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DELIVERING JUSTICE FOR MY CLIENTS
Sacramento Burn Injury Lawyer
Sacramento Practice Areas
Burn Injury Attorney in Sacramento, CA
The right Sacramento burn injury lawyer can make a tremendous difference in a burn victim’s recovery. The legal team at Kreeger Law Firm is here to help Sacramento residents and their loved ones with their burn injury claims.
Burns are painful wounds with a high potential for causing permanent or long-term damage. When a person experiences a severe burn injury due to another party’s negligence, it’s vital to understand the available options for legal recourse. A burn victim may face expensive medical bills, lost income from missed time at work, and several other possible damages.
HOW MUCH IS MY BURN INJURY CASE WORTH?
Any type of severe burn injury will require immediate emergency treatment and long-term care. Many burns result in permanent scarring, emotional suffering, and other complications that may take years to improve. Others suffer permanent injuries and disabilities from their burn accidents. When a person suffers burn injuries due to the negligence of another party, the victim’s greatest chance of recovery is to hire a Sacramento burn injury attorney and file a personal injury lawsuit. The different types of damages available in a typical personal injury lawsuit for a serious burn injury include:
MEDICAL EXPENSES
The plaintiff in a burn injury lawsuit may claim compensation for all medical expenses resulting from the defendant’s negligence. These may include immediate costs like hospital bills, prescription costs, and plastic surgery. Compensation may also be recovered for long-term costs like physical therapy and other ongoing medical treatments.
LOST INCOME
A burn victim may not be able to return to work for an extended time after suffering a burn injury. He or she can claim the wages lost during that time as damages in a civil suit. If the injury prevents an injury victim from working in the future, the plaintiff may claim compensation for his or her lost earning capacity.
PROPERTY DAMAGE
If the defendant’s behavior resulted in any damage to the plaintiff’s personal property, the plaintiff can claim the costs of replacing or repairing those items. It is possible for insurance to factor into this recovery, such as after a car accident, but it is unrealistic to expect insurance alone to fully cover your damages if you suffered severe burn injuries in any way.
PAIN AND SUFFERING
The jury will consider the facts of the personal injury case and testimony from expert witnesses to determine an appropriate amount of pain and suffering compensation. Some courts may award “per diem” compensation for every day a plaintiff spends in recovery. Other courts may simply multiply the plaintiff’s claimed medical expenses by a certain amount and award a lump sum instead. It’s also possible for a defendant to face punitive damages if his or her behavior indicated a reckless disregard for the safety of others, criminal negligence, or an intentional tort like an assault. Some plaintiffs may also have the option to claim their legal fees as damages as well, so hiring the right Sacramento personal injury lawyer is crucial for any burn injury claim.
COMMON CAUSES OF BURNS
There are four main causes of burn injuries: thermal sources, harmful chemicals, electrical discharges, and radiation. Depending on the type of burn a person suffers and the severity, he or she may face several long-term effects.
Car accidents, defective products, and workplace accidents are just a few examples of the types of situations that can result in a severe burn injury.
TYPES OF BURNS
A thermal burn from an open flame may damage the layers of the skin and require painful skin grafting procedures. A chemical burn may cause external damage as well as internal respiratory issues from inhaling toxic fumes. Radiation exposure can lead to organ failure, reproductive issues, and may increase the risk of developing certain cancers. Electrical burns may interfere with heart function and result in permanent nerve damage.
Medical professionals use a degree scale to classify burn injuries. A first-degree burn typically only affects a small portion of the body and damages the outermost layer of the skin. The average person can treat a small first-degree burn using over-the-counter first aid supplies but he or she should seek medical care if the burn affects a sensitive area or covers more than 10% of the skin. Second-degree burns penetrate more deeply into the skin and a third-degree burn completely destroys the skin.
Sacramento Burn Injuries FAQs
Q: How Do I Prove Liability for a Burn Injury in Sacramento?
A: You must prove fault before you can recover compensation for any personal injury. Your attorney can assist you in gathering the evidence you may need to establish liability, such as physical evidence from the scene of your injury, witness testimony from anyone who saw the injury happen firsthand, and input from expert witnesses whose professional insights can clarify the most complex aspects of your case.
Q: How Much Compensation Can I Claim for a Burn Injury?
A: Burns are not only incredibly painful, traumatic, and damaging, they are also expensive to treat and can impose various financial challenges on the victim and their family. The total potential value of any personal injury claim depends on the extent of the victim’s losses. After you calculate immediate and future medical expenses, lost income, lost future income if you are unable to return to work, and property damage, you may be surprised to learn your case is worth more than you expected. Once you factor in pain and suffering compensation, this can increase your potential case award dramatically.
Q: How Much Compensation Can I Claim for Pain and Suffering in a Burn Injury Case?
A: California’s personal injury statutes do not restrict pain and suffering compensation in most claims. This means you can seek as much as you believe to be appropriate to reflect the severity of your injuries. Your Sacramento burn injury attorney can help determine a reasonable amount based on the severity of your burn injury and the time it will take you to recover as fully as possible. For most plaintiffs, pain and suffering will account for the bulk of their case awards in catastrophic injury claims.
Q: How Long Will It Take to Receive My Case Settlement?
A: Most of the personal injury claims filed end in private settlement because this allows all parties involved to avoid the stress and expense of litigation. As long as the defendant accepts liability for the injury and you have the right attorney handling your case, it may only take a few weeks to settle the claim with the defendant. However, if litigation is necessary, it will take much longer, potentially several months or even longer than one year.
Q: How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Sacramento Burn Injury Attorney?
A: It’s understandable to have concerns about the cost of hiring legal representation if you are already struggling with the financial aftermath of a serious injury. However, Kreeger Law Firm can take your case on contingency, meaning you will only owe our firm a fee for representation if and when we win your case. If we are unable to recover compensation for you, you pay nothing, and if we win, you only part with a percentage of the final case award.
SPEAK TO A SACRAMENTO BURN INJURY LAWYER TODAY
The board-certified lawyers at Kreeger Law Firm have more than 25 years of experience handling civil lawsuits for our clients in the Sacramento area. During a consultation at our law offices, we can assess the strength and potential value of your personal injury claim.
Our law firm can put our extensive resources and skills to use in your burn injury claim. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with one of our Sacramento burn injury lawyers. Our law firm can let you know what to expect from a lawsuit.
