The compensation to which burn injury victims are entitled can vary significantly as each case is different and has its own set of circumstances. Financial compensation can range from a few thousand to millions of dollars, depending on a plethora of potential factors. Of course, we’ve all seen media coverage of cases involving high settlement amounts.
Here are a few of the most publicized injury settlement cases:
- One of the most famous burn injury cases resulted in a verdict of a $640,000 award against McDonald’s after a woman suffered third-degree burns from scalding hot coffee.
- An attorney representing a woman who suffered third-degree burns near her waist due to a flammable skirt settled with the manufacturer for nearly $4 million.
- A hospital patient suffered burns when his bed caught fire due to a design defect in the bed. The manufacturer of the bed settled the case for $1 million.
- A disabled plaintiff suffered second-degree burns as he attempted to enter his hotel bathtub as the water was scalding hot. The plaintiff and the hotel agreed to a settlement for $275,000.
The amount you may receive in a settlement depends on the damages that you can claim. Your attorney will account for economic and non-economic damages as he or she negotiates on your behalf.
Economic claims may include physical and property damages, including:
- Past, current, and future costs for medical treatment and rehabilitation.
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Physical damages incurred in the accident that resulted in your injuries
Non-economic claims may include mental and emotional damages, including:
- Past, current, and future pain and suffering
- Disfigurement
- Emotional trauma
- Psychological, mental, and emotional effects of dealing with life-altering changes related to the accident
