Newport Beach Burn Injury Attorney

Sustained a Burn Injury After a Car Accident? Our Experienced Newport Beach Burn Injury Attorneys Will Get You Maximum Compensation to Cover for Damages

Burn injuries typically occur at tanning salons, restaurants, workplaces, or in your own home. It is also likely for a person to sustain a burn injury after a motor vehicle accident. Once a vehicle endures forceful impact by another object, it could trigger one or more parts in the vehicle, such as the engine, to react. This could cause the vehicle to erupt or burst into flames. If the driver is unable to notice signs of their vehicle being minutes, or even seconds away, from erupting, they could suffer from moderate to severe burn injuries.

Common types of burn injuries that may occur from a motor vehicle accident include the following:

• First-Degree. This has a red appearance that is both painful and dry. It primarily affects the outer layer of the skin (epidermis). Generally, there is no long-term damage. You will experience noticeable redness in the beginning stages. Near the end of your recovery, it will fade away.
• Second-Degree. This causes damage to the outer layer of your skin and the layer underneath (dermis). The appearance of the burn will appear bright red, swollen, and blistered.
• Third-Degree. This primarily targets the nerve endings. It will destroy the epidermis and dermis. Third-degree burns could potentially impact the subcutaneous, which is the innermost layer of the skin. The burn will appear as a white, black, brown, or yellow shade.
• Fourth-Degree. This causes the deepest and most severe burns. Fourth-degree burns may result in a life-threatening situation. All layers of your skin, including your muscles, bones, and tendons, will get destroyed.

Medical treatment may be needed to help soothe and heal a burn injury. Ongoing treatment can be quite costly. If you plan on filing a personal injury claim against the party at-fault for your burn injuries, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your losses. You will need to seek legal assistance from an experienced burn injury attorney to successfully prove your case.

At West Coast Trial Lawyers, our Newport Beach burn injury attorneys have over 60 years of collective legal experience in handling personal injury cases. We have won more than 5,000 cases and recovered over $1 billion in settlements for our clients. Due to our achievements, we have been ranked as one of the top personal injury law firms in Newport Beach.

To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation at our Newport Beach personal injury law firm, contact our 24/7 legal team by calling (949) 822-9593 or emailing [email protected]. 

Can I Get a Burn Injury From a Car Accident?

Yes, it is possible for a burn injury to occur from a car accident. There are different parts in a vehicle that are likely to go off on its own or after an accident. This includes the following:

• Defective electrical system
• Oil, fuel, or other flammable liquids leaking out of the vehicle
• Smoke emerging from the engine
• Overheating engine temperature
• A loose or blown fuse
• Rapid changes occurring with fuel or fluid levels

If either of these signs become apparent, you should pull over as soon as possible and have your vehicle turned off. Make sure to get out of the vehicle and call for emergency services. If no fire or smoke appears to be present, you should call roadside assistance to have your vehicle towed.

Those who fail to take immediate action after noticing these signs could be at risk of sustaining a burn injury.

Will I Be Qualified to Receive Coverage if My Vehicle Explodes?

It depends. If you have comprehensive coverage, you may be entitled to receive compensation if your vehicle explodes or is on fire. Comprehensive coverage will offer to repair or replace any damages done to your vehicle that was not caused by an accident. This coverage will cover damages that have been caused by fires, theft, vandalism, poor weather conditions, falling objects, or animal-related damages.

Burn Injury Settlement

In order to determine the value of a settlement, the jury will consider how and where the burn injury occurred. They will also take into account how bad the burn may appear and if it will affect the victim’s quality of life. There are several factors that can contribute to the cause of a burn injury. Therefore, settlement amounts may vary depending on the circumstances.

For example, a burn injury that has occurred on a person’s face will be valued much more than one that has occurred on a less visible area on the body, such as the arms or legs. Let’s consider a more specific example. Say that a burn injury victim was injured in a motor vehicle accident that was or was not likely to be avoided. The value for this type of case will be lower than a case in which the victim was injured due to someone failing to abide by necessary safety rules and regulations.

Available Damages

Damages are a type of monetary award that is determined by a court of law to help compensate an aggrieved individual for any losses or injuries sustained as a result of someone’s negligence.

Economic damages are intended to compensate a plaintiff for losses that a dollar amount can readily be attached to. It is calculated by determining the amount of out-of-pocket losses an aggrieved individual has or will expect to incur as a result of their injuries. A few examples of economic losses include loss of earning capacity, medical bills, and lost wages.

Non-economic damages are essentially intended to cover losses that are thought of as subjective and will not necessarily cover out-of-pocket losses. This may include compensation for emotional distress, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.

The third type of damages a California court may award are known as punitive damages. Punitive damages are intended as punishment and are only awarded when a defendant’s behavior is especially harmful. It is relatively rare and, in fact, was only incorporated in 5 percent of all verdicts. Furthermore, there is no real set standard for calculating and awarding punitive damages. Punitive damages are awarded at the court’s discretion and will vary depending on the specific circumstances of a case.

West Coast Trial Lawyers Is Here to Help

If you have suffered a burn injury due to the negligence of another individual, West Coast Trial Lawyers has experienced Newport Beach burn injury attorneys that will help you get the justice you deserve.

To schedule a free, no-obligation at our Newport Beach personal injury law firm, please contact our 24/7 legal team by calling (949) 822-9593 or emailing [email protected].