San Francisco Burn Injury Lawyer

A burn is a painful injury that can cause a person to suffer through a variety of health problems especially if the injury is extremely severe. According to a burn incident fact sheet, from the American Burn Association, over 29,000 people are admitted into a hospital’s burn unit every year in the United States. While the severity of a burn injury will vary on a case-by-case basis, the process to recover from a burn injury is a long and costly journey, so if another party is responsible for your injuries you may not have to face the brunt of those costs by yourself.

If you or a loved one has suffered serious burn injuries due to someone else’s negligence then you may be able to obtain compensation from the at-fault party. At West Coast Trial Lawyers, our team of burn injury attorneys are ready to fight for you. With over 20 years of legal experience, our attorneys have handled a variety of cases for bay area residents from life threatening burns to burns from hazardous substances.

We have recovered over $1.6 billion in financial compensation to our clients and we will continue to do our duty to give them the best legal representation and look out for their best interests. As personal injury cases can be difficult to process if you are not familiar with the legal system, our team of lawyers are readily available 24/7 to address any legal question or concern 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.

Causes of Burn Injuries in San Francisco

When it comes to determining the most common causes of burn injuries, there are multiple factors to take into account, but from what is typically seen in San Francisco, car accidents, workplace accidents, and defective products are the most prominent. So if you are filing a personal injury claim for your burn, it is important to understand the details between each cause, so you would have a better grasp of your situation and who can be held liable for damages.

Car Accidents

While burns are a rare injury in car accidents, victims can potentially sustain these injuries in severe crashes when the vehicle catches on fire due to ruptured fuel tanks, electrical malfunctions, or damaged batteries. Accident victims who were burned either due to being trapped in the wreckage or were not able to get out of the crashed vehicle on time can file a claim against the responsible party in order to recover damages. As car accidents can be caused by a variety of factors such as drunk driving, distracted driving, or drowsy driving, it is important to seek an accident attorney who can help lay out all of the facts and get you the compensation you deserve.

Workplace Accidents

If you are working in a field or industry that involves hazardous materials, chemicals, or high-temperature equipment, you are likely to receive a burn injury, especially if you are not careful of your surroundings. While there are many safety measures and training in place to prevent burn accidents from occurring at your workplace, the chances are never zero and accidents will happen.

In these cases, it is important to seek immediate medical treatment and fill out the proper paperwork for worker’s compensation, and if there are any issues regarding that, it is important that you consult with an attorney to ensure that you are compensated for your injuries.

Product Liability 

Defective products refers to inherently broken and malfunctioning products that can cause injuries. Defective electronics, kitchen appliances, or industrial machinery can cause fires and burns and depending on the nature of the defect, it can cause a range of injuries from minor first degree burns to severe third degree burns.

In fact, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in a Consumer Product-Related Injuries and Deaths report, there were an estimated 28,535,000 people who sought medical attention for an injury related to a consumer product. So if you have suffered a burn injury due to a defective product it is vital that you contact an injury attorney to not only recover compensation, but to help bring attention to a defective product that can cause a series of injuries.

Common Types of Burn Injuries

While burn injuries tend to be categorized based on their burn severity, however, most burn injury cases can be further categorized to what type of burn has occurred. Thermal, radiation, chemical, electrical, and friction are the most common types of burn injuries a person can sustain, however, they all affect the skin differently and if it is not treated correctly, then you risk infection and possibly experience life changing injuries. So it is important to understand some of the differences between them when you are filing a burn accident claim.

Thermal Burns

A thermal burn is when the skin is damaged by excessive heat, such as hot metals, surfaces, liquids, flames, or steam. They are one of the most common types of burns found in a burn injury lawsuit, due to the fact that they can come from a variety of different sources whether you are at home or at work. Depending on the temperature and duration of contact, thermal burns can range anywhere between a first and fourth degree burn.

Radiation Burns

A radiation burn is when the skin is damaged due to exposure to electromagnetic radiation, such as UV-rays, X-rays, or radiation therapy. These types of burns can come from various sources such as hospitals that conduct radiation therapy, nuclear power plants, and industrial manufacturers that handle radioactive materials. While this type of burn is largely circumstantial, if it is left untreated the radiation can damage the skin, the underlying tissue, and even the cells causing long-term complications such as tissue necrosis and cancer.

Chemical Burns

A chemical burn is one of the more severe burns largely due to the fact that it is caused by a corrosive chemical substance. While these acids and corrosives are typically found in chemical manufacturing plants, they can also be found in drain cleaners, paint thinners, and household disinfectants. As a result, their accessibility in everyday products makes them one of the most common burn injuries that can happen and in the most severe cases, chemical burns can do more internal damage due to the possible fumes they can produce.

Electrical Burns

An electrical burn is a type of injury that is caused by an electric current coming into direct contact with the skin, such as lightning or wires. It is capable of damaging the skin and the deeper parts of the tissue and the nerves, but in some severe cases, a high-voltage electrical burn can potentially disrupt the function and pacing of vital organs such as the brain and heart. As such, the severity of an electrical burn is going to be heavily dependent on the voltage, source, and the duration of contact and should it be a high voltage burn, it is vital that burn victims seek immediate medical attention.

Friction Burns

A friction burn is when the skin is scraped off from having forceful contact with a hard object, such as the ground or from an abrasive object. While this type of burn is dependent on maintaining contact with an object for a significant duration, the recovery process can be just as time consuming if not more than any other burn injury. With that in mind, burn survivors need to make sure that their injuries are kept clean or else it can easily become infected and may require additional medical treatment.

Burn Injury Compensation and Available Damages

The consequences of a burn injury can be catastrophic and forever change the outcome of a victim’s life. Depending on the severity of the burn, they can become a financial burden on the burn victim due to multiple doctor visits, procedures, and prescriptions given to heal the wounded area. As such, burn victims can potentially recover economic and non-economic damages for their injuries.

Economic damages are calculable damages that are designed to cover any unexpected costs that arise for a victim when they are hurt in an accident. Costs such as physical therapy, future medical expenses, lost wages, and reconstructive surgery are all necessary costs that can be compensated for in an accident in order to make the victim financially whole again.

Meanwhile, non-economic damages are incalculable damages designed to compensate victims for any emotional pain they may have experienced in an accident. For instance, emotional distress, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life are all subjective and vary from person to person. While non-economic damages may not have a large impact on moderate burn injuries, they will have a much more significant impact on serious burn injuries.

West Coast Trial Lawyers Is Always Here to Help

If you or a loved one has suffered burn injuries caused by another person’s negligence, you may be eligible for compensation for your damages. As burn injuries can complicate your way of life and place a huge toll on your physical wellbeing it is important that you seek legal representation on the matter in order to receive the proper medical care that you need.

At West Coast Trial Lawyers, our team of burn injury attorneys are ready to represent you during this stressful time in your life and handle your case with the utmost care and respect that it deserves. We are a law firm that specializes in personal injury law and our team of attorneys are confident that they can get you the financial compensation you deserve for your losses.

With over 20 years of legal experience, we have recovered over $1.6 billion in financial compensation for our clients and we will continue to do our duty and guide them throughout the legal process. Whether you have suffered superficial burns or fourth degree burns, filing for burn injuries requires extensive paperwork and a working knowledge of our legal system and our compassionate legal team understands this and is available 24/7 to answer any questions or concerns you may have about your case.

We run on a contingency-fee basis, meaning that you pay no fees until you win. To schedule a FREE 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.

Frequently Asked Question About San Francisco Burn Injury Claims

What Is The Average Payout for Burns?

The average payout for burn injuries can be anywhere within the five figure range for most moderate degrees of burns. However, if the burns were more severe during the accident and has caused significant damage and trauma to the skin, then the payout can go anywhere within the six figure range. This is more meant to compensate the victim for their pain and suffering and the constant medical treatment and surgery that they require.

Why is a Burn Injury Lawyer Necessary?

A burn injury lawyer is necessary because they would be able to process all legal paperwork, negotiate with opposing counsel and insurance adjusters on your behalf, and give you legal advice when you need it the most. As such, 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.

What Should I Do if I Have Suffered a Burn Injury?

If you have suffered a burn injury, one of the first things to do is to cool the burn with water and cover it once it has cooled down. Once temporary measures have been placed, it is highly recommended to seek medical treatment by a professional and make sure that there are no additional problems that need to be treated.