Fremont, California, is an ever-growing place. From its proximity to the coast to its bustling entrepreneurial scene, the city is an exciting home to its more than 235,000 residents. As wonderful a place as Fremont is, there’s some degree of risk associated with living there. Unfortunately, accidents that cause severe burns affect residents of Fremont every day.

If you or someone you love has received a burn-related injury, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages. Fortunately, the top-rated team of Fremont personal injury attorneys at OnderLaw is here to help. We’ve been protecting clients’ rights in personal injury cases since 2002 and bring hard work and excellence to each case we take on.

Let today be the day you begin seeking compensation for your burn injuries. Call OnderLaw to speak to one of our attorneys and determine the best course of action for you. We’ll schedule a free, preliminary consultation to help get you on track to securing the justice you deserve.

Why Do I Need a Lawyer?

If you’ve suffered a burn-related injury, you know how difficult the road to recovery can be. Between scheduling treatments, going to appointments, dealing with insurance adjusters, and trying to get the proper amount of rest, you’re probably feeling overwhelmed. At OnderLaw, we’re ready to build your personal injury case for you so that you can focus on getting back to your regular life.

When you choose OnderLaw, you’re choosing more than a law firm. You’re gaining access to our many successful legal strategies, our wide network of connections that spans the country, and over nineteen years of experience in personal injury law.

In addition, we’re committed to handling all communication on behalf of our clients. Instead of leaving you to manage discussions with insurance companies, law enforcement, and other parties, we take care of all that for you. This both protects you from accidental self-incrimination and helps to streamline the legal process.

Why Choose OnderLaw?

At OnderLaw, we’ve received recognition for our high-quality legal counsel since our firm’s beginnings. Organizations like The American Society of Legal Advocates, Martindale-Hubbell Peer and Client Review Ratings, The American Trial Lawyers Association, and the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers have recognized us for our excellence and commitment to each case we take on.

Breanna L. Hunt, one of our personal injury attorneys, works hard to make sure each client gets the compensation they deserve. A graduate of the Southern Illinois University School of Law, Hunt has received acclaim for her legal performance, being named national liaison for the Federal Bar Association, 3L First Amendment Moot Court Team Captain, and president of the Phi Delta Phi Honors Legal Fraternity. Hunt’s legal knowledge and dedication make her an important member of the OnderLaw team.

Matt O’Grady has been fighting for justice for his clients since graduating from the Washington University School of Law in 1998. O’Grady has served as lead trial counsel and has secured impressive settlements for many of his clients. In 2015, O’Grady was recognized at the Missouri Lawyers’ Awards. He founded his own firm in 2016 and has since joined OnderLaw to continue protecting the rights of those who are wrongfully injured. His attention to detail and legal prowess have made him a valuable attorney on OnderLaw’s team.

Another great reason to choose OnderLaw is that we operate on a contingency fee basis. We know you’re already facing financial strain because of your medical bills and maybe some missed work. We don’t require any money from you upfront. When you hire us, we provide you with high-quality legal service and will work your case to the end. We take our payment out of the compensation we obtain for you. If you don’t get paid, we don’t get paid. Simple as that.

Causes of Burn Injuries

There are many situations in which you might suffer a burn injury through no fault of your own. Because the circumstances surrounding your injury can play a large role in determining what kind of compensation you might expect, it’s important to document the details of your accident. You may suffer burn injuries in any of the following types of accidents:

  • Fire/open flame: exposure to high-temperature flame can cause severe injury. This includes flames from cooking fires, electrical fires, car fires, bonfires, and other open flames.
  • Gas: exposure to high-temperature gas can be extremely dangerous. This may include smoke, steam, or any other high-temperature gas.
  • Liquid: exposure to hot or molten liquid can cause severe injury. Examples of such liquids include boiling water, molten metal, and high-temperature beverages and/or soups.
  • Heated surfaces: contact with high-temperature surfaces can cause severe burns. Examples of such surfaces include gas and electric stovetops, ovens, toasters, and any hot pans or dishes.
  • Chemicals: contact with chemicals can leave burns on both layers of skin and potentially the muscles, tendons, and bones beneath. These burns might be caused by gasoline, lye, or any other acidic chemicals.
  • High friction: high-speed contact can cause severe burns that may damage both layers of skin. Examples of these types of burns are road rash and severe carpet burn.
  • Radiation: exposure to high levels of ultraviolet radiation can be severely dangerous to the skin. Examples of this type of exposure include tanning beds and sunburns.
  • Cold burns: being exposed to extremely cold temperatures can also be dangerous to both layers of the skin, as well as the bone beneath. One example of a cold burn is frostbite.
  • Electrical burn: being exposed to high voltage can cause severe injury, as well. Examples of this type of burn include electrical shock, high-voltage burns, or burns from an electrical fire.

Types and Severity of Burn Injuries

The severity of burns is usually discussed in terms of degrees.

First-degree burns

These are burns that damage only the outermost layer of skin. They may cause pain but typically don’t cause blisters or long-term damage. One example of a first-degree burn is a mild sunburn.

Second-degree burns

These are burns that damage both the first and second layers of skin. Your skin may blister, and you may experience long-term damage and/or scarring. Superficial second-degree burns will blister but will likely not result in any scarring. Deeper burns can cause scarring or may permanently change the color of the affected area.

Third-degree burns

These are burns that completely destroy both of the first two layers of skin. These burns may turn black or yellow and will cause permanent scarring and disfigurement. Because they destroy all nerve endings in the affected area, these burns do not cause as much pain as first or second-degree burns.

Fourth-degree burns

These are the most severe type of burns. Fourth-degree burns damage not only all layers of the skin but also the muscles and bones beneath. These burns will cause permanent scarring and disfigurement and may result in infections or other complications.

Compensation for Burn Injuries

The type of compensation you might expect depends on the severity of the burn injuries you suffer. For most personal injury cases, compensation is available for one or both of the following types of losses or damages:

Economic damages are the explicitly financial costs associated with an accident. These might be repairs costs to fix damage to any of your personal property; medical expenses for any diagnostic procedures, doctor’s appointments, or treatments; or any wages/income you lost as a result of recovering from your burn injuries. The best way to keep track of economic damages is to document all repair costs, medical records, pay stubs, and timecards.

Noneconomic damages are the intangible costs of any suffering or pain you experience as a result of an accident. These may include loss of enjoyment of life, loss of mobility, loss of companionship, disfigurement, or psychological or emotional trauma. To best document noneconomic damages, record the effect of your injuries on your daily life and your ability to perform your regular activities.

Burn Injury Statistics

A 2016 report from the American Burn Association shows that there were over 486,000 burn-related injuries that received medical treatment across the nation that year.

Data from the United States Fire Administration reflects that in 2019, there were roughly 16,600 fire-related injuries across the nation.

One report from the Centers for Disease Control says that up to 10,000 people in the United States die every year of burn-related infections.

A report from the Stanford Children’s Health hospital states that for the majority of children admitted for burn-related injuries aged four years and younger, roughly 65 percent suffer from scald-related burns, and roughly 20 percent suffer from contact burns.

The same report finds that more deaths and severe burns are caused by hot tap water than by any other liquid burn source.

Need Help? Call OnderLaw Today

If you or someone you love has been burned in an accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. The process of recovering from your injuries can be a difficult one, but at OnderLaw, we believe in working alongside you as you get back to living your life.

Let today be the day you begin seeking justice. Call OnderLaw today. We’ll put you in contact with one of our personal injury attorneys so that you can determine the best next steps for your circumstance.

Don’t allow a lack of legal knowledge or financial means stop you from pursuing justice. Let OnderLaw help you secure the compensation you deserve.