Fighting for Justice Following Serious Burn Injuries in Georgia

According to national statistics, more than 450,000 people suffer serious burn injuries. While some of these injuries will heal quickly, many others will result in long-term or permanent damage to the victims’ skin, muscles, nerves, and bones. Serious burn injuries typically require extensive medical care and long-term recovery and rehabilitation. If a victim has suffered a burn injury in an accident caused by another party, they should consult with an Atlanta, Georgia burn injury lawyer to find out what legal recourse they may have against the negligent party.

There are a number of different types of accidents that can cause serious burn injuries, including vehicle accidents, work injuries, or fire incidents in the home or at a business. Victims can file personal injury lawsuits to recover damages from the injuries. An Atlanta, GA burn injury lawyer can evaluate a victim’s case to determine what type of financial compensation can be pursued.

For example, many burn injury victims need surgeries, skin grafts, and long-term physical therapy. The recovery is often long, and this means the victim is unable to work, resulting in lost wages and benefits. Our burn injury lawyer in Atlanta, GA can also pursue damages for non-economic losses and include those in the personal injury lawsuit. Some of these types of damages can include pain and suffering, emotional anguish, scarring, disfigurement, and more.

If the injury occurred because of an incident at the victim’s workplace, then the Atlanta, GA burn injury lawyer can pursue a workers’ compensation claim for the victim. There are many causes of job-related burn injuries, including exposure to hazardous substances like ammonia or chlorine. These chemical burns can happen if the employer fails to provide the right protective gear for workers. A victim can also suffer severe electric burns.

An Atlanta, GA burn injury lawyer knows that sometimes a work-related injury could be the result of negligence due to a third party and can pursue a third-party claim that often results in greater financial compensation than what is recovered in workers’ compensation cases.

Classifying Burn Injuries

There are three types of burn injuries: first-degree, second-degree, and third-degree — although the severity of the injury under each category does vary dramatically. Any compensation payment for a burn injury will obviously depend upon the severity of the injury and its impact on the victims psychological wellbeing. In some cases, a burn injury can immobilize a victim, either temporarily, or permanently, and also have a massive impact upon their standard of living. To break down each category:

First-degree burns. This type of injury includes damage to the first layer of the skin which may appear red and blotchy but does not generally create a blister. There may be considerable pain when the injury occurs; but after relatively simple medical treatment, the pain should subside fairly quickly.
Second-degree burns. These burns are more severe than first-degree burns and may have a greater impact on the victim’s well-being. A second-degree burn damages the deeper layers of the epidermis and the dermis, likely causing significant redness and blistering. Unfortunately, there may also be issues with fluid loss if more than 10% of the body is affected. Some victims have been known to go into shock, which results in their own medical challenges.
Third-degree burns. This is the most severe type of burn injury, in which all three layers of the skin are affected. These injuries may also cause issues with the layer of fat and tissue under the skin, leading to severe scarring and potentially requiring skin grafts. This type of injury will take a long time to heal and in most cases, there will be permanent scarring and other issues to consider when claiming compensation.

If you have suffered a burn injury of any degree, the first thing you need to do is seek medical attention. This will ensure prompt treatment and establish important documentation should you pursue a burn injury compensation claim.

When purchasing a pressure cooker, it is important to understand how it works and carefully read and follow instructions. Pressure cookers, by virtue of their name, cook food under extreme pressure and heat. When the product does not operate correctly, accidents can happen. Always seek medical attention as soon as possible after any burn accident. If you feel the product malfunctioned and caused the lid to release undue pressure and splatter hot food on you causing burn injuries, you should contact a burn injury lawyer in Atlanta, GA from Andrew R. Lynch, P.C. They can meet with you and discuss the details of your accident and determine the next steps to take.

Burns from Fire

According to statistics from the National Burn Repository (NBR), every two hours and 40 minutes in this country, a private citizen dies from a fire-related incident. More than 3,000 people die each year in fire-related incidents and many of these incidents could have been prevented. Another 500,000 require medical treatment for the injuries they have suffered. Victims who are fortunate enough to survive the fire face life-long medical issues because of the serious burns or respiratory damage they have suffered. The majority of these accidents occur in homes and vehicle accidents. If you or a loved one has suffered a burn injury, an Atlanta, GA burn injury lawyer can help you recover the financial compensation you may be entitled to for the losses you have suffered.

How Severe Burns Occur

There are a number of ways a victim can suffer a bad burn injury. There can be contact with flames, scalding injuries, electrical contact, or chemical contact. Fire contact is the cause of almost half of the reported burn injuries that happen in the United State each year. Scalding is the second common and can occur because of a hot shower or bath or even a hot beverage. While electrical and chemical burns only account for about 10 percent of all burn injuries that happen in the U.S. every year, the majority of these incidents happen on the job.

Lawsuits Stemming from Product-Related Burns and Injuries

Our Atlanta, GA burn injury law firm represents individuals who have been burned or otherwise injured in accidents. To bring a successful legal action, we work to prove that someone, a business, or other legal entity owed our clients a “duty of care” and in failing that duty, caused their injuries. When someone suffers a burn as a result of contact with a dangerous or defective product, we need to establish that the product was defective or dangerous, that the product caused the client’s injuries, and that the manufacturer, seller, or other responsible party failed their duty of care to the client who was injured. This “legal speak” is unquestionably complex and every case is different. These are just two of the reasons why it is important to speak with the team at our Atlanta, GA burn injury law firm as soon as you can in the wake of your injury. Once we evaluate the specifics of your unique situation, we can tell you whether we believe you have solid grounds for filing legal action. Once you understand your options, you can then decide whether or not to pursue a lawsuit against those responsible for the harm you have suffered.

Legal Assistance Is Available

If you’ve suffered burns and/or other injuries as a result of coming into contact with a defective or otherwise dangerous product, know that the burn injury law firm Atlanta, GA residents recommend of Andrew R. Lynch, P.C. – Attorney at Law can help you to explore your options. Contact us today so that we can learn more about your unique situation and help you to make an informed legal decision based on your personalized circumstances. We look forward to speaking with you.

Determining The Size Of Your Burn Injury Settlement

Depending on the nature and severity of your burn injury, you could receive hundreds of thousands of dollars or more. After a thorough review of your case, our burn injury lawyer in Atlanta, GA can determine its value. It is wholly dependent on the damages you have suffered as a result of the other party’s negligence. Without the insight of an experienced burn injury lawyer in Atlanta, GA you may not be aware of the full extent of your compensable damages. Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible to receive money for the following:

The cost of your medical treatment, until now and into the future: If you should need cosmetic or remediation surgery in the future, those costs can be included in the settlement.
Your pain and suffering: Burn injuries can be so painful that the victim is unable to function or perform daily activities. Because of someone else’s negligence, they have lost their joy for life, and their quality of life is severely diminished. A skilled burn injury lawyer in Atlanta, GA can determine a compensable sum for what a victim is forced to go through as a result of their injury.
The earnings you have been unable to earn, and will continue to lose until such time as you can return full-time to your job: If you lose your job while recovering from your injury, or if your injury precludes you from ever returning, those lost wages up until your expected date of retirement can be included in the settlement.
Modifications to your home: In some cases, the burns that a person suffers cause great difficulty for them to walk and they may need to use a wheelchair as a result. To accommodate wheelchair access into and throughout the home, it may be necessary to install a wheelchair ramp. An interior stairlift may also be needed as well as having the kitchen and bathroom counters lowered, and many other changes made inside the home to accommodate the change in mobility.
Modifications to your vehicle: If the burn injury precludes the use of your legs in order to safely operate a motor vehicle, you may have the option of modifying your existing vehicle to work by using steering wheel controls. Alternatively, you may need to purchase a wheelchair-accessible van.

Atlanta Burn Injury Infographic

Atlanta Burn Injury Statistics

According to the American Burn Association, there are almost 500,000 people who receive medical treatment for burn injuries in the U.S. each year. Tragically, more than 3,000 victims die each year from fire/smoke inhalation. This total includes 2,745 deaths from residential fires, 310 from vehicle crash fires, and 220 from other sources. One civilian fire death occurs every 2 hours and 41 minutes. The odds of a U.S. resident dying from exposure to fire, flames, or smoke are 1 in 1442.

Atlanta Burn Injury Glossary

When searching for help after a serious accident, it’s important to understand the terms we use when handling these types of claims. As an Atlanta, GA burn injury lawyer, we often explain certain legal concepts that affect how your case progresses. Below are definitions for five terms commonly encountered in cases involving burn injuries. We’ve selected terms that are highly specific to burn injury law to help you better understand what might apply to your case.

Product Defect Claim

A product defect claim refers to a legal action taken when a person is injured by a manufactured product that failed to work as intended. In the context of burn injuries, this could involve appliances such as pressure cookers or household electronics that overheat or explode. When filing this type of claim, we must show that the product was defective either in its design, manufacturing, or labeling. For instance, if a pressure cooker lacks a working pressure release valve and causes burns when opened, that would form the basis of a product defect claim. These cases often involve analysis and can sometimes expand into broader actions, such as class-action lawsuits, if multiple people are affected by the same product failure.

Third-Party Worksite Injury Claim

This type of claim arises when someone is injured on the job but not necessarily due to the actions of their employer. Instead, another company or individual may have caused the injury. For burn injuries, this might include a contractor using faulty electrical equipment or a delivery company leaving flammable materials improperly stored. Workers’ compensation typically covers injuries from direct work duties, but a third-party claim allows additional compensation outside the standard work-related benefits. These cases are often pursued in parallel with workers’ compensation and require clear evidence of the third party’s involvement.

Chemical Burn Injury Case

A chemical burn injury case involves harm caused by exposure to caustic or corrosive substances. Common chemicals involved include acids, alkalis, solvents, and other industrial compounds. These cases frequently occur in workplace settings where the proper safety gear was not provided or maintained. To build a strong case, we gather incident reports, medical documentation, and employer safety protocol records. Chemical burns can result in deep tissue damage and long-term complications, making them serious cases that often require extensive medical testimony to establish their full impact.

Scald Injury From Defective Appliance

Scald injuries occur when hot liquids or steam cause skin damage. These cases often involve household appliances, such as pressure cookers, coffee makers, or water heaters. If the product design does not include safeguards against pressure buildup or lacks proper warnings, legal action may follow. When building these cases, we review safety testing records, warranty documentation, and prior incidents involving the same model. Scald injuries can be particularly dangerous for children and older adults, and recovery can involve multiple skin grafts and physical therapy sessions.

Long-Term Burn Impact Assessment

This refers to the comprehensive evaluation of how a serious burn injury will affect a person’s life in the future. It includes considerations like permanent scarring, pain management, mobility limitations, and psychological effects such as anxiety or depression. These assessments are typically conducted by medical professionals, rehabilitation specialists, and mental health providers. We use these evaluations to help calculate the appropriate settlement value and advocate for sufficient compensation. A long-term burn impact assessment is often critical in cases involving third-degree burns or burns that prevent a person from returning to their prior job or lifestyle.

At Andrew R. Lynch, P.C., we take these matters seriously. Our goal is to provide clear legal guidance and strong representation for those suffering from serious burn injuries. If you or someone close to you has been injured due to a defective product, workplace incident, or other serious event, we invite you to reach out. Let’s discuss your legal options and determine the right next steps for your case.

Contact Our Atlanta Burn Injury Lawyer Today

Because they are full of nuances, navigating burn injury laws requires a strong understanding of them. Andrew R. Lynch, P.C. is deeply familiar with the nuances of these laws and has championed the cause of many burn victims over the years. Their expertise ensures that your rights are upheld and that you stand the best chance of securing the compensation you rightfully deserve. If you or a loved one has suffered a burn injury due to someone else’s negligence or intentional act, the time to act is now. Reach out to a legal professional who understands Georgia’s specific laws surrounding burn injuries. Remember, the path to justice begins with a single step, and we’re here to walk with you every step of the way. Contact a skilled Atlanta, GA burn injury lawyer if you need more information about how you can get help with your case.

Client Review

“Andrew and the staff helped throughout the process closing my case in everyday. Answered all my questions and solved all of my issues with professionalism. Will definitely retain again the future if needed.”
Sean B

Burn Injury Lawyer Atlanta, GA