fire extinguisher in a Lawrenceville building

If you suffered severe burn injuries in Lawrenceville, you are probably wondering how you will ever recover or pay for your injuries. It’s time to stop wondering and reach out to a compassionate and experienced Lawrenceville burn injury lawyer at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC.

Types of Burn Injury Lawsuits

Sometimes burn injuries arise out of the negligence of another person or entity.

Our Lawrenceville burn injury lawyers assist clients in seeking compensation for burn injuries from:

  • Defective products
  • Locked fire exits
  • Workplace injuries
  • Electrical accidents

These are only some examples of burn and fire injury claims. Wherever a hot or flammable object exists, there is a risk of severe burns. If you suspect that someone’s careless actions or inactions caused your burn injuries, don’t delay in contacting an experienced Lawrenceville personal injury lawyer.

Causes of Lawrenceville Burn Injuries

Most people equate burn injuries with some type of fire or perhaps a hot stove. Many different situations can cause a severe burn.

  • Flame burns are the most common type of burn since fire causes them. Direct contact with a flame can cause direct injury to the skin and underlying tissues.
  • Scald burns result from contact with hot liquids; the thicker the liquid and the longer it touches the skin, the worse the scald burn will be.
  • Contact burns can happen when the skin comes in contact with a hot object. It typically only impacts the area the hot object came in contact with or immediately around it. For example, burns from cigarettes, curling irons, or cooking appliances.
  • Sunburns are very common and involve damage to the skin caused by a tanning bed or the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays.
  • Electrical burns are from currents of electricity and are frequently very deep. These burns might cause severe damage to the skin and the underlying tissue.
  • Chemical burns take place from contact with flammable gases or liquids. Inhaling hot gases could damage the upper airways and make it hard to breathe.

Grading Burn Severity

As the largest organ in the human body, the skin plays many vital roles. It regulates body temperature, acts as a barrier against infection and other dangers, and prevents evaporation of body fluids. The damage caused by burned skin can be minor, or it can even cause a life-threatening emergency. The severity of a burn can depend on how big the area is, the tissues involved, and the length of the skin’s exposure time to the cause of the burn.

First-Degree Burns

These burns involve only the outer layer of skin and cause redness, tenderness, pain, and swelling. They usually heal on their own within a week or so and can create mild changes in skin tone. Medical care is typically not required for first-degree burns. More often than not, first-degree burns result from direct contact with a hot object.

Second-Degree Burns

The second layer of skin is involved in a second-degree burn. Burns of this nature are very painful and appear pink, moist, and soft. Blisters are to be expected for most of these types of burns, and fluid might ooze from the skin. Depending on how bad the damage is, they can take between two and six weeks to heal. Second-degree burns are often the result of a scald and can cause scarring.

Third-Degree Burns

A burn that involves all three layers or the full thickness of the skin is labeled a third-degree burn. Other tissues, such as fat, nerves, muscles, and burns, can be affected. The skin will exhibit a filmy white appearance and is generally not painful because of damage to the nerve endings. Healing is prolonged due to the depth and area of tissues destroyed and will leave significant scarring.

As a result of deep scarring left from the injury, permanent tightening of tissue that prevents normal movement, known as contractures, can occur. For some burn victims, doctors can cut or “release” to relieve contracture’s underlying pressure. Third-degree burns can result from contact with fires, electricity, or corrosive chemicals.

Inhalation Burns

People who suffer an inhalation burn will need to immediately seek medical attention as severe airway swelling can occur. Even people who do not have pre-existing breathing problems like asthma can experience severe breathing difficulties from an inhalation burn.

Potential Burn Injury Complications

Burns are typically excruciatingly painful injuries, and they can also lead to severe complications. Complications can increase the amount of time it takes burns to heal and incur additional medical expenses. Sometimes they can even increase the risk of death in burn patients.

Potential complications of third-degree or widespread burns include:

  • Bacterial infection, which could lead to a bloodstream infection known as sepsis
  • Fluid loss, including decreased blood volume, called hypovolemia
  • Dangerously low body temperature or hypothermia
  • Breathing difficulties related to the intake of hot air, smoke, or chemicals
  • Scars or ridged areas triggered by an overgrowth of scar tissue referred to as keloids
  • Contractures

Landlord Liability for Apartment and Rental Home Fires

Landlords have to follow specific city, state, and federal government laws protect tenants from fire hazards and burn injuries.

Generally, a landlord’s duties concerning fire safety include:

  • Ensuring the property’s electrical wiring is in acceptable condition, up to code, and installed safely
  • Installing and maintaining smoke alarms on the property in appropriate locations
  • Providing a safe, strong fire escape
  • Keeping the fire escape clear of any objects
  • Using fireproof doors
  • Providing regularly serviced fire extinguishers on the property
  • Keeping all escape routes clear in communal areas of a building, for example, hallways and laundry rooms

When landlords fail to meet these safety standards and regulations, they are not only breaking the law, but they are also putting human lives and their well-being at risk. Your Lawrenceville burn injury attorney can help you hold them liable for the injuries caused by their negligence.

Burn Injuries While on the Job

Some workplace settings make employees susceptible to fire and burn injuries. Fires and explosions alone cause 5,000 workplace burn injuries annually, according to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Sustaining a burn injury at work can lead to complications for both your physical and financial recovery. When you file a workers’ compensation claim, you give up your right to sue your employer for your injuries. While your workers’ compensation benefits include payment for your medical bills and a portion of your lost wages, it doesn’t compensate you for non-economic damages like pain and suffering. However, by working with a Lawrenceville burn injury lawyer, you can find out if there might be a third-party responsible for your injuries, such as another company contracted by your employer or a machinery manufacturer.

Burn Injuries Caused by Motor Vehicle Accidents

Motor vehicle accidents can cause severe burns to those involved in the accident. Sometimes accidents lead to fires and explosions, putting accident victims in even greater danger than before. Not only will victims sustain impact injuries as a result of the crash, but also have burn injuries.

In the 1970s, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) implemented standards that limit the volume of allowable fuel spillage from motor vehicles’ fuel systems during and after having frontal, rear, or side impacts. If a fire is the result of a car accident, it is critical to investigate what caused the fire and why the fuel-containment systems failed. It takes a seasoned Lawrenceville burn injury attorney to determine the facts of the case, who is liable, and to hold them accountable for your injuries and damages.

In some situations, more than one party could be held liable. For example, the driver who caused the accident and the manufacturer of the vehicle that started the fire or the manufacturer of the fuel tank or other parts could both be liable. Making sure that your injury claim names every at-fault party is imperative to maximizing your compensation.

What Is Your Claim Worth?

Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services serve the citizens of Lawrenceville. It is the largest fire service district in Georgia, protecting nearly 960,000 people within the county’s 437 square miles. If this agency recently helped you or someone you love with a fire or burn emergency, you are probably extremely thankful for their services.

Emergency burn treatments, however, can cost thousands of dollars to treat—as much as $120,000 to treat an infection, $107,000 for skin breakdown, and $35,000 for scars.

While no one can precisely predict the future, an experienced Lawrenceville burn injury attorney can pursue the compensation you deserve.

These important factors can affect the amount of compensation you receive:

  • Who is liable for your injuries
  • If multiple parties are liable
  • The types of injuries you suffered and how long they will affect you for
  • If you required surgery
  • How long you stayed in the hospital
  • If you experienced any complications
  • The total amount of your medical and rehabilitation expenses
  • Your general damages such as pain and suffering, loss of consortium, scarring, and disfigurement
  • The types and amounts of insurance coverage involved

Georgia Statute of Limitations for Burn Injury Victims

The statute of limitations is the legal term for how long an injured person has to file a legal claim for their injuries. Each state enacts different statutes, ensuring relevant burn injury cases based on recent evidence.

Under Georgia law, the statute is precisely two years from the date the victim sustained their injury. If you wait to contact a Lawrenceville burn injury attorney, you could miss this crucial deadline. You could still file a claim; however, the defendant would request that the court does not hear the case based on the expired statute of limitations, and the court would grant their request.

When you hire a Lawrenceville burn injury attorney from our firm, we get to work right away. It’s very unwise to rush the legal process of a burn injury lawsuit. We take our time and do everything correctly so that we can maximize your compensation. It is up to you to contact us as soon as possible.

You Need No Money to Hire Our Lawrenceville Burn Injury Attorneys

Too many injured individuals do not get the legal help they need because they believe they have to pay an attorney upfront. This misconception couldn’t be further from the truth. If financial concerns keep you from contacting a Lawrenceville burn injury lawyer, you don’t need to worry anymore. At Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC, we offer free case consultations. When you meet with one of our skilled Lawrenceville burn injury lawyers, you are under no obligation to hire us.

However, if you decide that our representation would be beneficial to your burn injury claim, we only work on contingency fees. You don’t owe us any money when you hire us, and you will not owe us until we secure a fair settlement or court award on your behalf. Our legal fees will come out of the proceeds you receive when we win your case. If we don’t win your case, you don’t owe us anything. Don’t let your financial situation get in the way of you seeking the justice and compensation you deserve for your injuries.

Reach out to a Lawrenceville Burn Injury Lawyer Today

Determining the cause of a burn injury and who is liable can be a highly complex process. You need help from a lawyer who has the skill, experience, and resources to handle these types of cases.

If you or a loved one sustained a severe burn injury, reach out to our Lawrenceville burn injury lawyers today for your free consultation. Remember that the statute of limitations restrictions the amount of time a burn injury victim has to file a claim, so it is in your best interest to contact us as soon as you can.

To schedule your no-cost, no-obligation burn injury consultation, contact us today at 404-418-8244.

Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC
892 legacy park Dr.
Lawrenceville, GA 30043
404-418-8244