Getting the Compensation You Deserve for Your Injury
Serious burns can result from fire accidents. According to the American Burn Association, 1.1 million burn injuries are medically treated every year in the United States. It is estimated that more than 4,000 Americans die and approximately 25,000 are severely injured in fires each year. Victims of serious burns need expert care to help heal and cope with the long-term physical and psychological affects of the damage done by burns. A Michigan burn injury lawyer can help you recover compensation for damages caused by negligent individuals or companies. If you or a loved one has suffered severe injuries due to a fire or explosion, Please call 877-886-1441 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
Experience Is Very Important in Burn Injury Cases
The treatment for burn injuries often involves multiple surgeries, skin grafts, months of rehabilitation, psychological counseling and future plastic or reconstructive surgery. At Baldwin Legal Services PLLC, we will fight for the compensation you need to cover the cost of current and future care, lost wages, pain and suffering, and permanent scarring and disfigurement.
In order to pursue your case, we rely on a national network of highly respected experts in technical areas related to fire safety, including cause and origin investigation, forensic engineering, metallurgy, fire dynamics, fire modeling, reconstruction, structural, electrical, engineering, and other specialties necessary for the investigation and determination of fire cause and origin. We are also familiar with the appropriate medical experts needed to evaluate and treat the long term consequences of catastrophic burn injuries such as plastic surgeons, physical medicine, rehabilitation specialists, pain management specialists, vocational experts, life care planners, and economists.
Types of Burns
There are several degrees of burn injuries. These degrees could determine the size of compensation you will receive for your case. Compensation may be determined by age, depth of the burn and location of the burn.
First-degree burns involve minimal tissue damage. The affects of first degree burn may include redness and swelling of a body part. First degree burns affect the outer layer of the skin.
Second-degree burns affect both the inner and outer layer of the skin. Like a first degree burn, the second degree burn also includes redness and swelling of the skin. Second degree burns cause blisters of the outer layer of the skin.
Third-degree burns affect both the inner and outer layer of the skin. Third degree burns cause charring of the skin and typically result in scarring of the tissue. Many victims of third degree burns may require skin grafting and pain is imminent. Third degree burns may require reconstructive surgery and in some cases the pain may never reside.
Serious burns can also be the result of Michigan electrical and chemical agents:
- Electrical burns – These burns result from the amount of heat incident to the flow of a certain amount of electricity through the resistance offered by tissues. From a practical standpoint, most of the resistance offered to the passage of an electric current is that of the skin and the interface between the skin and the external conductor. Therefore, most electrothermal injuries are limited to the skin and immediately subjacent tissues, although deep penetration may follow large voltages.
- Chemical burns – These burns result from the action of corrosive agents which destroy tissues at the point of contact. Exposure of the skin, eyes, and gastrointestinal tract are the most common.
Causes of Burn Injuries
The following are some of the primary causes of burn injuries:
- Vehicle Fires
- Structure Fires
- Electrical Fires
- Workplace Fires & Explosions
- Defective Products
- Electrocution
- Steam Burns & Scald Burns
- Chemical Exposure
- Aviation accidents
- Truck fires
- Construction site accidents
- Natural gas explosions
- Propane tank explosions
- Improperly installed furnaces
- House Fires
- Smoke Alarm Failure
The cause or origin of a fire or explosion may be negligent building owners, property managers, landlords, or building designers. Depending upon a fire’s cause, the product manufacturer of electrical equipment, circuits, wiring, heaters or grills may be responsible.
Fires from Building Owner Negligence. Property managers may be liable for:
- Failure to maintain wiring
- Storage of flammable materials by a heat source
- Obstruction of fire exits
- Lack of or defective smoke detectors
- Lack of or defective CO2 detectors
Fires from Building Contractors or Designers. Building Contractors or designers may be liable for:
- Improperly installed gas, propane or electrical lines
- Poorly maintained gas, propane or electrical lines or valves
- Substandard construction or building design
- Non-compliant building code construction
- Unsafe or hazardous materials
- Faulty wiring
Burn Injuries from Defective Products. Product manufacturers may be held liable for:
- Exploding gas or propane tanks
- Failed smoke detectors
- Failed CO2 detectors
- Highly flammable blankets
Getting the Compensation You Deserve for Your Injury in Michigan
After a catastrophic injury, such as a burn injury, you are entitled to recover your medical expenses and your lost income. You should also be compensated for your loss of enjoyment of life and your pain and suffering. We work with medical and economic experts to gather the evidence of your damages. Whether your case is resolved in settlement negotiations or in trial, we will make a compelling claim to show exactly how these injuries have impacted your life.
Contact Us
If you or a loved one has been a victim of explosion, fire or burn injury, delay in obtaining legal representation may be a costly mistake. These types of cases can be difficult because much of the evidence is destroyed in the fire or the explosion, and what remains has to be investigated while it is still “hot.” That’s why it is recommended that a fire/explosion lawyer gets involved as soon as possible, while the evidence is still “hot”.
The insurance company wants to settle your case as soon as possible – and for as little money as possible. Our fire and explosion attorney has a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Insurance Law and knows how to protect you from the insurance companies and to present your claim in the best way possible to ensure your rights are protected and that you get the maximum compensation available. Please call 877-886-1441 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. We are available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Home and hospital visits are available upon request.