Orlando Burn Injuries Lawyer

Depending on the severity of the burn, victims will likely suffer excruciating pain as well as scarring that can affect their confidence. Mounting medical bills adds financial stress to an already difficult time, which is why our firm focuses on obtaining past and future compensation for the pain and suffering that burn victims and their families experience. Our purpose is to help Orlando burn injury victims find justice.

We investigate to identify all potentially liable parties

It’s not always clear who is responsible for your burn injuries but at DWK Law, an accomplished Orlando burn injury attorney will thoroughly investigate your burn incident and maximize your compensation from all sources.

We evaluate the full extent of damage, not just physical injury

Our lawyers know that there is more to burn injuries than the damage to your skin and body. Suffering through the treatment and recovery can be emotionally overwhelming. Victims often suffer substantial scarring, which may cause them to isolate themselves from society.

We’re prepared to take your case to trial

Securing a fair offer from insurance companies can take time, as they frequently employ tactics such as delays and denials to avoid paying the full value of a claim. They often aim to push for a quick settlement at a lower value. By enlisting the services of an Orlando burn injury lawyer from our firm, you can have confidence that we won’t allow such tactics to go unchallenged. This commitment is one of the compelling reasons to select us for your case.

There are four main kinds of burns described by the Cleveland Clinic:

Chemical burns

Breathing, swallowing, or coming in contact with a harsh or corrosive material can cause a chemical burn. Construction sites often house these chemicals, which include lye, bleach, ammonia, and commercial cleaning agents.

Electrical burns

An electrical burn can happen when you are shocked by an electrical outlet, contact wires carrying electricity, or are struck by lightning. You may also suffer these injuries if someone uses a Taser or stun gun against you. The degree of burn can range from first-degree to fourth-degree, depending on the type of current, the intensity, and how long you were exposed.

Thermal burns 

Thermal burns typically result from accidentally exposing the skin to heat from steam, hot surfaces, boiling liquids, or flames. Some materials may be more difficult to remove from the skin immediately, resulting in more damage the longer it stays in contact. For example, hot oil splashed onto your skin takes more effort to wash off than boiling water. If you eat scalding food, you could suffer thermal burns inside your mouth and throat.

Radiation burns

Radiation burns occur with overexposure to radioactive substances, such as those used in nuclear energy production or while receiving therapy for cancer treatment. Painful skin burns and rashes can result from the UV rays, X-rays, and other radiation used to eliminate the last of their cancerous cells after chemotherapy.

According to the University of Rochester Medical Center (USMC), you can suffer four levels of burn damage.

First-degree (superficial) burns

First-degree burns cause injury to the top layer of skin, the epidermis. They may cause redness and pain in the area but generally do not blister the skin. An example is the burn you receive from touching a hot stove momentarily.

Second-degree (partial thickness) burns

A second-degree burn affects the next layer of skin, the epidermis, and the dermis. You will usually have redness and blistering in the area, as well as pain and swelling. An example is getting burned by scalding water for several seconds.

Third-degree (full-thickness) burns

Third-degree burns feature damage to the epidermis, dermis, and the layer of fat or muscle beneath. These burns are excruciating, and the skin may appear blackened or completely white. Many electrocution and fire victims suffer third-degree burns.

Fourth-degree burns

Not only is the skin removed, but fat, muscle, and bone can be burned away. Victims can lose fingers, toes, or entire limbs and are often deprived of sensation in the affected areas. The chance of survival is much lower for fourth-degree burns.

First- and second-degree burns can often be treated with cool water and antibiotic cream at home. However, medical professionals at a hospital or treatment center must tend to any injury at third-degree and above. Many victims need specialized treatment to ensure as much of the tissue is saved as possible.

They may also need skin graft surgeries, which require growing replacement skin before the transfer occurs. Patients must be protected from exposure to germs and often receive intravenous (IV) fluids to help prevent shock and dehydration. When the skin that normally provides this protection is burned away, victims are at extremely high risk of infection and additional injury.

After a patient recovers from their initial burns, they may require lengthy rehabilitation to learn how to use their hands, feet, or legs again. If they have suffered amputation, they may need to be fitted for prosthetic devices, purchase a wheelchair or crutches, and secure finances for their altered lifestyle. An Orlando burn injury attorney can ensure those responsible compensate victims for every loss.

Complications

Because the skin provides a vital barrier between our bodies and the outside world, damage to it can become life-threatening. Even with first- and second-degree burns, the risks of developing complications must be considered. With third- and fourth-degree burns, victims may experience secondary conditions, such as:

• Dehydration
• Disturbances in their heart rhythm (arrhythmia) from an electrical burn
• Excess fluid and swelling as tissues heal
• Extreme low blood pressure and shock
• Organ failure
• Pneumonia
• Scarring, disfigurement, tissue loss, and muscle contractions
• Sepsis

When pursuing your insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit, your burn injury lawyer will take care to calculate the full value of your case. In these cases, you will deserve compensation for your past and future medical bills, lost income, and non-economic damages including pain and suffering. The effects of severe burns can be devastating to the victims, changing the course of their lives dramatically. Your attorney can help you determine the value of these life-altering changes.

According to Penn Medicine, the most common causes of burn injuries are:

• Those caused by fire or flames
• Those caused when a person is burned by hot liquids or steam
• Those caused by contact with hot surfaces or objects
• Those caused by exposure to electricity
• Those caused by contact with hazardous chemicals

Burns like these can happen at home, in the workplace, or anywhere else when safety measures are ineffective. Burns can occur in house fires, car accidents, or kitchen accidents. They may also occur when using fireworks without supervision or safe distancing or from space heater malfunctions that cause fires.

Identifying who is at fault for your burn injury is a top priority of your Orlando burn injury attorney. They will work with medical and forensic experts to recreate how your accident happened and determine who is to blame.

A burn injury lawsuit is complex. To be successful, the case needs to show strong evidence that the negligence or malice of another party caused the injury. From an unexpected gas can explosion at home to a chemical burn from improper safety practices at work, we work to ensure that our clients are legally protected.

Your attorney will collect evidence and present proof of the four elements of negligence:

1. The person at fault owed a duty of care to keep you safe from a burn injury.
2. The liable party breached their duty, resulting in your harm.
3. You suffered physical, mental, and/or financial damage from your breach of duty.
4. You have economic/non-economic damages that must be repaid.

Insurance companies and opposing attorneys will do everything they can to push the blame for your injuries onto your shoulders. They will claim you caused the accident that resulted in your burns, and they should not have to pay. We will prepare your case to argue strongly against their accusations and present proof they are liable for your harm.

We only rest once we secure the best settlement possible for your circumstances or we take your case to trial. While every case has details that must be weighed independently, burn injury cases can often result in a settlement or verdict of hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. This is because severe burns can cause lifelong injuries and pain.