A severe burn can change your life in a matter of seconds. Beyond the intense physical pain, there are also serious emotional and financial repercussions to be aware of. At Fogg Law Group, our team understands how this kind of life-altering injury can impact you and those you love.
After a serious burn, pursuing compensation is not simply about receiving money. It is also about securing the resources you may need to rebuild your life and get the future medical care you’ll need.
A Palm Beach Gardens burn injury lawyer from our firm can investigate how you were injured, identify the responsible parties, and help you build a case that maximizes your recovery. Along the way, we’ll provide the compassionate counsel you deserve as you navigate this difficult time in your life.
What Should You Do First After a Severe Burn?
Your health comes first after a serious burn, but the steps you take early can also preserve important evidence for a future personal injury claim. Attorney Ryan Fogg has worked tirelessly to help secure millions of dollars for fellow Floridians living with catastrophic injuries, and he suggests the following after a severe burn:
Seek Emergency Medical Care
Severe burns require prompt medical care, not only because the damage is often severe but also due to the potential for it to lead to worsening health consequences in the future. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may initially receive treatment at a Palm Beach County emergency department before transfer to a specialized burn center, such as the UF Health Shands Burn Center in Gainesville.
Document the Scene and Preserve Physical Evidence
If your condition allows, take photographs or video of the location where the burn occurred and anything that may have caused it. While your health has to be your top priority, any ability to document the facts of your case will help your attorney build a claim for compensation in the future.
Be Careful When Speaking with Insurance Adjusters
An insurance adjuster may contact you soon after the injury and ask for a statement about what happened. You should avoid providing a recorded statement or accepting a settlement before you understand the extent of your injuries. It’s never a good idea to speak with the other party’s insurer without having an attorney in place.
Talk to a Burn Injury Lawyer
When it comes to recovering damages, the most important step you can take is finding an attorney. Our lawyers can answer your questions and handle every aspect of your claim.
What Do I Need to Know About Burn Injury Claims in Florida?
Every state has its own rules and procedures for pursuing compensation through a burn injury claim, and Florida is no exception. If you’re considering a personal injury claim of your own, understanding the following legal concepts will only benefit you.
The Statute of Limitations
In general, you have two years from the date of your burn injury to pursue a personal injury lawsuit in Florida. While there are some potential exceptions that could give you more time to file, it’s never safe to assume they apply to you. Thankfully, our Palm Beach Gardens burn injury attorneys can advise you on the deadline in your case.
The consequences of waiting too long are severe. If you file after the deadline expires, the court may have no choice but to dismiss your claim with prejudice. When that happens, your lawsuit ends, and you lose any chance to ever recover compensation for your burn injuries.
There are other reasons why delays only work against you. Surveillance footage can disappear, physical evidence can be destroyed, and witnesses can become impossible to track down. The sooner you start building your case, the better your shot at fair compensation.
Florida’s Modified Comparative Fault Rule
Many people don’t realize they might still have a case for compensation after a serious burn, even if they are partially to blame. This is because Florida uses a modified comparative negligence system for most negligence cases.
If you are 50% or less at fault, you can generally still recover damages, but the court will reduce your recovery according to your percentage of responsibility. For example, if you sustained $500,000 in damages but were 20% responsible, your recovery would generally be reduced by 20%.
If you are found more than 50% at fault, however, the law generally prevents you from recovering anything at all. This makes it critical that you have a clear picture of who is actually to blame for your accident before you file suit.
What Damages Can You Recover After a Burn Injury?
A severe burn can create financial and personal consequences that continue long after you leave the hospital. A personal injury claim can seek compensation for both your measurable financial damages and the physical and emotional effects that may remain for years or permanently.
Economic Damages
Economic damages cover the financial costs associated with your burn injury. Your claim should consider future expenses as well as the bills and income damages you have already experienced.
Depending on your injuries, economic damages may include:
- Emergency treatment and hospitalization
- Current and future skin graft procedures
- Physical and occupational therapy
- Specialized scar treatments
- Prescription medications and medical equipment
- Lost wages during your recovery
- Diminished future earning capacity
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages address the ways a burn injury affects your life beyond its direct financial cost. These damages become particularly important if burns leave permanent scars, chronic pain, or psychological trauma.
You may seek compensation for:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
How Is Burn Severity Categorized?
Doctors classify burns according to how deep the damage to the tissue goes. The severity of your burns can also affect your personal injury claim because deeper burns often require more extensive medical care. In general, these wounds fall into one of four categories, known as degrees:
- First-degree burns: These burns affect the outer layer of skin and commonly cause redness, tenderness, and pain. They typically heal without significant permanent damage.
- Second-degree burns: These injuries extend into deeper layers of the skin and can cause blistering, swelling, severe pain, and scarring. More serious cases may require specialized wound care or skin grafting.
- Third-degree burns: These burns destroy the full thickness of the skin and may damage underlying tissue. Treatment can involve hospitalization, skin grafts, reconstructive surgery, and extensive rehabilitation.
- Fourth-degree burns: The most severe burns extend beyond the skin into fat, muscle, tendons, or bone. They can cause permanent disability, nerve damage, amputation, and other life-changing complications.
For the most severe burn injuries, the ongoing medical care can be extensive. It’s vital for you to have an attorney who can take into account these future needs when pursuing your case for compensation.
What Are Common Causes of Burns in Palm Beach Gardens?
There are many ways a fire could break out and cause serious injuries in Palm Beach Gardens. Our attorneys can help you deal with injuries stemming from the following incidents:
Workplace Burn Injuries
Construction locations and busy commercial kitchens along corridors such as PGA Boulevard can create serious burn risks if employers, contractors, or other parties fail to follow appropriate safety practices.
Defective Consumer Products
Some consumer products can overheat, ignite, or explode if they contain dangerous defects. Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to hold a manufacturer or another party involved in the production accountable through an injury claim.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
High-speed collisions on I-95, Florida’s Turnpike, and other Palm Beach County roads can rupture fuel systems or cause vehicles to catch fire for other reasons.
Property Negligence
Unsafe property conditions can expose tenants and visitors to preventable burns. Excessively hot water, missing or defective smoke detectors, unsafe electrical systems, and unaddressed fire hazards can cause devastating injuries.
Talk to a Palm Beach Gardens Burn Injury Lawyer
Recovering from a severe burn can require months or years of medical treatment, rehabilitation, and emotional adjustment. You should be able to focus on your recovery while an experienced legal team investigates what happened, deals with the insurance companies, and works to protect your right to compensation.
Fogg Law Group is accessible to burn injury victims and families throughout Palm Beach Gardens and the surrounding area. Depending on your condition and circumstances, our firm’s attorneys can meet with you at the office or arrange a home or hospital visit if your injuries make travel difficult.
When you are ready to talk, the Palm Beach Gardens team is here to listen. Contact a Palm Beach Gardens burn injuries lawyer with our firm today to schedule your free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answered by Ryan Fogg, Palm Beach Gardens Burn Injury Lawyer
How Much Is My Burn Injury Case Worth?
Your case value depends on the severity of your burns, medical expenses, lost income, long-term care needs, scarring, and pain and suffering.
The Insurance Company Offered a Quick Settlement. Should I Take It?
Do not accept a settlement before you understand your long-term prognosis and damages. Once you settle, you generally cannot seek additional compensation later.
How Long Will It Take to Resolve My Burn Injury Case in Palm Beach County?
The timeline depends on your recovery, the complexity of the case, settlement negotiations, and whether a lawsuit becomes necessary.
Can I Still Recover Compensation If I Was Partially at Fault for the Accident That Caused My Burns?
Yes, if you are 50% or less at fault, you may generally recover compensation reduced by your percentage of responsibility.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Burn Injuries in Palm Beach Gardens?
Common causes include workplace accidents, vehicle fires, defective products, electrical hazards, scalding water, and unsafe property conditions.