Los Angeles County Burn Injury Lawyer

Burn injuries are terribly agonizing and burn injury survivors often suffer some of the most disfiguring injuries imaginable. In addition to the physical pain and suffering, those injured in a burn accident can also suffer intense emotional and psychological trauma when faced with such disability and disfigurement.

Burn injuries often require a very lengthy period of intense convalescence. The melted skin, severe nerve damage and damaged tissue can traumatize a person for the rest of their life. Catastrophic burn injury survivors will incur costly medical bills that may not be covered fully by insurance and that will likely continue for many years.

Degrees of Burn Injuries

• Burns can cause blistering, redness, swelling, shock, and even death.

• They are categorized into 3 types by severity:
  • FIRST-DEGREE BURNS

A first-degree burn is a superficial burn that affects the first layer of your skin. First-degree burns are one of the mildest forms of skin injuries and they don’t generally require medical treatment. However, some superficial burns can be quite painful and may require a visit to the doctor.

• • SECOND-DEGREE BURNS

Second-degree burns are more serious because the damage extends beyond the top layer of skin. This type burn causes the skin to blister and become extremely red and sore. Some second-degree burns take longer than three weeks to heal, but most heal within two to three weeks without scarring, but often with pigment changes to the skin.

• • THIRD DEGREE BURNS

Third-degree burns are the most severe. They cause the most damage, extending through every layer of skin. There is a misconception that third-degree burns are the most painful. However, with this type of burn the damage is so extensive that there may not be any pain because of nerve damage.

Common Types of a Burn Injury

• Thermal burns — caused by flames and other hot objects
• Scalds — caused by boiling water or other hot liquids
• Chemical burns — caused by chemicals and volatile combinations of chemicals
• Burns from explosions — caused by auto accidents, industrial or construction site accidents or accidents in the home

Your Rights as a Burn Victim

A personal injury attorney can help you through this overwhelming time, but you need to contact a lawyer as soon as possible. At the law offices of Brent Duque, our Los Angeles County burn injury attorneys come armed with the expertise you need to protect your rights against insurance companies that may seek to settle quickly, limiting the compensation you receive.

If your burns were caused by the negligence of another, you have a legal right to recover damages. Serious burns cause immediate trauma and damages that can be truly life-altering. We understand that each case is unique and every burn victim will face a different set of struggles. We work with a variety of experts, including medical specialists, to help us assess the extent of your injuries and rehabilitation needs. We work closely with financial experts to help determine the extent of you economic losses. Our team of fire accident reconstruction engineers examine combustibility, temperature, burn rates, explosive coefficients, hazardous chemical reactions and other variables. We will bring the right resources to effectively represent your case.

In a fatal burn injury, the victim’s spouse, dependents and some other relatives may have a right to seek damages as well. Even if the person who caused the accident is charged with a criminal penalty, you have a right to sue in civil court and get compensated for your loss.