Burn injuries are some of the most painful wounds a person can suffer. Some types of burns also have a high chance of causing permanent damage, including disfigurement, scarring, long-term medical complications, limited range of motion, and many more possibilities. When burn injuries occur, victims and their loved ones need to know their legal options for recovery. Speak with a knowledgeable Long Island burn injury lawyer as soon as possible following an injury.
The consequences can be devastating if you have suffered burn injuries because of the careless or negligent acts of another person, whether at home, on the job or on someone else’s property. You may face a long and painful recovery process, or have permanent scarring or disfigurement. You may require multiple surgeries and extensive rehabilitation or physical therapy simply to have a normal life. You want an experienced personal injury lawyer who has successfully helped other burn injury victims to protect your interests.
At Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP, our attorneys focus exclusively on personal injury, including burn injuries. Since 1983, we have helped thousands of people recover full and fair compensation for losses caused by the careless or negligent acts of others. We have a comprehensive understanding of personal injury law and procedures and will use our experience, skill, and knowledge to help you get the results you seek.
To schedule a free consultation today, contact our office or call us at (631) 451-7900.
Long Island Burn Injury Resources
- Why Choose Us to Handle Your Burn Injury Claim?
- How Much Is Your Burn Injury Case Worth?
- Statute of Limitations for Burn Injuries in New York
- Types of Burn Injuries
- Burn Injury Classification
- Common Causes of Burn Injuries
- Contact a Long Island Burn Injury Attorney Today
Why Hire Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP for Your Burn Injury Case?
A burn injury claim may appear simple at first, and another party may appear clearly responsible for your burn injury. However, countless possible factors can complicate a personal injury case, and burn injuries often involve significant damages. The average person does not have any legal experience or training and will likely not have the time, energy, or resources to build a strong case and handle self-representation while recovering from an injury. A few of the reasons to consider hiring Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP to handle your burn injury case include:
- Trial-tested experience. The attorneys at Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP have decades of experience handling personal injury claims for all types of injuries, including burns. Our Long Island injury attorneys are not afraid to take a case to trial, if necessary, for our clients.
- A solid reputation. Our lawyers understand the Suffolk County court system and have built a reputation for providing the most comprehensive legal representation in the area. We are proud to have built a network of clients through referrals from past clients.
- A wide range of resources. We work with accomplished private investigators, independent researchers, legal experts all over the country, safety experts, engineers, and expert witnesses to provide our clients with the best representation possible in every case.
- Constant education. Our attorneys continually hone their skills and stay up to date on the latest trial results and legal proceedings throughout the country to offer our clients a consistent edge over other attorneys in the area.
- Transparent billing. Our clients pay legal fees only when we win their cases, so there is no risk in hiring our firm if your case has merit, even if you believe you cannot afford an attorney.
Depending on the type of burn a person suffers and the severity of the injury, there may be several avenues of compensation available to the victim. Learn more by speaking with a Long Island burn injury lawyer.
Compensation for Long Island Burn Injury Victims
Plaintiffs who succeed with their burn injury claims may receive several types of compensation, including:
- Medical expenses for any and all hospital fees, surgical costs, and other expenses resulting from a defendant’s negligence.
- Lost income, if the injury caused the plaintiff to miss work or a permanent disability prevents the plaintiff from working in the future.
- Property damage, if the defendant’s actions also damaged or destroyed the plaintiff’s personal property.
- Pain and suffering compensation. Burns can cause scarring, disfigurement, and a host of long-term medical problems. A jury will award pain and suffering based on the extent of the plaintiff’s injuries, projected recovery time, and testimony from expert witnesses.
- Punitive damages, if the defendant’s behavior involved an intentional tort or gross negligence that indicated a clear disregard for the safety of others.
It is possible for a burn injury claim to lead to substantial compensation. However, New York follows a comparative negligence law, so if a plaintiff bears any liability for his or her damages, it is possible for the plaintiff to lose a portion of the settlement or case award. For example, a jury reviewing a burn injury case decides the plaintiff is 20% liable for the $100,000 in damages in the case. The plaintiff would lose 20% of the case award for a net total of $80,000, instead. For more information regarding damages specific to your case, consult a Long Island burn injury attorney.
Time Limits for Filing a Burn Injury Claim
New York allows burn injury victims to file lawsuits for their damages within three years of sustaining such an injury. This three-year statute of limitations applies to most personal injury claims, but a claim against a government entity or agency may have a much shorter statute of limitations. A burn injury claim against a local municipality may only allow six months to file a claim for civil damages, and some government entities have sovereign immunity from civil claims.
Types of Burn Injuries
Four main types of burns exist thermal, electrical, chemical, and radiation. Medical professionals diagnose burns based on the type of burn and its severity, using a degree scale. Some types of burns have the potential to cause permanent damage as well as other medical conditions. It is vital for burn injury victims to receive prompt medical treatment for any type of burn.
Thermal burns occur due to exposure to hot surfaces, hot liquids, and open flames. A few examples of common thermal burns include scalding injuries from hot showers or teakettles, grease burns, burns from curling irons, and burns from explosions. Thermal burns generally result in scarring and disfigurement. The skin affected by a thermal burn may char and distort, losing much of its elasticity. This can limit the range of motion and cause other medical issues if the burn affects a joint or sensitive area of the body.
Electrical burns can happen from exposure to high-voltage electrical currents and electrical discharge. A lightning strike may be extremely uncommon, but such an event would likely cause severe electrical burns. Electric utility workers and construction workers typically face a high level of risk of electrical burns from unfinished worksites and construction equipment. Electrical burns may cause scarring, nerve damage, and may interrupt normal heart function.
Chemical burns happen from exposure to toxic liquids or gases. Some chemicals may corrode the skin and cause extreme pain. If some types of chemicals accidentally spill, the person may suffer respiratory problems, toxic shock, or develop secondary conditions such as cancer. Radiation burns are also likely to cause cancer and typically result from exposure to dangerous radiation. The most common example of a radiation burn is sunburn.
Burn Injury Classification
Medical professionals who treat burn injury victims refer to a degree scale for most burn injuries:
- First-degree burns. These are the least severe and only affect the outermost layer of skin, typically causing redness and mild pain or irritation. If a first-degree burn covers more than 10% of the surface area of the skin or affects a sensitive area like the groin or face, the victim should seek immediate medical care.
- Second-degree burns. These burns penetrate more deeply into the layers of the skin and may cause blistering, redness, and pain.
- Third-degree burns. Such injuries are medical emergencies that require immediate care. A third-degree burn destroys the layers of the skin and may appear blackened, waxy, or charred. Third-degree burns may not be painful for long due to the destruction of the nerve endings in the affected areas, but they have a high chance of requiring surgical skin grafting treatment and long-term recovery.
- Fourth-degree and higher. A fourth-degree burn is any burn injury that completely exposes the underlying bones or tissue below the skin and soft tissue. Such an injury is an open wound that requires immediate emergency care and has a likelihood of becoming infected. Doctors generally do not refer to fifth-degree burns or higher because victims of those injuries rarely survive, and classifications generally only exist for forensic and research purposes.
Common Causes of Burn Injuries
Thermal burns happen every day from cooking mishaps, and construction workers and other utility workers face a high risk of electrical shock while on the job. Chemical burns may happen from household cleaning products or wet concrete and other substances on a worksite. Radiation burns may occur from many sources, including laboratory work and work that involves consistent sun exposure.
When burn injuries occur, victims should address their medical issues first and then start to think about whether any other parties bear liability for their damages. It is essential to not only prove the extent of damages resulting from negligence but also prove those damages resulted from another party’s negligence and not some other cause.
At Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP, our Long Island burn injury lawyers protect the rights of people who have suffered burns in an accident resulting from the negligence or carelessness of another person, including:
- Burns related to the negligent use of flammable fluids or gases, including gasoline, acetone, alcohol, lighter fluid, and other substances.
- Burns from dangerous or defective products, including motor vehicles, home appliances, curling irons, and other devices.
- Burns suffered from food or beverages that are prepared or served at unreasonably hot temperatures. We have recovered for burns caused by hot spaghetti as well as hot coffee.
- Burns suffered in any type of fire that resulted from negligence, including a home fire, an electrical fire, brush fire, burn barrel, campfire, or other conflagration.
We handle claims involving first-, second-, and third-degree burns, as well as cases involving scarring, disfigurement, infections, or loss or amputation of limb resulting from burn injuries. We also represent surviving family members in wrongful death actions related to burn injuries. We represent burn injury victims on a contingent-fee basis. If there is no recovery, there is no fee.
Free Consultation with a Long Island Burn Injury Attorney Today
Why Hire Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP for Your Burn Injury Case?
We provide an initial free consultation to anyone who has suffered a burn injury. Contact us online or call our Long Island burn injury lawyers at (631) 451-7900 to set up an appointment. We will meet with you at a location that is convenient for you, including your home or the hospital, if necessary.
