Burn injuries are one of the most devastating and painful injuries you can experience. They can leave long-lasting physical and emotional scars. You deserve justice if you have suffered a burn injury because of someone else’s wrongdoing. The attorneys of Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC have experience handling cases involving burn injuries, including personal injury, workers’ compensation, and disability cases.
The Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC team prides itself on providing our clients with the best service possible to pursue the settlement or verdict they need. Using our experience and knowledge of burn injury cases, we can fight for your interests and help you seek compensation for your losses.
For a free case evaluation, contact us today online or by calling us at (513) 351-5997.
Common Causes of Burn Injuries
Some common causes of these injuries are:
- Car crashes: Collisions can result in fire or explosions, leading to severe burn injuries and permanent scarring.
- Workplace accidents: Workplace incidents can result in explosions, fires, electrocution, and chemical spills. Employers are responsible for keeping your working environment safe. If they fail to do so, they may be liable for your injuries.
- Defective products: When products malfunction, it can lead to devastating injuries, including severe burns. For example, if a product explodes or leaks chemicals, you could be left with serious burns.
- Chemical accidents: Many people think of worksites and labs when they think of chemical burns, but household products such as cleaning, bleach, and chlorine can also cause burn injuries.
- Electrical accidents: Electrical burns can occur when you come into contact with an electrical source such as a live wire or faulty appliance. These types of burns can be severe and require extensive medical treatment.
Personal Injury Cases for Burn Injuries
If someone else’s wrongdoing caused your injury, you can pursue compensation through a personal injury claim or lawsuit. For example, if your burn injuries result from a collision someone else caused, you can seek compensation from the at-fault party.
Typically, you start by filing a personal injury claim with the negligent party’s insurance company to request compensation. However, if you cannot reach a fair settlement with the insurance company or your claim exceeds the insurance limits, you may choose to file a personal injury lawsuit.
Through a personal injury case, you can seek the following compensation:
- Medical expenses: This includes all current costs and future expenses for ongoing medical treatment for your burns.
- Lost wages: If the burn injury prevents you from working, you may be able to recover lost wages from the at-fault party.
- Reduced earning capacity: If your burn injuries have reduced the money you can earn, you might recover the difference in earnings from the at-fault party. For example, if you can no longer perform the work you did before the injury, you might take a job where you make ten percent less. The negligent party may be responsible for that ten percent decrease in your earning capacity.
- Pain and suffering: Burn injuries can be physically and emotionally excruciating. As a result, you may seek compensation for your pain and suffering.
- Scarring and disfigurement: Burn injuries may cause permanent scarring and disfigurement, significantly impacting your quality of life. Therefore, you may be entitled to this type of compensation if your injuries have caused scarring.
- Mental anguish: Burn injuries are traumatic and may lead to mental anguish. If this is the case, you can request compensation for your mental anguish.
If someone else’s wrongdoing caused your injury, you can pursue the compensation you deserve through a personal injury case.
Workers’ Compensation for Burn Injuries
In most cases, if you suffered your burn injury at work, you will be covered by workers’ compensation. This means you are entitled to compensation for your medical treatment, wage replacement, and other benefits to help you recover from your injury. The money you potentially receive for your workers’ compensation claim depends on your injury classification. There are three classifications under workers’ compensation, including:
- Temporary total disability: If your burn injury prevents you from working, but you can return to work, you may fit within this classification. This program aims to cover your injury-related medical expenses, replace some of your lost income, and create a plan to return to work.
- Permanent partial disability: If you can work, but your burn injuries prevent you from performing the same tasks you did before the injury, you may fall within this classification. Your pre-injury wages, post-injury wages, and impairment determine your permanent partial disability benefits.
- Permanent total disability: If your burn injuries are too severe, you might be unable to return to work. You may be entitled to permanent total disability compensation.
- Death benefits: If your loved one died due to a burn injury, you might be entitled to benefits.
Disability Cases for Burn Injuries
Burn injuries can have long-lasting and permanent effects that prevent you from returning to work. If you sustained a burn injury that wasn’t your fault and can’t work, you may be entitled to disability benefits. Disability benefits are usually provided through federally funded programs, including:
- Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI): This program benefits individuals who worked and paid Social Security taxes but cannot work anymore because of a disability. To be eligible for SSDI, your injury must prevent you from working for at least 12 months.
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI): This program benefits individuals who are low-income and unable to work because of a disability. You may be eligible for SSI benefits if you meet the SSI income threshold.
In addition to SSDI and SSI, you may be eligible for long-term disability compensation if you have long-term disability insurance. With long-term disability (LTD) insurance, the benefits you receive are usually based on a percentage of your pre-injury income. You should look at your LTD insurance policy to determine eligibility for these benefits.
How a Cincinnati Burn Injury Lawyer Can Help
When you are injured, you should hire an experienced attorney who can make your burn injury case less stressful. A burn injury lawyer can help by doing the following:
- Investigating and gathering evidence
- Determining the value of your case
- Negotiating with insurance companies and other parties on your behalf
- Providing guidance and support
- Representing you in court
When you have a burn injury attorney on your side, it can make a substantial difference in the outcome of your case.
Contact the Cincinnati Burn Injury Lawyers of Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC
The Cincinnati burn injury lawyers of Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC are here to help make your burn injury case as stress-free as possible. Our team is dedicated to pursuing the compensation our clients deserve. We are ready to go head-to-head with the insurance companies on your behalf. Let us fight for you while you focus on recovering.
To discuss your legal options, contact us today at (513) 351-5997 or fill out our online form, and someone from our team will contact you.
