Topeka Burn Injury Lawyer

If you suffer from burn injuries, you could face many years of recovery, including physical therapy, psychological therapy, multiple surgeries, and many doctor’s appointments. This constant medical care costs a lot of money, and the insurance might not cover everything. In some cases, the burns cause the death of a loved one, in which case you might have a wrongful death claim against the responsible party.

Why Choose a Topeka Burn Injury Lawyer

Burn injury cases are complex. In certain cases, more than one person or entity might be responsible for your injuries and losses. If your burn injuries cause long-term or permanent disabilities and you require ongoing medical care, a burn injury lawyer in Topeka, KS, can help you recover the compensation you deserve, whether from one, two, or more defendants.

We work with a team of investigators to examine your case and with medical experts who can help us estimate the cost of long-term or life-long care. We can also help you find the right specialists you need to treat your burn injuries.

Types of Burns

Burns are classified by “degrees,” with third-degree burns being the worse. The three types of burn injuries include the following:

• First-degree burns are burns that affect the top layer of skin. First-degree burns generally heal within a few days. In most cases, they don’t require medical intervention. However, if the burn covers a large part of the body, you should always seek medical assistance.
• Second-degree burns affect the second layer of skin. If they are not treated quickly, they could become third-degree burns. Second-degree burns are often painful and create blisters, leaking fluid, and a loss of skin.
• Third-degree burns affect the third and last layer of skin. Sometimes, third-degree burns can destroy the tissue under the skin. Third-degree burns are often painless, and the skin may have black, brown, or white patches.

Burn Injury Statistics

According to the American Burn Association, over 486,000 people receive medical treatment for burns every year. Over 3,275 people die from smoke inhalation. Of those, over 2,700 people die from residential fires and 310 from fires started by vehicle crashes. Another 220 people die of burns from other sources.

Over 40,000 people were hospitalized for burn treatment. Of those, more than 60 percent were treated at 128 burn centers.

Types of Burn Injuries

Burn injuries can happen to anyone. You could burn yourself with a lighter or on the stove at home. House fires are also a common source of burn injuries. Burns are not always from heat (thermal burns). Some burns are also from chemicals you have in your home.

Causes of burn injuries include:

• Carelessness handling chemicals
• Spilled chemicals
• Workers handling chemicals without the appropriate personal protective equipment
• Vehicle accidents
• Explosions caused by fuel and other flammable liquids
• Electrical accidents
• Flash fires caused by electrical accidents
• Scalding water
• Defective products
• Building fires
• Battery fires, including batteries in your devices and electric vehicle batteries
• Fires started to burn brush and leaves
• Warehouse fires.

A Topeka burn injury attorney at Palmer Law Group could help you recover the compensation you deserve if your burns were caused by an accident where someone else was at fault. Accidents could happen in your own home, at work, or even when you are out shopping or enjoying the day.

Recovering Damages for a Burn Injury

You could recover economic damages and non-economic damages for burn injuries.

Economic Damages

Almost everyone who suffers burn injuries because of the negligence of another person or entity is entitled to economic damages, which have a monetary value. Economic damages include:

• Medical expenses, including doctor’s appointments, surgeries, follow-up appointments, prescriptions, prescribed over-the-counter medications, and ambulatory aids
• Home health care, nursing home care, and rehabilitative home care
• Physical therapy and psychological therapy
• Possibly occupational therapy and cognitive therapy, especially if they suffer additional injuries such as traumatic brain injuries or spinal cord injuries
• Accessibility needs, such as wheelchair lifts and hand controls for vehicles, wheelchair ramps, handrails, grab bars, and widened doorways for homes
• Lost wages
• Loss of future earning capacity
• Death-related expenses, including funeral and burial expenses, cremation expenses, certain probate court fees, and probate attorney’s fees and costs.

Non-Economic Damages

Those who have lost a loved one or suffered long-term or permanent burn injuries could recover non-economic damages, which do not have a monetary value. Non-economic damages include:

• Pain and suffering, including emotional distress
• Loss of quality of life
• Loss of companionship
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of the use of a body part, such as a hand or foot
• Loss of the use of a bodily function, such as your eyesight
• Inconvenience if you have to hire someone to do the chores you usually do, including but not limited to lawn maintenance, grocery shopping, home repair and maintenance, and house cleaning
• Excessive scarring and/or disfigurement
• The amputation of a digit or limb.

Contact a Topeka Burn Injury Lawyer

Burn injuries often take months or even years to heal. In some cases, you might recover physically from the burn injuries, but you might have to deal with anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder for years after you recover.

A burn injury attorney can help you recover the compensation you deserve, whether for long-lasting burn injuries, multiple surgeries, or therapy appointments and lost wages. Instead of trying to fight the insurance company yourself, allow a Topeka burn injury lawyer to handle that stress for you.

Attorney LJ Leatherman

LJ Leatherman passionately believes in fair and dedicated representation for individuals who have been affected by automobile negligence, electrical injuries, firearm litigation, wrongful death, and third-party claims against insurance companies and all other areas of personal injury litigation. [Read More]