Burn Injury Lawyer in Grand Rapids, MI
Burn injuries cause are extremely painful and can cause permanent damage. Barrix Law Firm offers comprehensive legal support to help you secure compensation for medical care, lost wages, and permanent scarring.
Speak to a Grand Rapids burn injury lawyer. Contact us today to explore your legal options during a free consultation.
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Legal Representation for Thermal & Chemical Burns
If you experienced burn injuries after a car or truck accident or due to faulty equipment or dangerous working conditions, a burn injury attorney can determine if you are entitled to compensation. We’ve represented local clients throughout Grand Rapids and Kent County since 1993. Our goal is to get you a favorable settlement while minimizing delays. Contact a burn injury lawyer in Grand Rapids today to get the justice you deserve.
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Types of Burn Injury Cases We Handle
Burn injuries that occur at home or at work can cause life-changing injuries. Many people who have experienced severe burns live with excruciating pain and emotional trauma. Partial and full thickness burns often have long recovery times, and they can result in permanent scars and impairments even with skin grafts and reconstructive surgeries. Our Grand Rapids personal injury law firm handles a variety of burn and electrical injury cases.
- Auto Accidents: Car collisions and big truck accidents often result in fires and explosions that cause severe burns. Our attorneys can determine if the driver or equipment manufacturer is liable for your injuries.
- Product Liability: Many common household appliances, including water heaters, barbeque grills, kitchen appliances, and hair styling tools can cause burns, fire damage, explosions, or electric shock. Our Grand Rapids burn injury lawyer can help you file a product liability claim if the manufacturer is responsible.
- Workplace Injuries: Burn injuries that occur on the job may result in a workers’ compensation claim or a third-party lawsuit. Chemical, electrical, and thermal burns can occur at work due to defective equipment, improper ventilation, and dangerous work conditions.
- Chemical Exposure: Chemical burns and inhalation injuries can occur in a variety of residential and industrial settings, including labs in high schools and colleges. Chemical burns due to dangerous formulas or improper safety protocols can result in toxic torts against the manufacturer or property owner.
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Common Causes of Burn Injuries
Burn injuries are surprisingly common. From severe sunburns to scald injuries, cooking-related burns, auto accidents, explosions, and house fires, burns can occur in a variety of everyday settings. According to the American Burn Association, burn-related injuries cause nearly 400,000 ER visits annually, and over 32,500 patients are treated at the nation’s burn centers. Children are particularly vulnerable to fatal burn injuries as they may not understand the danger of touching hot surfaces or reaching for objects that may contain scalding liquids, such as boiling water or cooking oil.
Here are a few of the most common causes of burn injuries in Grand Rapids.
Thermal Burns
Thermal burns occur due to contact with hot substances or objects, including fire, steam, and liquids. The severity of the burn depends on the duration of the exposure, the temperature of the object, and the area affected. Thermal burns can occur in fires, workplace accidents, car accidents, and routine situations.
Chemical Burns
Chemical burns happen due to contact with hazardous materials, such as cleaning supplies, paint remover, gasoline, and bleach. Acids, alkalis, and solvents can burn the skin. They can also cause inhalation burns and eye irritation. Industrial accidents, chemical spills, and improper materials handling or ventilation are common causes of chemical burns.
Electrical Burns
Electrical burns are often caused by lightning strikes or contact with electrical wires, outlets, or improperly grounded equipment. They may cause nerve and deep tissue damage, including cardiovascular injuries. Severe burns are typically located where the current entered and exited the body.
Our experienced burn injury lawyer can assess the facts of your case and work to hold all responsible parties liable for their actions. It only takes one call to see if you have a case. Find out what types of compensation you may be entitled to.
Types of Burn Injuries by Severity
Burn injuries are classified based on their severity and how deeply they damage the skin and underlying tissue. Treatment protocols vary based on the degree of the burn and the cause. Learn more about the 4 main types of burn injuries.
1st-Degree Burns
First-degree burns are the most superficial type of burn injury. They cause redness and swelling of the epidermis, the skin’s outer surface. First-degree burns, including mild sunburn, can be treated at home with basic first aid, such as pain relievers and antibiotic cream.
2nd-Degree Burns
Second-degree burns affect the epidermis and dermis, the first and second layers of skin. Partial thickness burns often result in blisters, severe redness, and moist or weeping wounds. Second-degree burns are generally not life-threatening but can be very painful and may take weeks to heal even with proper care.
3rd-Degree Burns
Third-degree burns, also called full thickness burns, damage all layers of the skin and possibly the underlying tissue. Burns caused by fire, electricity, chemicals, or hot surfaces may cause white blisters or blackened, charred skin. Nerve damage can occur, and surgery and/or skin grafts may be required.
4th-Degree Burns
Fourth-degree burns damage all layers of the skin as well as the underlying muscle, fat, nerves, and bone. These burns are very serious and require emergency medical care to prevent complications, such as sepsis and other infections. Fourth-degree burns are often caused by exposure to fire or electrical arcs.
Compensation Available for Burn Injuries
Burns and electrical injuries can lead to significant medical bills as well as physical pain and emotional trauma. They may also affect your ability to perform your job now and in the future. At Barrix Law Firm, our Grand Rapids burn injury lawyer works to ensure that each client is fairly compensated for their medical bills, out-of-pocket expenses, and physical suffering.
Learn more about the types of compensation that we have recovered for individuals with burn injuries.
Medical Bills
Depending on the location and degree of your skin burns, your medical bills could be substantial. Burns are typically treated with wound dressings and antibiotics, but skin grafts and reconstructive surgery may be necessary. Our legal team will ensure that you’re compensated for out-of-pocket medical bills, medications, and rehabilitation.
Future Care
Your attorney may seek compensation for future medical care depending on the extent of your injuries and length of your treatment plan. Compensation may be available for inpatient hospital care, surgeries, physical therapy, medications, and home or vehicle modifications. We’ll help ensure that you’re compensated for past and future medical care.
Lost Wages
Whether you endured burns due to a car accident, explosion, or workplace accident, you may be entitled to compensation for lost wages if you missed work due to your injuries. Our Grand Rapids burn injury lawyer can seek compensation for future lost wages if the injuries have affected your earning capacity and ability to do your job.
Pain & Suffering
Burns cause significant physical and emotional trauma. You may be entitled to compensation for physical pain and suffering related to your injuries and treatment. Non-economic damages cover emotional distress, mental anguish, scars, and disfiguring injuries. The value of non-economic damages is typically tied to your total financial losses.
To see what types of compensation you may be entitled to, contact a Grand Rapids burn injury attorney today. Your initial case review is free, so there’s absolutely no risk.
Types of Injuries Linked to Severe Burns
Burns are more than skin deep. Severe burns can result in serious and sometimes lifelong complications. Patients who are treated in burn units or trauma centers may require extensive medical care, surgeries, and rehabilitation. In addition to causing disfiguring scars and skin damage, burns can damage the nerves and internal organs. Our advocates can help you recover compensation for the following burn injuries.
- Permanent scars and disfigurement from burns and reconstructive surgery
- Respiratory issues due to smoke inhalation or chemical burns
- Nerve damage and loss of sensation
- Chronic pain and hypersensitivity
- Muscle, organ, or tissue damage
- Complications, such as infections and sepsis
- Psychological trauma, including anxiety and PTSD
- Limited mobility due to contractures affecting the joints and connective tissue
How to Prove Liability for Burn Injuries
Lawsuits related to burn injuries typically hinge on the legal concept of negligence. This simply means that another party caused or contributed to your injuries. Your attorney must prove 4 separate elements to establish liability.
1. Duty of Care
First, your attorney must show that another party, such as a property owner, employer, or equipment manufacturer, had a legal obligation to act with reasonable care to ensure your safety.
2. Breach of Duty
Next, your attorney must show that the defendant violated the duty of care through their actions or inaction. This could mean that the manufacturer sold a dangerous product or that a school or employer failed to provide proper protective equipment.
3. Proximate Cause
This element requires the plaintiff (the person who is suing) to show that their injuries occurred as a direct result of the defendant’s error or misconduct. In other words, if the defendant had not breached their duty, you would not have been injured.
4. Damages
The fourth and final element requires the plaintiff to show that they experienced measurable financial losses as a result of the injuries. This can include medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and more.
How Can a Grand Rapids Burn Injury Attorney Help Me?
Recovering from severe burns is a lengthy, difficult process. If you were hurt in Grand Rapids or Kent County, reach out to Barrix Law Firm for help getting the compensation that you may deserve. We have an in-depth understanding of burn injury claims and relevant laws. Our goal is to help you recover full compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and emotional suffering. Here’s how a burn injury lawyer at Barrix Law Firm can help.
- Our goal is to help you understand your rights and build the most successful case possible, starting with your initial case review.
- One of our first tasks is to investigate the cause of your burn injury and determine who is responsible.
- We can help you gather medical records and other evidence needed to prove your case.
- In many burn injury cases, we consult with medical experts and product engineers to determine the cause of the injuries and hold the applicable party responsible.
- As aggressive negotiators, we will handle the insurance companies and work to get you a fair settlement.
- If a settlement isn’t in your best interests, we can take your case to court. Jason Barrix is a nationally recognized trial attorney with over 30 years of experience.
- Our local team is available to answer your questions and provide updates on your case.
Grand Rapids Burn Injury FAQs
Can I Sue for a Workplace Burn Injury?
If your burn injuries occurred at work, your first option is to file a workers’ compensation claim. However, there are situations when you can sue your employer or the responsible party. If a third-party subcontractor or equipment manufacturer caused your injuries, you may be able to sue. Your employer could be responsible if they ignored workplace safety laws or failed to provide proper ventilation and PPE. Manufacturers can be held liable for distributing toxic substances that cause chemical burns. An attorney can determine who is responsible for your injuries and hold them accountable.
How Long Do I Have to File a Burn Injury Lawsuit?
The deadline to file a burn injury lawsuit in Michigan is determined by the statute of limitations. Per MCL 600.5805, legal actions for a personal injury or wrongful death must be filed within 3 years. This includes lawsuits related to defective products, such as gas grills and appliances. Different laws may apply to your case, so it’s wise to speak with an attorney as soon as possible.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Burn Injury Lawyer?
At Barrix Law Firm in Grand Rapids, we work on a contingency basis. This means that there’s no upfront fee for our services. You’re only charged if we recover a personal injury settlement or win a court verdict for you. Our fees are deducted from the settlement, so there’s no financial risk. We’ll provide an overview of our fee structure during your free initial consultation.
How Do I Know if I Have a Valid Burn Injury Case?
Not all burn injuries result in an at-fault claim against another party. Consult with an experienced burn injury attorney who can assess the facts of your case and determine if negligence or other factors, such as defective products or dangerous equipment designs, contributed to your injury.
What Should I Do After a Burn Injury?
If you have experienced a burn injury, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Providers can assess the severity of the wound, debride the area, and ensure that you receive proper care to promote healing and prevent infection. If possible, document the scene of the accident with photos or video. Collect contact information from any witnesses. Keep all documents, including medical bills, insurance notices, and pay stubs, as they may be needed to prove your case.
Contact a Burn Injury Lawyer in Grand Rapids
Whether you were injured at home, at work, or on the road, contact a burn injury lawyer in Grand Rapids as soon as possible. Our team will investigate the facts of your case, determine who’s responsible for your injuries, and work to recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and expenses. We’ve helped burn victims across Michigan since 1993. Contact us today to schedule a free in-depth case review.
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