I Have Suffered Burn Injuries in an Accident: What Rights to Compensation do I Have?

A judge in Massachusetts is deciding whether or not to approve a $143 million settlement in a lawsuit involving a gas explosion. Over 11,000 claims have been filed for lump-sum payouts. Explosions took place in several different counties, causing burn injuries and displacing many people. This is an example of an extremely high payout for many different plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit. The amount of compensation you receive for burn injuries depends on several factors, including the severity of your injuries.

If you have suffered severe burn injuries, you may be entitled to compensation. It is important to seek help from experienced burn injury lawyers as soon as possible. At Arnold & Smith, PLLC, we have an established record of winning favorable settlement agreements on behalf of our clients. We also offer potential clients free case evaluations. Contact our Charlotte personal injury law firm as soon as possible to schedule your free consultation.

Juries award damages for severe burn injuries based on several factors. One of the most significant factors includes how severe the plaintiff's injuries are and the extent to which they affect someone's life. Medical professionals categorize burn injuries based on their severity. First-degree burn injuries are the least serious and can often be cared for at home. Second-degree burn injuries result in the top layer of skin being burned. Treatment can include hospital stays, cleaning the wound, and antibiotics.

Third-degree burn injuries are the most severe types of burn injuries. In a third-degree burn injury, all layers of skin become damaged. Sometimes, people who suffer third-degree burn injuries do not even feel the pain because the burn damaged all of the nerve endings. Treatment for severe burn injuries can take years and can be incredibly expensive.

Many severe burn injury victims must endure multiple surgeries over a long period of time. Skin-graft surgeries are painful and take a long time from which to recover. Many times, those who suffer severe burn injuries endure the pain throughout their lives as well as functional and cosmetic difficulties.

There are several causes of severe burn injuries, for example: scalding burn injuries from boiling liquids, chemical burns, electrical burns, fires, and excessive sun exposure. Gas explosions can also cause extreme burn injuries. The severity of the burn injury is not based on the cause of the burn. For example, scalding from hot liquids can cause all three levels of burns, first, second, and third-degree burns. The severity of the burn depends on how long the liquid stays in contact with the skin and how many layers of skin can be damaged.

North Carolina law allows individuals to file a lawsuit for wrongful death. When someone else's negligence causes the wrongful death of your loved one, you may have a right to file a lawsuit seeking compensation. In order to succeed in a wrongful death lawsuit in North Carolina, you must prove that someone else's negligence caused the victim's burn injuries and death. Juries in North Carolina often pay out large settlements in wrongful death lawsuits to help the victim's family survive in the future and to compensate them for their losses.

Only the deceased individual's personal representative may file a wrongful death lawsuit in court. The wrongful death lawsuit must seek damages on behalf of the surviving family members and on behalf of the estate. When the deceased individual has an estate, he or she must have named a personal representative to the estate plan. If not, the probate court will assign a personal representative. The following damages are available in wrongful death lawsuits:

• The cost of medical expenses or hospice care for the deceased person resulting from the final injury or illness
• Any pain and suffering that the deceased individual endured before his or her death
• The reasonable funeral expenses and burial costs
• Any lost income caused by the burn injuries
• The loss of the services, care, protection, and assistance of the deceased person
• Loss of companionship, comfort, guidance, advice, and society

In some cases, juries will award additional punitive damages in wrongful death cases. It is important to have your burn case assesses as quickly as possible. At Arnold & Smith, PLLC, our lawyers have years of experience litigating burn cases. Call today for your case evaluation.