Riverside Burn Injury Lawyer

Burns are a painful injury that damages the skin and the tissue underneath. While most light burns can be easily healed with time, severe burns can potentially alter the way your skin recovers and can ultimately lead to a variety of health complications. The American Burn Association (ABA) has reported in a burn incident fact sheet, that about 29,000 people are admitted into a hospital’s burn unit every year and while the cost of recovery from a burn is dependent on the severity, it can still cost several thousand dollars.

If you or a loved one suffered burn injuries due to someone else’s negligence, you may be eligible to pursue compensation for your damages. At West Coast Trial Lawyers, our team of Riverside burn injury lawyers are ready to serve as your personal legal representative. We are a personal injury law firm with over 20 years of legal experience and our dedicated team of attorneys are confident that they can get you the fair compensation you deserve for your losses.

We have recovered over $1.7 billion in financial compensation to our deserving clients and we continue to do our duty and fight for their best interests to ensure they are made whole. Whether you have suffered numerous second degree burns or a severe fourth degree burn in a catastrophic car accident, our compassionate team of accident attorneys have seen them all and they are available 24/7 to answer any questions or concerns you may have regarding your case.

We run on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you pay no fees until you win. To schedule a FREE consultation, you can get in touch with us by calling us at (213) 927-3700 or by filling out our quick online contact form.

Degrees of Burns

The amount of compensation burn victims may receive from burn injury claims is going to be directly dependent on the severity of their losses and the costs of their medical bills. In most circumstances, burns are divided into one of four categories, First, Second, Third, and Fourth degree burns. Each degree is based on the harshness of the wound and it is important to understand the differences between them to get a better understanding of what kind of damages you can recover.

First Degree

A first degree burn has a red appearance that is both painful and dry. It primarily affects the outer layer of the skin (epidermis) and generally, there is no long-term damage and can be recovered fairly quickly. Burn victims will experience noticeable redness in the beginning stages, but near the end of their recovery, it will fade away. Due to their nature, first degree burns are a very minor injury and would not qualify for any personal injury cases.

Second Degree

Second degree burns cause 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. While a second degree burn is not as severe as third or fourth degree burns, they are considered to be partial burns that can cause mild discomfort and pain. It is possible for burn injury victims to sue for second degree burns, but it is only applicable under certain circumstances, so it is recommended to consult with a burn injury attorney.

Third Degree

Third degree burns are a more serious burn that primarily targets the nerve endings. It will destroy the epidermis and dermis and it could potentially impact the subcutaneous, which is the innermost layer of the skin. A third degree burn will appear as a white, black, brown, or yellow shade and due to the burn’s depth of damage, burn victims may not feel a sense of immediate pain, and as a result it can cause severe long term health complications and disfigurement than they realize.

Fourth Degree

Fourth degree burns cause the deepest and most severe burns and may result in life-threatening situations for the victim. All layers of your skin, including your muscles, bones, and tendons, will get destroyed. Compared to a third degree burn, a fourth degree burn can damage internal organs and cause irreparable damage to the body. These burns are extremely fatal and should a burn victim survive, they would require extensive surgery and medical treatment in order to make a partial recovery.

Types of Burn Injuries

Burn injury cases can arise from anywhere and depending on the source, it can drastically affect how medical professionals approach treating the burn. Fire, chemical, and electrical burns are some of the most types of burns found in Riverside county and should you sustain a burn injury, it is important to understand some of the differences between them so you can have a more detailed discussion with a Riverside burn injury attorney.

Fire

Fire burns are one of the most common types of burns, because these types of burns are caused by an exposure to a heat source such as a fire, hot liquid, steam, and any hot surfaces. This type of burn can also come from a variety of sources from your kitchen at home to your workplace. Due to the accessibility of fire based burns, the liability will be based on whether the injury was due to someone’s negligence or ill intent.

Chemical

Chemical burns are when corrosive substances come into contact with the skin and cause tissue damage due to the acidic properties in the chemical/substance. These types of burns are more common in industrial manufacturing plants, but they can also be found in common household cleaning supplies and industrial adhesives. 

Due to the properties found in the dangerous chemicals, chemical burns are considered to be severe burn injuries that can leave permanent scarring to the affected area. As such, if you have sustained a chemical burn it is highly recommended to seek immediate medical care

Electrical

Electrical burns are when the skin comes into direct contact with an electrical current. This current would not only cause damage to the skin and the deeper parts of the tissue, but also the nerves within. Much like any other type of burn, the depth will be dependent on the voltage and duration, however, a high voltage burn can potentially disrupt organ function. 

The burn injury liability for these cases tend to be harder to pinpoint due to the nature of electrical burns. So it is recommended to consult with several personal injury attorneys to ensure your chances of recovering compensation for your damages.

What Damages Can You Recover In A Riverside Burn Injury Claim?

Depending on the nature of the accident and the severity of the burn injury, accident victims can file a claim to recover economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are calculable damages designed to cover any unexpected costs that arise when a victim is hurt in an accident. For example, medical treatment, medical expenses, lost income, and reconstructive surgery such as skin grafting are all unexpected that arise in a burn accident.

Meanwhile, non-economic damages are incalculable damages designed to compensate victims for any emotional pain they may have experienced in an accident. For example, emotional distress, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life and psychological damage all vary from person to person. Depending how your burn injury attorney presents your case, victims can expect to receive a mixture of both damages in order to maximize their chances of being properly compensated for the accident.

West Coast Trial Lawyers Is Here to Help

If you or a loved one has sustained burn injuries due to someone else’s negligence, you may be eligible to sue for compensation. At West Coast Trial Lawyers, our team of Riverside burn injury attorneys are ready to take on your case and fight for you. With over 20 years of legal experience, our team of attorneys handle each case with the utmost care and respect that it deserves and they are confident that they can get you the fair compensation you deserve for your losses.

We have recovered over $1.7 billion in financial compensation for our clients and we will continue to do our duty to guide them throughout the legal process. Filing for a burn injury case can be a long and complicated process especially if you are unfamiliar with the legal system and our legal team make it their mission to ensure that you not only win your case, but also help you understand what is happening.

We run on a contingency-fee basis, meaning that you pay no fees until you win. To schedule a FREE legal consultation today, we welcome you to reach out to our 24/7 legal team by calling us at (213) 927-3700 or by completing our easy online contact form.

Most Frequently Asked Questions About Riverside Burn Injuries

How Long Will It Take to Resolve a Burn Injury Claim in Riverside?

Every burn injury case will vary and the amount of time it takes to resolve will be dependent on the severity of the accident and the number of parties involved. As such, cases can take anywhere between several months to a year and half to resolve, and should the case go to trial, all involved parties can expect to be in trial as long as it requires until a verdict has been reached.

How Much Does a Riverside Burn Injury Lawyer Charge?

Generally, most Riverside burn injury attorneys operate under a contingency-fee system, which means clients won’t have to pay them for their services unless they either win or receive a settlement offer. Should their attorney achieve either scenario then they will charge their clients a flat-fee that can range anywhere between 25%-40%, however, most tend to charge a competitive rate of 33%.

Is a Burn Injury Lawyer Necessary for My Case?

A burn injury lawyer is not exactly necessary, but it is highly recommended to hire one, because they would be able to process and file all the legal paperwork found in a personal injury case, negotiate with opposing counsel and insurance adjusters on your behalf, and give you legal advice when you need it the most. While it is possible to do all of that on your own, however, those who hire a burn injury lawyer will likely receive a higher compensation amount than those who try to handle their personal injury claim themselves.