Burn injuries are unlike any other type of injury. Burns can cause lifelong physical, mental and emotional scars and a variety of medical complications that can result in costly, expensive medical treatment and rehabilitation.
As a Kansas City burn injury attorney, I have met with victims of burn injuries in Kansas and Missouri. I have seen their scars, learned about their lives and heard their stories. These survivors and their families are in search for answers and justice. Our law firm has tried to help guide them through the legal issues on a road to recovery and a better life.
If you or a loved one are suffering due to a burn injury, here are four things you should know:
Holding the Liable Party in a Burn Injury Accountable in Missouri and Kansas
Many times, more than one defendant is at fault for the fire, electrical shock, or overheated piece of equipment that causes a burn. For example, an apartment fire may be the result of flammable substances that were improperly stored, defective smoke detectors, and a lack of sprinklers. In such a case, the landlord, its contractor responsible for the storage of flammable substances, and the smoke detector company may all be responsible and share in the legal liability for causing for a tenant’s burn injuries.
Burn injury victims are allowed by law to recover a variety of compensation.
Under Kansas and Missouri law, burn injury victims, like all personal injury victims, are entitled to recover compensation for the injuries they sustained as a result of the negligence, recklessness or intentional misconduct of others. Such compensation may include amounts for:
- past and future medical bills;
- past and future pain and suffering;
- lost wages and loss of earnings capacity;
- permanent disability or disfigurement; and
- and loss of consortium or companionship with a spouse or loved one.
In certain circumstances, punitive damages may be available to punish the at-fault party for reckless or intentional misconduct. Due to the long-lasting physical, emotional and mental suffering from burn injuries, you should speak with an experienced burn injury attorney regarding what damages may be available for your case.
Legal claims involving burn injuries can be complex.
To recover compensation for a burn injury, you must prove who caused your injuries and that their conduct in causing the burn was negligent, reckless or intentional. This is an easy legal standard to state, but it is not always easy to prove, especially when the stakes are high and the defendants or their insurance companies will stop at nothing to avoid paying a claim.
Burn injury cases that arise from fires, chemical spills, and unsafe products almost always result in very complex legal issues. There are often disputed assertions over the cause of the incident, who is to blame, the amount of future medical treatment required, and whether the victim contributed to the accident.
Our Kansas City Burn Injury Attorney is Here to Help
Based on the above, it should be obvious that there is a lot at stake after an accident that causes you or a loved one to sustain severe burn injuries. For these reasons, a burn injury victim or his or her surviving family should consult with an experienced burn injury attorney before signing authorization forms, talking with insurance companies or agreeing to a settlement.
Our Kansas City burn injury law firm has helped other burn injury victims in Kansas and Missouri, and we are ready to help you and your family make the right decision about your claim.
If you or a loved one was injured in a burn accident, call our office today at (816) 203-0143 or fill out the contact form below to schedule a free consultation. We would be honored to help.