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Fighting For The Compensation You Deserve After A Burn Injury

Burns are some of the most painful injuries you can get. A burn is an injury that impacts your skin and tissue beneath. A first-degree burn, like an average sunburn, impacts only the outer layer of skin and often goes away on its own. A second-degree burn goes through the second layer of skin and causes blisters, swelling and intense pain. A third-degree burn is severe and damages all three layers of skin, resulting in charring, damage to muscles and bone, and loss of skin entirely. Third-degree burns require hospitalization and immediate medical attention.

With over a century of combined experience assisting clients throughout New York state, our burn injury attorneys at Rutberg Breslow Personal Injury Law have a strong reputation for their compassionate guidance and aggressive advocacy. We understand the impacts a severe burn can have on your life. You can trust us to fight for the compensation you need to begin healing.

With offices in Poughkeepsie, Utica, Monticello, Middletown and Albany, we help burn injury victims throughout New York.

Types And Causes Of Burn Injuries

There are various types of burn injuries, including thermal, chemical, electrical and radiation burns. Thermal burns occur from hot water, steam, cooking grease, hot surfaces or flames. They can happen during motor vehicle accidents, building fires, fireworks misuse and hot beverages or food.

If your skin comes into contact with chemicals such as bleach, fertilizers, ammonia, battery acid or concrete mix, you may receive a chemical burn. Motor vehicle collisions and workplace accidents are the most common accidents that may cause chemical burns.

Electrical burns occur when the skin comes into contact with electricity. The electrical currents travel through the body and exit somewhere else, damaging internal organs on the way. Electrical burns are common in construction accidents or product defect injuries. Radiation burns result from prolonged or high exposure to radiation, such as in medical treatments or UV rays.

Regardless of the type of burn you receive, it is vital that you seek medical attention immediately, even if you don’t notice any symptoms right away.

Effects And Long-Term Consequences

Burns can cause a variety of long-term health impacts, including cardiovascular disease, nervous system disorders, musculoskeletal disorders, infections, scarring, loss of limbs, anxiety and depression. These symptoms can significantly impact your quality of life and career. You may be unable to return to work and require long-term rehabilitation and care.

Identifying Liability In Burn Injury Cases

Burn injuries can have many causes and can result from different accidents. Like other personal injury cases, you must establish that someone else’s recklessness or negligence caused the accident and your injury.

In identifying liability in your burn case, we will first look at your case itself. For example, if your burn was caused by a car accident, we will identify the cause of the accident before proceeding. When the answer is unclear, we will work with fire investigators to determine the cause of the accident.

The Legal Process For Burn Injury Claims

Whether your burns were caused by a fire or an automobile accident, the legal process will look similar to other personal injury cases. However, we use fire investigators and fire incident reports as essential evidence in your case.

We will meet with you and discuss your case, the accident and the impact on your life. We will then start our investigative process and gather relevant information, such as your medical records and other evidence about the accident. We will help you establish negligence and liability before filing your claim. We will then move forward with settling your case through negotiations or litigation. In New York, you have three years from the date of your injury to file a burn injury claim. It is vital that you get contact us to get started on your case as soon as possible.

Types Of Damages Recoverable In Burn Injury Cases

After a burn injury, you may obtain different types of damages in New York, including economic and noneconomic damages. Economic damages include monetary losses you can track, such as medical bills, lost wages and rehabilitative costs. We will also calculate damages for future medical expenses, disfigurement and disability. Noneconomic damages include pain and suffering and emotional distress.

Burn Injuries And Insurance Companies

Insurance companies may try to take advantage of you after your accident by trying to settle your claim quickly and cheaply. Before accepting any settlement offers from an insurer, you should consult with a burn injury attorney to discuss your options. When you work with us at Rutberg Breslow Personal Injury Law, we will take over negotiations with insurance companies to help you avoid common pitfalls and traps that may leave you with less than you deserve.

Litigating Burn Injury Cases In Court

When your case requires litigation, you can trust our experienced attorneys to guide you through the court process and present a strong case on your behalf. In a burn injury case, we will present evidence and expert witnesses who will explain your burn injuries and how the accident caused them. Fire investigators and medical experts play an important role in these trials.

Settlement Vs. Trial: Making Informed Decisions

After suffering a burn injury, you may feel tempted to accept a settlement offer from an insurance company. We understand that you want to move forward with your life and start the healing process. However, accepting an offer too early can cheat you out of the compensation you deserve.

Insurers notoriously offer low settlements to try to settle the claim quickly. Their calculations often do not include the long-term rehabilitative costs associated with a burn injury. When you work with us, we take the time to consider every contingency in our damages calculations. However, accepting a settlement offer immediately will allow you to obtain your funds faster than filing a claim.