Burns are among the most painful and long-lasting injuries that people can sustain. Harm of this nature can leave an injured party with chronic discomfort and disabilities for extended periods. In addition to the physical repercussions of such an accident, severe burns may require years of costly follow-up medical care.
If another person’s careless behavior caused your burn injuries, a catastrophic injury attorney could help you hold them financially accountable. While no amount of compensation can make things right, pursuing damages from those responsible could help you cover any costs related to your harm. Contact a skilled Flowery Branch burn injury lawyer today to discuss your legal options.
Burn injuries can occur after the skin comes into contact with scalding liquids, fire, radiation, and electricity. Burns can be mild to severe, falling under one of three categories: first-degree, second-degree, and third-degree. Some of the common accidents that could lead to burn injuries include:
Typically, an injured party can treat first-degree and most second-degree burns at home. However, after suffering third-degree burn injuries, an individual should seek professional medical care immediately. A Flowery Branch attorney could review the specifics of a burn injury case to help determine liability and build a claim for damages.
The compensation amount for burn injury claims will depend on the level of negligence and the severity of the burn. If the claimant proves liability successfully, the court could award damages to cover all medical expenses related to the accident, wages lost while recovering, permanent scarring and disfigurement, and pain and suffering.
In some civil burn cases, the defendant may claim the plaintiff was partially responsible for the accident. Per the instructions of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 51-11-7, or the comparative negligence rule, if the court finds the plaintiff shares partial responsibility for their burns, they are still eligible to recover partial compensation in many cases.
The judge will calculate the claimant’s liability portion and subtract that from the total award amount. If the court finds the plaintiff was 49 percent or more responsible for the accident, this will likely bar them from recovery. A burn injury attorney in Flowery Branch could answer questions on civil court statutes and how they may pertain to a particular case.
The statute of limitations enforces a strict time limit for filing a lawsuit after suffering burn injuries. Under this legislation, the claimant must commence legal action within two years of the accident.
An attempt to file the case after the statute expires could lead to the judge throwing the case out. Case dismissal would leave no other options to recover compensation for the injuries.
Severe burn injuries can lead to permanent scarring and disfigurement, significantly impacting every aspect of your life. Burns are also some of the most agonizing, painful injuries a person can sustain.
When a person’s careless actions cause you to sustain burns, it is important to know that you do have legal options. Let the attorneys at Smith Hulsey fight on your behalf today. Call a hard-working Flowery Branch burn injury lawyer if you have questions or need help filing a lawsuit.
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