Fire and burn injuries are the fifth leading cause of accidental death in the United States. According to the American Burn Association (ABA), approximately 500,000 burn victims receive medical treatment annually. Of that, 4,000 will die from their fire or burn injuries.
The Burn Survivor Resource Center states that burns are one of the most expensive and catastrophic injuries to treat. They estimate that a burn injury of 30% of the total body area can cost as much as $200,000 in “initial” hospitalization costs and physician fees.
For more extensive burns, there are more significant costs involved, which will include repeat admissions for reconstruction surgery and rehabilitation. It is not uncommon for serious burn injury victims to spend up to a year, sometimes more, in the hospital.
The lawyers of Lutz, Bobo & Telfair, P.A. take burn injuries seriously. In our 25-plus year history, we’ve helped thousands of injury victims. If you or a loved one have been burned through someone else’s negligence, our Sarasota burn injury lawyers are waiting to help.
We believe that the costs associated with hiring a lawyer shouldn’t prevent any serious burn injury victim from obtaining sound legal counsel. Because of this, our law firm handles all burn injury claims on a contingency fee basis. This means there are no out of pocket expenses and you only owe attorney’s fees if we settle your claim or win a favorable verdict in court.
In order to file a lawsuit for a burn injury, the victim must show that they were injured by the defendant’s negligent actions. Specifically, the victim must prove:
Duty of Care – Hypothetically, the victim is attending a 4th of July party hosted at the defendant’s home. The defendant has a duty to ensure that their property is reasonably safe for guests.
Breach of Duty of Care – The defendant in this hypothetical scenario hosts a firework display at their party. Fireworks are dangerous and can cause serious and sometimes fatal injuries.
The Breach Caused Your Injuries – During the fireworks display, the defendant launches fireworks in the direction of the partygoers. The fireworks explode next to the victim and cause serious burn injuries to their face and neck. Those burn injuries cause significant damage in the form of scarring, disfigurement, medical bills and lost income.
If you or a loved one have been seriously burned through someone else’s negligent actions, you may have a claim. For a free case review, contact our Sarasota burn injury lawyers today.
If you can prove that your burn injury was due to another party’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. For most serious burn injuries, you may be entitled to:
If a family member has died from a burn injury, caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of your loved one. In addition to the damages above, wrongful death lawsuits may include additional damages, such as:
Burn injuries are grouped into different severities. The severity or “degree” of the burn is determined by how many layers of skin have been damaged. The deeper or more severe the burn, the higher the degree.
First-degree Burns – First-degree burns are red and very sensitive to touch, and the skin will appear blanched when light pressure is applied. First-degree burns involve minimal tissue damage and they involve the epidermis (skin surface). These burns affect the outer-layer of skin causing pain, redness and swelling. Sunburn is a good example of a first-degree burn.
Second-degree Burns – Second-degree burns affect both the outer-layer (epidermis) and the under lying layer of skin (dermis) causing redness, pain, swelling and blisters. These burns often affect sweat glands, and hair follicles. If a deep second-degree burn is not properly treated, swelling and decreased blood flow in the tissue can result in the burn becoming a third-degree burn.
Third-degree Burns – Third-degree burns affect the epidermis, dermis and hypodermis, causing charring of skin or a translucent white color, with coagulated vessels visible just below the skin surface. These burn areas may be numb, but the person may complain of pain. This pain is usually because of second-degree burns. Healing from third-degree burns is very slow due the skin tissue and structures being destroyed. Third-degree burns usually result in extensive scarring.
Inhalation Injuries – Fire has been associated with 3 different types of inhalation injuries. More than a hundred known toxic substances are present in fire smoke. When inhalation injuries are combined with external burns the chance of death can increase significantly. The three types of inhalation injuries are: Damage from heat inhalation, damage from toxin inhalation, and damage from smoke inhalation.
Numerous scenarios can result in serious burn injuries. Often, burn injuries are caused by another party’s negligent actions, such as:
There’s a reason that our reputation precedes us: our 25-plus year history in Sarasota has garnered us some of the top reviews in the area, from both peers and clients alike. If you are in need of an experienced law firm, with personalized service and a desire to win your case, we’re here for you. Read on to learn more about the key reasons why the law offices of Lutz, Bobo & Telfair, P.A. are considered one of the premier civil trial law firms in Southwest Florida.
We are a Martindale-Hubbell AV rated law firm, the highest possible rating for legal ability and ethical standards. With over 300 years of combined legal experience at our firm’s disposal, we have a vastly experienced knowledge of the legal system.
We believe that when you hire an attorney, you should be able to communicate directly with that attorney. At Lutz, Bobo & Telfair, P.A., you’re never treated like a number. We work hard to understand the specifics of your situation and to craft a compelling legal strategy to fight for the best outcome for you.
Our law firm has recovered millions and millions of dollars in jury verdicts and settlements for our clients. While we don’t guarantee results, we do promise to work tirelessly towards the best possible outcome for you.
Experience and skill are meaningless without the passion to succeed. Our law firm takes pride in knowing that we’ve done our job by serving our client’s interests well. Our greatest satisfaction comes when our clients take the time to acknowledge their satisfaction with our legal representation, by providing our law firm with a testimonial.
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