Visalia Burn Injury Lawyer

A burn injury can change life drastically, leaving you or a loved one with painful burns and scars, lots of medical costs, and the fear of not knowing what to do next. At West Coast Trial Lawyers, our Visalia burn injury lawyers are here to fight for you, attaining the justice and compensation you need to heal and move on. 

Rooted in the Central Valley, we’ve won millions in recoveries for burn victims, easing the burden of medical bills and emotional pain for our clients. As a result of our hard work and dedication, we have recovered over $1.7 billion of financial compensation for our clients and we will continue to do our duty to ensure they are made financially whole and are on the right path of recovery. 

Call us today at (213) 927-3700 or fill out our easy online contact form for a free consultation and let our Visalia team help start your recovery.

Why Choose a Visalia Burn Injury Lawyer From WCTL?

We know the challenges you’re facing—grueling treatments, financial strain, and the weight of trauma. That’s why our Visalia-based team takes the time to listen, understand your unique story, and fight relentlessly for the justice you deserve.

Harvard-Educated Leadership

Led by President Neama Rahmani, one of Harvard Law School’s youngest graduates and a former federal prosecutor, West Coast Trial Lawyers bring the highest level of legal expertise to your burn injury case in Visalia. Our team combines elite training with a passion for justice for burn victims.

24/7 – We Come to You in Visalia

We know the physical and emotional pain of a burn injury. That’s why our Visalia-based team is available 24/7 and will meet you at your home, hospital or any location in the Central Valley. We’re here when you need us most.

High-Profile Clients Trust Us

From everyday people to high-profile clients, West Coast Trial Lawyers has earned a reputation for results with integrity. Our success in complex burn injury cases makes us the go-to choice for Visalia residents.

Multilingual Support for Our Visalia Community

Our diverse, multilingual team speaks your language so you can have clear and compassionate communication throughout your case. We’re proud to serve Visalia’s diverse community with personalized care.

No Fees Unless We Win

At West Coast Trial Lawyers, we believe burn injury victims in Visalia deserve top-notch representation without financial risk. You pay nothing unless we win or settle your personal injury case – no upfront costs, no hidden fees, just results

How a Burn Injury Lawyer Can Help

Our attorneys start by investigating your personal injury accident, whether it’s a fire from faulty wiring in a Visalia apartment or a chemical burn from Tulare County’s agricultural sector. We review medical records, accident reports and witness statements to determine who’s at fault and make sure we don’t miss any evidence. 

Without this expertise you might overlook critical details that hurt your case. We also work with medical experts to evaluate your burns—whether minor first-degree or devastating fourth-degree injuries—to calculate costs like emergency care at Kaweah Health Medical Center or future reconstructive surgeries which can be over $100,000 for severe cases.

Insurance companies pressure unrepresented victims into taking low settlements that don’t cover long term expenses like therapy for PTSD or lost wages from permanent disability. Our experienced negotiators counter these tactics and fight for compensation that covers your medical bills, lost income and physical and emotional pain of your injury. 

If your case goes to court our trial ready Visalia Burn Injury lawyers present a strong argument and pursue economic, non-economic and punitive damages in cases of gross negligence like a company ignoring safety standards on a Visalia worksite.

The Risks

Going it alone is risky. You could miss California’s 2 year statute of limitations and invalidate your claim or undervalue your case by not considering future costs like ongoing care for third or fourth degree burns. Facing seasoned defense attorneys in court without legal training can result in reduced awards or case dismissal. With West Coast Trial Lawyers, our Visalia team handles every legal detail so you can focus on healing.

Common Types and Grades of Burn Injuries

Burns come in many forms and severities, affecting your recovery and legal options. At West Coast Trial Lawyers, our Visalia burn injury lawyers know the challenges burn victims face in the Central Valley. We’re here to help you navigate the medical and legal maze of your case. Below, we explain the types of burns (by cause) and grades of burns (by severity).

Types of Burn Injuries

• Thermal Burns: Heat (e.g., flames, hot liquids, steam) or extreme cold (e.g., frostbite) causes these burns to skin and tissue. Common in Visalia homes or workplaces, they range from minor to severe.
• Electrical Burns: Electric current causes these burns in construction or industrial settings, causing deep tissue damage and long-term problems.
• Chemical Burns: Acids or alkalis (e.g., cleaning products) contact the skin, requiring immediate flushing and medical attention.
• Friction Burns: Skin rubs against rough surfaces (e.g., pavement in car accidents), combining burns with abrasions.
• Radiation Burns: Rare, caused by prolonged radiation exposure (e.g., UV rays, medical treatments), skin cells are damaged.

Grades of Burn Injuries

• First-Degree Burns: Only affects the outer skin (epidermis), redness and mild pain, like a sunburn. Heals quickly, often without scarring.
• Second-Degree Burns: Affects epidermis and part of dermis, blisters, swelling, and significant pain. Heals in weeks, scarring.
• Third-Degree Burns: Destroys all skin layers, white or charred, no sensation. Requires surgery (e.g., skin grafts), scarring.
• Fourth-Degree Burns: Most severe, burns into muscle, tendons or bones, often requiring amputation or reconstruction. Life-threatening, requires immediate care.

Each type of burn has its own medical treatment and legal implications.

Causes of Burn Injuries in Visalia

Burns can turn your world upside down, leaving physical scars and financial burdens. In Visalia, these injuries often come from preventable incidents, each with its own unique legal challenges. At West Coast Trial Lawyers, our Visalia burn injury lawyers will get to the bottom of your injury and fight for what you’re owed. Here are the most common causes of burn injuries in the Central Valley:

Home Fires

Faulty wiring, unattended cooking or defective heaters cause many home fires in Visalia. These fires can cause serious burns and require deep investigations to hold negligent property owners or manufacturers accountable.

Workplace Accidents

Visalia’s agricultural, manufacturing and construction industries expose workers to hot surfaces, electrical hazards and chemicals. From factory mishaps to farm equipment fires, we navigate complex workers’ comp and third-party claims to get you the recovery you need.

Car and Truck Accidents

Crashes on Highway 99 or Visalia’s streets can ignite fuel tanks or electrical systems and cause burns. Whether it’s a car crash or a semi-truck explosion, we build strong cases against negligent drivers or companies.

Defective Products

Faulty appliances, electronics or chemicals can overheat, short-circuit or explode and cause serious burns. We prove product liability to hold manufacturers accountable for your injuries.

Compensation for Burn Injury Victims

Medical Costs

Covers immediate and future costs, such as the emergency room at Kaweah Health Medical Center ($5,000–$20,000), surgeries like skin grafts ($10,000–$100,000), and ongoing treatments like physical therapy ($100–$300/session). Severe 3rd and 4th degree burns require lifelong care, hundreds of thousands.

Lost Wages and Earning Capacity

Compensates for income lost during recovery and future earnings if burns prevent you from working. For example, a Visalia farmworker with 4th degree burns may lose their job permanently, years of income.

Pain and Suffering

Addresses the physical and emotional trauma of burns, anxiety, PTSD, or loss of enjoyment of life. These non-economic damages are huge, burns can have lasting psychological impacts.

Punitive Damages

In cases of gross negligence—like a company ignoring safety regulations in Visalia’s agricultural industry—punitive damages punish the responsible party and deter future behavior.

Factors that affect compensation

The amount you get depends on:

• Burn Severity: 1st degree burns may require minimal compensation, 3rd and 4th degree burns which damage deep tissue or bones require big awards due to extensive surgeries, scarring and disability.
• Documented Costs: Keeping track of medical bills, receipts and lost wages helps your claim. We work with experts to make sure every expense is accounted for.
• Impact on Life: Emotional and lifestyle effects, disfigurement or inability to enjoy hobbies increase non-economic damages.
• Liability: Proving negligence (e.g. a landlord’s faulty wiring caused the fire) or product defects is key to maximizing compensation

Immediate and Future Medical Expenses

Burns from fires in your home, at work or in a car in Visalia require extensive treatment that can last months or even years. Below we outline the immediate and future medical expenses you may face, why you need legal representation to recover.

Immediate Medical Expenses

Burns need immediate and specialized care which can get expensive fast:

• Emergency Medical Treatment: Hospital visits, ambulance fees and initial treatment in Visalia’s Kaweah Health Medical Center or other facilities can cost thousands even for minor burns.
• Wound Care and Medications: Cleaning, debriding and dressing burns, plus painkillers and antibiotics add up quickly especially for second or third degree burns.
• Surgery: Severe burns, third and fourth degree burns often require immediate procedures like skin grafts or escharotomy, which can cost $10,000 to over $100,000 per surgery.
• Hospital Stay: ICU stay for severe burns can cost $5,000 to $10,000 per day, weeks or months of hospitalization is common for catastrophic injuries.

Future Medical Attention and Expenses

The road to recovery from a burn injury is long and the expenses can haunt you for years:

• Reconstructive Surgery: Multiple skin grafts, scar revisions or plastic surgery to restore function and appearance can cost tens of thousands.
• Physical and Occupational Therapy: Regaining mobility or relearning daily tasks after a burn injury requires ongoing therapy, $100 to $300 per session, often for years.
• Mental Health Support: Burn injuries can cause emotional trauma, anxiety or PTSD. Counseling or psychiatric care, $100 to $200 per session is often necessary for recovery.
• Home Care and Modifications: Severe burns may require in-home nursing ($20 to $50 per hour) or home modifications like wheelchair ramps ($1,000 to $5,000) to accommodate disabilities.
• Prosthetics or Assistive Devices: Fourth degree burns that result in amputations require prosthetics which can cost $5,000 to $50,000 initially, plus maintenance and replacements.
• Lost Wages and Future Earnings: Time off work during recovery or permanent disability from severe burns can result in significant income loss, adding to financial stress.

Financial, Emotional, & Psychological Impact of Burn Injuries

In Visalia, where medical bills are already sky high, a burn injury can break the bank. For example, a severe burn covering 20% of the body can cost over $500,000 in the first year alone, and millions for 4th degree burns for life. These costs, plus the physical pain and emotional scars, make getting compensated crucial. Without a lawyer, you’ll be left to face these expenses on your own, especially if insurance companies offer low settlements or deny your claim.

The Emotional Toll

Burn injuries have a huge emotional and psychological impact on victims. Survivors feel sad, anxious and irritable. The emotional aftermath includes reliving the traumatic event and worrying about the future, especially about changes to their physical appearance due to scarring. Long term emotional distress requires professional help to manage these feelings.

A burn injury lawyer can provide emotional support and guidance throughout the recovery process. Other ways to help with emotional recovery:

• Join a support group
• Stay connected with loved ones
• Do Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a common treatment for psychological issues after burn injuries.

The psychological impact of a burn injury is just as big as the physical injuries and addressing these impacts is key to full recovery. Experienced personal injury attorneys get this and make sure the emotional and psychological aspects of your injury are considered in your claim.

Free Consultation with Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys

A burn injury brings pain and financial strain, but you don’t have to face it alone. At West Coast Trial Lawyers, our personal injury attorneys in Visalia guide personal injury victims through the legal process to secure fair compensation. With deep expertise in personal injury law, our law firm helps you pursue a personal injury claim for medical costs, lost wages, and trauma from severe burns, including third- and fourth-degree injuries.

Call (213) 927-3700 for a free consultation or fill out our easy online contact form to schedule your free consultation with a personal injury lawyer today.