Florida Personal Injury Guide

Florida Personal Injury Guide

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Melbourne Burn Injury Lawyers

Burn injuries are among the most serious types of injuries. If you or a loved one were severely burned because of an accident or unsafe condition that was caused, at least in part, by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to substantial compensation from the at-fault person or company.

That may include compensation for your:

  • Medical expenses, including current and future treatment from doctors and other healthcare professionals, hospital stays, surgery, rehabilitation, medication, at-home care, and assistive devices.
  • Income lost because your burn injuries prevent you from working or prevent you from making as much income as you did before you were injured.
  • Acute or chronic pain, scarring, disfigurement, disability, and a diminished quality of life for you and your family.

To find out if you are eligible for compensation, you should consult a lawyer as soon as you can. The experienced Melbourne burn injury lawyers at the Layman Law Firm would be glad to provide a free case review and let you know what steps you should take next.
 

What Are Common Causes of Burn Injuries in Melbourne, Florida?

Burn injuries are unfortunately common in Brevard County and throughout the U.S. According to the American Burn Association, burn injuries are among the leading causes of injury and death in the country.

Burn injuries may be caused by fire, contact with a hot object, chemicals, electricity, radiation, or overexposure to ultraviolet light from the sun.

The Florida Department of Health reports that most fire-related injuries occur at home. Almost 80% of non-fatal fire-related injuries that are serious enough to require hospitalization happen at home, as do 94% of fatal injuries. Cooking is the most common cause of fire-related injuries in the home. After the home, the workplace is the second most common place that people receive burn injuries that are severe enough to need treatment.
 

How Much Compensation Can I Receive in Melbourne, Florida, for My Burn Injuries?

Burn injuries often cause more pain and scarring than other types of injuries. Because of this, the compensation awarded for burn injuries may be higher than for other injuries. The exact amount you can receive will depend on how severe your burn injuries are, how painful they are, what types of treatment you need, the lasting effects of your injuries, and the circumstances of the accident.

You may be eligible to be compensated for both the physical and emotional effects of the injury. Scarring or disfigurement often cause extensive psychological distress, including embarrassment and depression. The compensation you receive for disfigurement will likely depend on how severely the scarring is expected to affect your emotional well-being. For example, if your face is severely scarred, you may receive more compensation for emotional distress than if the scarring was in an inconspicuous place on your back because the scarring will be more visible in your day-to-day social interactions.

Many burn victims will need long-term or permanent treatment. The compensation you receive will take that into account. You may also receive compensation for your lost income and loss of earning capacity if your injuries have affected your ability to work.

The Melbourne burn injury lawyers at the Layman Law Firm have the experience, knowledge, and resources to gather convincing evidence and present a strong case showing your full need for compensation for all the effects of your burn injuries.
 

Types of Burn Injuries

Burn injuries are classified as first-degree, second-degree, and third-degree burns, depending on how severe they are, with third-degree being the most serious. The classification depends on how deeply the burn has penetrated.

First-degree burns affect only the top layer of the skin. A mild sunburn is a common example of a first-degree burn. The skin may turn red, and it may hurt, but it usually doesn’t blister. This type of burn may heal within a few days. A first-degree burn that covers less than 10% of the body is considered mild.

Second-degree burns affect both the top and the lower layers of the skin. In addition to causing pain and redness, second-degree burns may also blister and swell. Second-degree burns can be further classified as superficial or deep and can range from moderate to severe, depending on how deep the burn is, what parts of the body are affected, and how much of the body has been burned.

You should see a doctor if you have a second-degree burn. Superficial burns need to be monitored to prevent complications, but can heal within a few weeks. Deeper second-degree burns may require skin grafts and take longer to heal.

Third-degree burns affect both layers of the skin and also the fat below. If you have a third-degree burn, you probably won’t be feeling pain at the site of the burn because the burn will have destroyed the nerve cells there. You will feel pain next to the burn site. Your skin may look leathery and be black, red, or white. Third-degree burns are considered severe if they cover more than 1% of the body. These are serious burns that may be fatal.

Potential complications of third-degree burns include scars, disfigurement, heart disturbances (from electrical burns), dehydration, pneumonia, low blood pressure that may cause shock, serious infection that may require amputation, and organ failure.

The Melbourne burn injury lawyers at the Layman Law Firm are compassionate, caring, and deeply committed to achieving justice for people who are seriously injured because of the fault of another.
 

Burn Injuries Caused by Negligence or Product Liability

Burn injuries can be caused by another person or company’s negligence. This happens when someone is careless or reckless and makes a mistake. There are many types of negligence. A few examples are:

  • Someone causes a fire because they forget to turn off a burner on their stove, and the fire spreads to other homes.
  • A driver gets into an accident because they are distracted by looking at their phone, and the accident causes the other vehicle to catch on fire.
  • A landlord fails to correctly maintain the boiler, and the water becomes dangerously hot.

You may be able to make a product liability claim against a company if their product causes burn injuries because it is defective or improperly designed or manufactured. An example is a company that manufactures clothing out of highly flammable fabric.
 

Wrongful Death Claims in Melbourne, Florida, for Victims of Fatal Burn Injuries

If a loved one was killed because of burn injuries, Florida Statutes section 768.21 gives you the right to pursue a wrongful death claim against the at-fault party, where you can seek compensation for the loss of your loved one.
 

Get Experienced Legal Help in Melbourne, Florida, for Your Burn Injury Claim

The Melbourne burn injury lawyers in the Layman Law Firm have helped many people like you get the compensation they need to pay their current and future injury-related medical bills, make up for lost income, and compensate for emotional and psychological distress. If you become our client, we will use our experience, skill, and resources to fight for your right to get all the compensation the law provides. We invite you to call us at 321-773-2111 or fill out the contact form on our website for a free case review.