A severe burn injury is a traumatic event that can leave emotional, physical and mental scars. Burn injury victims usually experience extraordinary pain and can require extensive medical treatment for blistering, swelling, infections, scarring, and even skin grafts. 

It can take a long time for burn injuries to heal and the effects of a burn can be both visible and permanent in nature, which forces burn injury victims to be continually reminded of their painful experience. In addition to the physical and mental pain and suffering, burn victims often incur massive medical bills and lost wages due to their injuries. As a result, burn injury victims experience financial stress and loss that can impact every aspect of their life. 

Our Kansas City Burn Injury Attorney

Our Kansas City personal injury attorney has represented burn injury victims and has experience in holding negligent parties that cause burn injuries accountable.  Our law firm represents injured people on a contingency fee basis, which means we do not get paid unless we recover compensation for you.

If you or a loved one have sustained a burn injury, it is critical that you speak with our experienced burn injury attorney from our law firm. We can review your claim and give you sound legal advice on how to pursue compensation for your injuries and receive justice you deserve.

Common Causes of Burn Injuries

There are many different types of burn injuries, and many different potential causes.  The American Burn Association estimates that there were approximately 486,000 burn injuries that required medical treatment in 2016.  Of these burn injuries:

  • 43% involve fire or flame injuries; 
  • 34% result from scald injuries;
  • 9% occur from contact with a hot object; 
  • 4% of burn injury cases result from electrical injuries; and 
  • Almost 25% of all burn injuries occur in children under the age of 15. 

Dangerous conditions can arise at work or at home, but many burn injuries are preventable and are caused due to another person's negligence. Even if a burn injury appears to be an accident, the responsibility may not be that of the burn injury victim alone.

Circumstances Where Burn Injuries Occur

Burn injuries often result from complex circumstances, and an investigation often may be required to determine all potential causes and at-fault parties. 

These circumstances include: 

  • explosions, including natural gas, propane, gasoline or other flammable liquids and vapors;
  • house fires; 
  • electricity or electric shock;
  • car, truck, or motorcyle accidents
  • chemicals, hot metals, plastics, glass, or oils; or
  • boating accidents. 

Our experienced burn injury attorney will undertake a full investigation of the facts and determine the proper legal recourse for your burn injury case.  Our Kansas City burn injury lawyer is ready to assist you.

 

Complications From Burn Injuries

Severe burn injuries can result in a myriad of medical complications, including: 

  • Infection.  Infection is one of the most common burn complications. When you sustain a serious burn injury, important areas of your skin may be severely damaged or dead due to the burn injury. Your skin plays an vital role in preventing infection by keeping germs out of your system.  When your skin is severely damaged by a burn, you are more susceptible to infections. One of the worst types of infection is sepsis.  Sepsis is a severe type of infection that can lead to organ failure and death. In addition, certain medical equipment and instruments used to treat burn injury victims, such as bladder catheters or breathing tubes, may be necessary.  These can often cause medical complications, such as urinary tract infections or respiratory infections, including pneumonia. 
  • Blood Complications.  Blood complications can result from burns. Burn victims with excessive blood vessel damage may develop hypovolemia, or low blood volume, which can lead to shock. In addition, blood clots may occur as burn injury victims recover in a bedridden state. 
  • Respiratory Problem.  Burn injury victims often inhale hot air or smoke when they experience the burn injury, and this can damage the lungs or in some cases result in respiratory failure.
  • Hypothermia.  When the skin is damaged it can no longer retain heat, and this can result in hypothermia. 
  • Physical limitations.  With many burns, permanent scarring may result. In cases where the burn injury involves the joints, the burn injury victim may experience joint mobility issues as their body attempts to heal. Consequently, in addition to permanent scars, there may be permanent limitations in a burn victim's range of motion in the affected area.
  • Psychological complications.  Burn injury survivors, particularly children, may experience psychological trauma, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In addition, depression and anxiety are also common. Many burn injury victims are also forced to address issues with self-esteem, self-image, and self-worth. As a result, burn injury patients often require psychological therapy.

What Is My Burn Injury Claim Worth? 

As with any personal injury claim, the value if your burn injury claim depends on several factors, including the severity of your injuries and the circumstances in which you were burned. Burn injury victims may recover compensation for various types of damages, including:

  • 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 conduct.  Due to the emotional and physical impacts of burn injuries, you should speak with an experienced burn injury attorney regarding your case.  Our law firm can provide you with a free, confidential consultation and can help you evaluate what damages you may potentially be able to recover.  Our aim is to help you maximize the amount you recover for you injuries, and the sooner we can assist you the better.

How to Recover Compensation for My Burn Injury

To recover compensation for a burn injury, you must prove who caused your injuries and that the burn was caused by conduct that was negligent, reckless or intentional. Depending on the particular circumstances of the burn accident, such parties may include an individual, your employer, a corporate or business entity, a government or municipal agency, a landlord, or the manufacturer of a product. 

Often, more than one defendant is to blame for causing the fire, chemical leak, or dangerous equipment that causes a burn injury. For this reason, it is important that any investigation into a burn incident must be comprehensive in scope. 

Our Burn Injury Lawyer Is Ready to Help

Burn injury cases can be complex, which is why burn injury victims should talk to an experienced burn injury attorney before speaking with an insurance adjuster, signing any forms, or discussing settlement.   Our Kansas City burn injury lawyer stands ready to assist you, so please call us today at (816) 203-0143 or use the contact form below to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.

Kevin J. McManus
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Kevin McManus is an accident injury and disability lawyer in Kansas City, MO, and Overland Park, KS