Did you recently suffer a preventable burn injury in Athens, Alabama? If so, you might feel overwhelmed and uncertain about what to do next. Burn injuries can be life-altering, causing not only physical pain but also emotional and financial strain. It’s important to know that if your serious injury was someone else’s fault, you have the right to seek monetary compensation from them.
At Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., our skilled Athens burn injury lawyers are ready to pursue the money you need to cover your medical bills and lost income and to make up for the pain and suffering caused by the injuries themselves.
Contact us today for a free case review with an Athens burn injury lawyer. We are ready to discuss your potential personal injury claim and explain how we can help you pursue compensation for burn injuries caused by someone else’s negligence.
How Our Attorneys Help Burn Victims in Athens, AL
If you’ve suffered a burn injury in Athens, Alabama, Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., can make a positive difference in your case. We’ll start by gathering evidence, such as witness statements, medical records, and incident reports. Our comprehensive and independent investigation will allow us to determine how your burn injury happened and who is responsible.
Next, we will assess the full impact of the injury on your life, including medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering, to put a dollar value on your claim. We can then negotiate with the at-fault party’s insurer for a fair settlement. We know the tactics insurers use and how to counter them effectively.
If the other side won’t agree to a fair settlement, we can file a lawsuit on your behalf. We’ll represent you in court, fighting for your rights and interests every step of the way. Throughout the process, we will offer dependable legal advice. We’ll explain your options, demystify the legal process, and guide you on the best courses of action. That way, you can demand what you are owed with confidence.
Common Causes of Burn Injuries
Burns are a leading cause of unintentional injury and death in the United States, particularly among children. They are commonly caused by:
- Hot liquids like coffee or boiling water
- Open flames, including fires and explosions
- Cooking accidents, such as those from hot oil and steam
- Electrical sources like live wires or faulty appliances
- Chemical exposure to caustic substances like cleaning products or industrial solvents
- Sun exposure leading to UV damage
- Hot objects, such as irons or heating appliances
These hazards may be present in many types of incidents, such as car accidents, construction accidents, other workplace accidents, truck accidents, accidents involving defective products, premises liability accidents, and many other situations.
What Are the Different Types and Degrees of Burn Injuries?
Burn injuries are not all the same. Each of the following types of burn injury has its own causes and effects on the body:
- Thermal burns – These burns happen when skin comes into contact with something hot, like fire, steam, hot liquids, or hot surfaces. They can also involve extreme cold, such as with frostbite.
- Chemical burns – These burns occur when harmful chemicals, such as acids, alkalis, or other corrosive substances, contact the skin or eyes.
- Electrical burns – These occur when electrical currents pass through the body, potentially causing internal damage as well as skin burns.
- Radiation burns – Exposure to radiation, such as from the sun or medical radiation therapy, can cause burns on the skin and sometimes affect deeper layers of tissue.
- Friction burns – These burns result from the skin rubbing or scraping against a rough surface. One common example is road rash from contact with the pavement in traffic accidents.
Healthcare providers also classify burn injuries by their severity or degree as follows:
- First-degree burns – These are the mildest types of burns. They affect only the top layer of the skin, causing redness, pain, and minor swelling. Sunburn is a typical example.
- Second-degree burns – More severe than first-degree burns, these affect both the outer and the underlying second layer of skin. They cause redness, swelling, and blistering and are often highly painful.
- Third-degree burns – These are the most severe burns, penetrating all layers of the skin. These serious injuries can destroy nerves, causing numbness. Affected areas can appear white, charred, or leathery.
How Can I Prove Negligence in a Burn Injury Case?
Our Athens burn injury attorneys can demonstrate another party’s negligence in your burn injury claim by identifying and presenting useful evidence, such as:
- Medical records
- Photographs and videos of the accident
- Your personal testimony
- Statements from eyewitnesses and expert witnesses
- Incident reports
- Surveillance footage
- Safety inspection records
- Maintenance logs
- Burned clothing or personal items
- Chemical analysis reports
- Product manuals
- Recall notices of defective products
What Types of Compensation Are Available for Burn Injuries?
In your burn injury claim, you can seek compensation for the personal and financial harm you have suffered as a result of the burn, such as:
- Past and future medical costs
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Income losses
- Losses in future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Lost quality of life
What Are Common Challenges in Burn Injury Insurance Claims?
Burn injuries can lead to long-term health problems, lost wages, and emotional trauma. It’s hard to put a price on some of these factors, and insurance companies will often take advantage of this dynamic as a way of reducing the amount they pay out. These tactics can make getting fair compensation difficult.
Our lawyers can help you overcome these challenges. We know how to gather and present evidence effectively and how to calculate all the costs of your injury, including the less obvious ones like emotional suffering. Our experienced attorneys can also negotiate with insurance companies to seek the total compensation you deserve while you focus on healing. We will be fully prepared to take your case to court if the insurance company won’t accept liability or agree to a fair settlement.
What Role Do Medical Experts Play in Burn Injury Cases?
Medical experts play an essential role in many personal injury claims involving burns. Lawyers often work with these experts to show the court and insurance companies just how much an injury impacts their client’s life.
These critical witnesses provide testimony in court, explaining medical details in a way that’s easy to understand. That helps the court see why burn injury victims deserve the compensation they seek. Expert knowledge and experience add a lot of weight to a lawyer’s arguments, increasing the likelihood of a favorable outcome.
Get Help from Our Athens Burn Injury Attorneys Now
If you or someone you love has suffered a preventable burn injury in Athens, Alabama, legal help is just a phone call away. Contact Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., today for a free consultation with an Athens personal injury attorney. We’ll listen to your story, evaluate your case, explain your legal options, and answer your questions at no charge.
