On top of being uniquely excruciating injuries, severe burns can result in long-term scarring, nerve damage, and even lost range of movement in impacted areas of the body. Put simply, this type of injury is one of the most serious consequences that any traumatic accident can have—and anyone who causes injuries like this through their own reckless or careless conduct should be held financially accountable for every negative effect their actions will have on your life.

Burn injuries can take years to heal, and treatment and recovery is costly. An attorney with experience handling catastrophic injury claims can be key to getting a positive result from a burn injury claim. With a Maryland Heights burn injury lawyer at OnderLaw on your side, you’ll have a far better chance of getting every cent of compensation you deserve than you’d have filing on your own. Let us help you on your path to recovery.

How the Degree of Your Burn Affects Your Legal Options

Medical professionals generally classify burns into one of three degrees based on how many layers of skin and other body tissues are damaged by the burn. First-degree burns are surface-level injuries that only affect the outermost layer of skin; second-degree burns penetrate past that outer layer to the inner skin layer underneath; and third-degree burns go all the way through both skin layers and affect internal tissues like muscles, tendons, and even bones in extreme cases.

This distinction between types of burns can be important to understand if you’re considering your options for filing suit since it could substantially impact the overall value of your claim— or even whether you can file a claim at all. One of the requirements for a personal injury claim is sustaining an injury serious enough to require professional medical care. First-degree burns—which often heal on their own with nothing more than basic first aid—may not serve as valid grounds for a lawsuit even if they’re caused entirely by someone else’s misconduct.

On the other hand, second and third-degree burns almost always require immediate medical intervention to reduce the risk of long-term scarring and disfigurement, and particularly severe injuries may even require surgeries like skin grafts. Regardless of exactly what care you need for your injury, a trusted Maryland Heights burn accident attorney at OnderLaw can help you demand reimbursement for all your treatment costs.

Getting Paid Fairly for Past and Future Losses

When filing suit or demanding a settlement over a burn injury in Missouri, it is crucial to account not just for losses you’ve already suffered by the time your claim begins, but also for losses you expect your injury to cause in the years to come. This means identifying and accurately valuing damages like:

  • Physical pain and discomfort
  • Lost work income or working ability
  • Psychological trauma and emotional distress
  • Emergency medical expenses and expected costs of future care
  • Personal property damage from the accident that led to your burn
  • Lost consortium, lost enjoyment of life, and other effects of permanent disfigurement/disability

Once again, guidance from an experienced lawyer can ensure you recover fairly for all your compensable losses after sustaining a burn injury in Maryland Heights.

Let a Maryland Heights Burn Injury Attorney Help You

From fiery car wrecks to frayed electrical wires, high-degree burns can happen in many ways and cause life-altering losses. Anyone who negligently causes someone else to suffer an injury like this should be legally liable for that injury’s effects. However, as anyone who’s ever dealt with the civil court system can tell you, obtaining fair financial recovery from someone else is far from a simple or straightforward process.

Fortunately, the dedicated Maryland Heights burn injury lawyers at OnderLaw are here to help you take legal action and pursue the compensation you need to live a comfortable life. At OnderLaw, we are on your side and by your side every step of the way. Call today to get started.