Copyright © 2023 Crockett Law, P.C. | All rights reserved.
Burns are serious injuries that heal slowly and can cause excruciating pain. Severe burns could produce disfiguring scars, loss of function, and require multiple surgeries and other invasive medical treatment. When someone’s negligence was a factor in the accident that caused your burns, you should consider reaching out to an experienced catastrophic injury attorney to seek compensation. A Houston burn injury lawyer could help you bring a lawsuit in civil court and hold the parties who caused your pain accountable.
There are different situations that could cause burns that vary severity. Most result from accidents that damage the skin. Some categories of burns include:
Contact with fire, hot surfaces, steam, or hot liquids causes thermal burns. Direct exposure to electricity causes electrical burns. Chemical burns occur when toxic or caustic substances have contact with the skin. Sunburns are a form of radiation burn, which might also be caused by x-rays or direct radiation exposure.
Medical professionals evaluate burns based on how deeply they penetrate the skin and what parts of the body are affected. First-degree and second-degree burns affect only the outermost layers of skin, and they often heal with no more than first aid. Third-degree burns penetrate all layers of the skin and typically affect underlying tissue and nerves. Skin grafts are generally necessary to treat these types of burns. Burns that are more serious than those of the third-degree are the most severe. These can cause damage to the muscle, penetrate through the subcutaneous fat, and may even impact the bone or organs. These burns are often fatal. A lawyer in Houston could help someone take legal action after suffering any type of serious burn injury.
Severe burns that cover a significant percentage of the body are critical injuries with a wide-ranging impact. They trigger the body to mount an inflammatory response that could lead to the person going into shock. The response also causes tissues to swell, trapping fluid and potentially causing edema. Both shock and edema can lead to organ damage, especially of the heart, lungs, and kidneys.
The monetary compensation an injured party may receive should adequately reflect the suffering they may have endured. A compassionate Houston attorney could prepare a demand for damages that includes sums acknowledging the claimant’s physical pain, mental turmoil, diminished quality of life, potentially reduced life expectancy, and other impacts from suffering a severe burn injury.
When seeking monetary damages, the claimant must establish that the defendant did not exercise reasonable care to prevent the accident that caused the burns. If the injured party can prove the defendant’s careless or reckless behavior caused their losses, the defendant may be liable for their damages.
In some situations, multiple parties could be held responsible. A Houston attorney could investigate the circumstances to identify and present claims against all the parties whose negligence contributed to the claimant’s burn injury.
When an attorney can help a plaintiff claim against multiple defendants, the chances of achieving a settlement that provides adequate compensation may increase. In some situations, the defendant may accuse the claimant of being partially to blame for their injuries to avoid paying full compensation. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code §33.013, if a single defendant is more than 50 percent responsible for an accident, they may not recover compensation. However, if a claimant is less than 50 percent to blame, they may receive compensation reduced by their percentage of fault.
If you have suffered severe burns, you deserve the relief of knowing your financial needs will be met. Although money cannot compensate for all you have endured, it could help you provide for your needs and those of your family.
A knowledgeable Houston burn injury lawyer has the skills and persistence to get you the settlement you need. State law allows injured people only two years to file a lawsuit, so make an appointment for a case review with a compassionate legal professional today.
Copyright © 2023 Crockett Law, P.C. | All rights reserved.