A burn injury can be one of the most painful and damaging wounds you can suffer. Burns can happen at home, at work, or during a car crash. When someone else is to blame for these injuries, you need help understanding how to fight for compensation.
When you or a loved one has been burned and do not know where to turn, contact a College Park burn injury lawyer from John Foy & Associates. We are the Strong Arm across Georgia, and our professionals will investigate to find out who is responsible. You can heal from your injuries while we handle the hard work of securing the best settlement possible.
Burn Injuries Can Harm You for Life
Touching a hot pan while cooking can leave you with a sore finger for a few days. When you experience more severe burns from fire, hot liquids, chemicals, or heated objects, the damage goes down into the tissue. The wounds are extremely prone to infection and can take months or years to heal.
There are four classifications of burns, according to the University of Rochester Medical Center (USMC)r:
- First-degree: These superficial burns damage only the outer layer of skin. They are red and painful but with no blisters, for example a cooking burn.
- Second-degree: Affecting the skin and the next lower layer (dermis), this kind of burn is red and blistered. They can swell and be painful.
- Third-degree: The skin and dermis are destroyed, and the subcutaneous fat or muscle may be affected. The skin is white or may be blackened.
- Fourth-degree: These burns remove the skin and fat and can even include muscle and bone. Nerves are burned away, leaving the victim with no sensation, which often results in amputations.
The degree of burn is important in determining how much treatment is required but doctors also consider how much of the body is affected. Second-degree burns over more than 30% of a person’s skin can still be extremely serious. The skin is the body’s main defense against infection, so when more of it is burned away, the person is at greater risk of developing severe illness.
Treating burns often requires multiple surgeries and specialized sterile environments. The bills can pile up quickly. When you are this sick, dealing with insurance or pursuing those who are responsible can be overwhelming. A burn injury attorney in College Park can take the burden off your shoulders.
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Filing a Burn Injury Claim for Compensation
Burn injuries fall under the umbrella of personal injury claims. In Georgia, you can file against workers’ compensation insurance if your injury happened at work. You can file for compensation from your medical insurance, but if someone is to blame for your pain, their insurance should pay.
When a settlement cannot be reached, a John Foy burn injury lawyer in College Park will work with you to litigate your claim in court. Each case is unique, but the bills for treating burns can last a lifetime. If you suffer amputation, you can become disabled. If your face is scarred or disfigured, you may isolate yourself out of fear or shame. So many damages result from burn cases that these claims often have a higher insurance settlement or jury award.
When you need to pursue a personal injury claim, you should act quickly since the statute of limitations is only two years from the date of the injury. Gathering evidence and organizing your case can take a lot of time. If you wait too long to file, you can lose the chance to obtain reimbursement.
Damages in a Burn Injury Case
As with any injury case, you can seek compensation for all expenses related to your burns. Economic damages, which are the out-of-pocket costs you pay, can be very high with extensive surgeries. The non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, can also be more significant than other types of injuries.
Examples of both kinds of losses include:
- Doctor bills
- Hospital costs, such as ICU, burn units, and the ER
- Skin grafts and other surgeries
- Medications
- Specialized equipment to prevent infection
- Mobility devices
- Loss of income
- Loss of retirement earnings
- Emotional anguish
- Chronic pain and suffering
- Isolation and loss of society
- Scarring and disfigurement
A John Foy burn injury attorney in College Park can help you calculate your past, present, and future losses to present a full accounting of your claim. They will negotiate with insurance companies who try to deny or minimize your injuries. They will also litigate tirelessly in court, so you have the financial support you need for a lifetime of treatment.
How a College Park Burn Injury Attorney Can Help You
When you experience a severe burn injury, you and your family are thrown into a confusing world of medical jargon and critical decisions. There is little time to educate yourself, and you must trust in the expertise of your doctors. To heal and get the best outcome, you expect your caretakers to know their field and work hard for you.
It is no different when you file a claim to cover your expenses. You need an experienced and reputable attorney who will use their knowledge of the law to advise you on how to proceed. Your lawyer understands that burn injuries can take years to heal and that you must have compensation to cover all the bills you will face.
This requires collecting evidence to support your claim, such as:
- Witness statements and depositions
- Police reports
- Safety and maintenance records
- Driver cell phone records
- Photos and video of the accident scene
- Medical bills
- Expert testimony on your prognosis
- Photos of your injuries
Working with insurance companies to reach a fair settlement can be exhausting. They often push back to reduce what they pay, and it can be even more difficult when you pursue a jury trial against the person who hurt you. Your burn injury attorney from John Foy & Associates will not rest until you have what you need to recover fully.
Speak with a College Park Burn Injury Lawyer Today
Healing from a burn accident often means a long and challenging journey. You may need many surgeries and be out of work for months at a time. You should not add worry about your bills to what you are facing.
Take action now to make it easier to receive the compensation you deserve. Contact a College Park burn injury lawyer at John Foy & Associates for your free consultation. Use our convenient online form and start your claim today.
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form