incident occurred. So, be sure to gather as much evidence as you can and find legal representation from the right personal injury law firm. If you choose to delay this process, you will put yourself at risk of losing your opportunity to pursue compensation for the losses you endured.