Burn injuries can be some of the most devastating types of personal injury cases and affect over one million Americans annually. Severe burns can cause muscle, tendon, and ligament damage, and possibly disfigurement. These injuries may require years of treatment, including skin grafting, rehabilitation, medication, as well as emotional, vocational, and social challenges.
If you or a loved one were catastrophically injured as a result of another person’s negligence, a knowledgeable personal injury attorney could help. With the help of a George County Burn Injury Lawyer you may be eligible to recover compensation for damages such as pain and suffering, medical expenses, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Burn injuries can result from a wide variety of settings and situations, from car accidents to home fires to defective products, causes of these injuries are diverse. Other causes of burn injuries include workplace fires, gas explosions, faulty smoke alarms, and more. Because these injuries can occur in several ways, the resulting injuries are also varied. Common burn types include:
When evaluating damages in each case, it is essential to understand the cause of the injury in addition to the severity of the damages. A burn injury resulting from a vehicle accident should be handled differently than one caused by fire or defective products. An experienced George County Burn Injury Attorney can examine your case and guide you in the unique circumstances of your case.
Burns are identified by degrees of severity, from first to third-degree burns.
First degree burns are those that affect the top layer of skin and usually heal within 3-5 days. Sunburn is an example of a first-degree burn.
Second-degree burns can be superficial or deep, affecting the first two layers of skin. These burns generally heal within ten to twenty-one days, with deep second-degree wounds requiring excision and skin grafting. These burns may result from contact with chemicals, scalding water, or flash burns.
Third-degree burns affect the deepest layer of skin and can cause permanent destruction to the underlying tissue. These burns are often the result of contact with hot surfaces and liquids, flames, chemicals, or electricity and usually require skin grafting and can take months to heal.
Sever burn injuries are extremely painful and require expensive medical treatments and rehabilitation. Working with an experienced personal injury attorney is the best way to ensure you are fully compensated for medical costs and possible long-term treatment.
Mississippi personal injury laws allow burn victims to recover damages when their burns are the result of the negligence of someone else. To file a personal injury lawsuit in George County, the plaintiff must show that the defendant was negligent and failed to act as a reasonable person would in a similar situation. Negligence requires proof that the defendant owed a duty of care to the plaintiff, breached that duty causing the plaintiff injury, and the plaintiff has damages as a result of the injury. If negligence is found, typical compensation may include:
Additionally, under Mississippi’s comparative negligence statute, a victim’s compensation is reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to him or her. The court will reduce the costs awarded in proportion to the amount of negligence associated with the plaintiff.
Burn injury cases present many challenging issues, and a burn survivor’s course of treatment is usually prolonged and complicated. As experienced George County Burn Injury Attorneys, we understand the damages that severe burns can cause and will work to get you compensated. To schedule a consultation, please contact our office to get started on your case.