Fort Worth Burn Injury Attorney

Burn injuries are incredibly painful and often leave long-lasting or permanent damage. It’s essential to know how to address a burn injury, and if someone else caused such an injury to you or a loved one, you should know your options for legal recourse. The Law Offices of Tom Hall want residents of the Fort Worth, Texas, area to know what you can expect from a burn injury lawsuit.

Types of Burns

Burns generally occur from any of four sources:

• Thermal burns result from direct exposure or contact with open flames, hot surfaces, and scalding liquids. These injuries typically damage the layers of the skin but don’t affect the body outside of the burned region.
• High-voltage electricity can cause burns as well other damage. Electrical shocks can cause burns, nerve damage, and cardiac problems.
• Chemical burns result from exposure or contact with corrosive or toxic chemicals. Some gaseous chemicals can cause internal burns in the respiratory system.
• Too much exposure to harmful radiation can cause burns and increase the risk of some cancers.

Physicians classify burns on a scale based on their severity. First-degree burns only affect the outermost layer of skin, and a person can usually treat it at home using burn ointment and bandages. But a first-degree burn that covers more than 10% of the skin’s surface or affects a sensitive area such as the face or genitals requires immediate medical attention.

Second-degree burns penetrate beyond the first layer of skin. These burns require immediate medical care and may result in scarring. Third-degree burns penetrate the entirety of the skin’s layers and can leave the affected area glossy, charred, or blackened. A fourth-degree burn leaves the tissues or bones under the skin exposed. Third- and fourth-degree burns are medical emergencies and often require extensive corrective surgery and rehabilitation.

Burn Injury Lawsuits

Many situations can lead to personal injury lawsuits for burn injuries. The determining factor in whether you have grounds for legal action is how the burn occurred. If another person or party was negligent in any way, and that negligence directly resulted in a burn injury, the victim can file a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible party.

The first step in winning a personal injury lawsuit for a burn injury is proving the defendant was negligent. The legal concept of negligence has four basic elements:

• Duty. The plaintiff must show the court that the defendant owed a duty of care in the given situation. This generally involves proving the defendant was present for or involved in the situation that resulted in the burn injury.
• Breach. The plaintiff must show how the defendant breached this duty of care. This requires proving that another reasonable individual in the same situation would have acted differently to prevent the burn injury.
• Damage. The plaintiff must have suffered some tangible harm or measurable loss to file a claim.
• Causation. Finally, the plaintiff must establish a clear link between the defendant’s negligence and the plaintiff’s damages. This generally involves proving the burn injury was the direct result of the defendant’s negligence, or that the burn injury would not have occurred if not for the defendant’s negligence.

The best asset to have on your side for a burn injury case is a reliable personal injury attorney. The Law Offices of Tom Hall in Fort Worth, Texas has a reputation for providing every client with close, personalized attention from an attorney, not just a staff member. We fight aggressively to maximize our clients’ compensation in every case and are not afraid of intense litigation. We can help burn injury victims secure compensation for their medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. Contact our Fort Worth, Texas, office today to schedule a free consultation about your burn injury case.