Burns are a leading cause of serious injury in the United States, affecting nearly 400,000 people annually and leading to nearly 700,000 insurance claims. If you’ve suffered a burn injury in San Mateo and someone else is responsible, you could be entitled to file one of those insurance claims – or even a lawsuit if the insurer won’t pay you fairly for what you’ve suffered. However, to maximize your compensation, you’ll need help from an experienced burn injury lawyer.
For over 40 years, Carcione, Henderson & Markowitz, LLP has protected the rights of our fellow San Mateo residents. Let us do the same for you. Contact us today at (650) 367-6811 for a free, no-obligation consultation and to learn more about the small firm that gets big results. Your case review is fully confidential, and you pay nothing unless we successfully resolve your matter.
Why Choose Carcione, Henderson & Markowitz, LLP for Your Burn Injury Claim?
Severe burns are life-altering injuries, and you should not have to deal with their consequences alone. Turn to Carcione, Henderson & Markowitz, LLP for help because we have the following:
- Considerable Experience – Our firm has been standing up on behalf of injured San Mateo residents since 1981. That gives us more than four decades of knowledge and insight to apply to your case.
- Personal Service – We like to think of ourselves as a small firm that delivers big results. To that end, we limit the number of cases we handle so that we can give each client the attention they deserve. You can expect to get in touch with us at any time and speak with your attorney one-on-one.
- A Commitment to Results – We have recovered many multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements for our clients, including in landmark cases. We will do what it takes to pursue the full amount you’re owed, whether that’s at the negotiating table or in the courtroom.
Initial consultations are free, and we do not charge any upfront costs. You will only pay us if we win your case; that’s how confident we are. Contact us today to get started.
What to Do Immediately Following a Severe Burn
What you do in the immediate aftermath of a severe burn can affect your health, your legal rights, and your ability to recover compensation. Start by reporting the accident to the relevant authorities, whether that’s the police, a property owner, or a manager. Next, get medical care right away if you haven’t already, and tell the physician what happened.
Once your condition has stabilized, start gathering evidence, such as the following:
- The police accident or incident report
- Medical records and bills
- The contact info of anyone who saw what happened
- Photos of the scene and your injuries
- A written account of what happened
Be very careful if you’re contacted by the person who caused your burn injuries or insures that person, as they are likely trying to minimize your compensation. Do not give them a recorded statement or sign a settlement offer. Instead, contact a burn injury attorney and schedule a case review. Bring along your evidence so they can better understand what happened.
Common Causes of Severe Burns
Some of the most common causes of serious burn injuries in San Mateo include the following:
- Open flames
- Hot liquids and steam
- Hot surfaces
- Chemical exposure
- Electrical contact
- Explosions
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Radiation exposure
Degrees and Types of Burn Injuries
Burn injuries come in different types based on how they damage the skin and underlying tissue. Common types include:
- Thermal burns, which are caused by exposure to flames, hot liquids, steam, heated objects, explosions, and other sources of extreme heat
- Chemical burns, in which tissue is damaged by contact with acidic, alkaline, or otherwise caustic substances
- Electrical burns, which are caused by contact with an electrical current and often damage tissues beneath the point of contact
- Radiation burns, which result from exposure to radiation sources like medical devices, radioactive material, or simply the sun
- Friction burns, in which the skin is damaged as it scrapes against an abrasive surface
- Inhalation burns, which may be caused by breathing hot air, steam, smoke, or toxic fumes, potentially damaging the organs of the respiratory tract
- Cold burns, where extreme cold or prolonged contact with frozen materials damage tissue in a manner similar to heat
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, open flames and smoking are the leading causes of burn injury for older adults, while children are at greater risk for scalding injuries.
In addition to the mechanism of injury, burns can be categorized by the severity of the resulting damage. Johns Hopkins Medicine recognizes the following three degrees of burn:
- First-Degree Burns – These burns affect only the epidermis, the skin’s outer layer, causing redness, pain, and mild swelling without blisters. First-degree burns usually heal within several days and do not leave scarring.
- Second-Degree Burns – These burns damage both the epidermis and part of the dermis, the layer of skin beneath it. Second-degree burns cause painful blisters and swelling, often leaving the affected area with a wet or shiny appearance. Deeper second-degree burns may require medical intervention and take weeks, potentially resulting in scars.
- Third-Degree Burns – These burns destroy the skin down to its deepest level, the subcutis, and can even damage fat, muscles, and other tissue beneath it. The affected area may look white, brown, blackened, or leathery, and because third-degree burns can damage nerve endings, they may be painless even when quite severe. Treatment often requires surgery or skin grafting.
Patients may need special care if they suffer burns across more than 10 percent of their body, experience full-thickness burns in any area, or have existing conditions like diabetes or heart disease.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Your Burn Injury?
If someone else caused your burn injuries, you can hold that person financially liable for what you’ve suffered as a result. Many different people could potentially be liable for your burn injury, such as the following:
- A negligent driver who hit you and caused a vehicle fire
- A manufacturer that produced a defective appliance, battery, or other product that overheated or caught fire
- A utility company that incorrectly installed or maintained power or other lines
- A restaurant whose server spilled hot food or drink onto you
- An event organizer who put you too close to pyrotechnics or dangerous equipment
These are just a few hypothetical examples. The main issue is whether you suffered burn injuries that you would not have had if someone else had acted with reasonable care.
What Compensation Can You Seek in a Burn Injury Claim?
Burn injuries are expensive to treat and live with. According to a study published in the medical journal Journal of Burn Care & Research, the average direct costs for hospitalized burn patients in the U.S. are almost $22,000, with total costs rising to over $51,750. And those are just the averages, as the study observed maximum direct costs within the study group of almost $1.36 million and total costs of $2.17 million.
If someone else caused your burn injuries, they should have to compensate you for these costs. Burn injury compensation in California can cover such financial losses as the following:
- Emergency transportation and hospital care
- Surgeries and skin grafting procedures
- Prescription medications and medical supplies
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Travel expenses for medical treatment
- Lost wages and employment benefits
- Reduced future earning capacity
- Vocational rehabilitation and job retraining
- In-home nursing or attendant care
- Replacement household services
- Home and vehicle modifications
- Repair or replacement of damaged property
While not all of the consequences of a severe burn injury have an obvious price tag attached to them, they are just as life-altering. In addition to the above expenses, your burn injury claim can also include compensation for the following personal losses and effects on your life:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and psychological trauma
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress
- Embarrassment and humiliation
- Loss of mobility or physical function
- Sleep disturbances
- Loss of companionship and consortium
- Reduced quality of life
A San Mateo personal injury lawyer with Carcione, Henderson & Markowitz, LLP can review your case for free and give you a more specific answer about what compensation you could be entitled to.
How Long Do You Have to File a Burn Injury Claim in California?
California has a statute of limitations on personal injury claims that gives you two (2) years from the date you suffered a burn injury to take legal action against the responsible parties. While there are circumstances that can extend or shorten this deadline, it’s best to act fast, as missing the deadline that applies to your case could cost you your right to compensation. Protect yourself by getting in touch with a catastrophic burn lawyer in San Mateo right away.
