San Bernardino Burn Injury Lawyer

Did you suffer a burn injury? Was it due to another person’s negligence or carelessness? If so, you might be entitled to financial compensation from the at-fault party. You should call the San Bernardino personal injury attorneys of OnderLaw today to talk about what happened and learn about the available legal options.

Severe burns can cause chronic pain, physical impairment, and even death. Some people suffer ongoing complications from their injuries and end up with psychological trauma from the accident. Treatment for burns can lead to economic burdens and debt. You shouldn’t be financially responsible for these costs if your actions didn’t contribute to the injury.

At OnderLaw, our team of San Bernardino burn injury lawyers know the significant toll an experience like this can take on a person’s life. It’s devastating to face a painful recovery and worry about how you’re going to afford your medical bills. The negligent party should face the consequences of their actions and provide the compensation you need to heal.

Call us immediately for a free consultation and learn more about how we can help you during your time of need.

Why Do I Need a Lawyer? Why Choose OnderLaw?

At OnderLaw, we aim to provide the dependable services and quality legal representation our clients deserve. You’re already dealing with doctor’s appointments, time away from work, and other challenges. You shouldn’t also have to face the responsibility of a legal case. We can take on the paperwork, accident investigation, settlement negotiations, and other aspects on your behalf.

OnderLaw is available 24/7. You can reach out to us when you need us the most. We are happy to discuss your case any time and provide the legal guidance you need to get through this traumatic ordeal. We will remain by your side during each step and always treat you as a priority.

Causes of Burn Injuries

You could suffer a burn injury in any situation, from an occupational hazard to a car crash. Even if you’re at home, a fire could break out while you’re cooking and result in a contact burn. The most common causes of burns include:

• Defective products, such as household appliances
• Motor vehicle accidents
• Explosions at a chemical plant or oil rig
• Lack of fire safety devices or exits
• Direct contact with flammable substances, hot steam, or hazardous chemicals
• Fires in the home and commercial properties
• Exposed electrical components

Different scenarios pose various exposure risks. Burn injuries can result from a range of substances or prolonged contact with a hot object. Common examples include:

• Electrical burns – This happens when someone touches a live wire, and the electrical current travels through the body, causing damage to nerves, muscles, and organs.
• Radiation burns – Exposure to radiation, such as during an X-ray or spending too much time in the sun, leads to radiation burns.
• Scalding burns – Touching hot steam, liquids, or surfaces injures the top layer of the skin and can extend to other layers.
• Thermal burns – A thermal burn kills skin cells when the temperature of the skin rises from touching something extremely hot.
• Chemical burns – Bleach, battery acid, and other similar substances cause chemical burns when they contact the skin directly.
• Cold burns – Frostbite can result from touching something cold for an extended period, causing the body temperature to drop.

If another person caused your burn injury in any of these incidents, call OnderLaw to discuss the next steps. The way you decide to handle this situation could affect the outcome of your case.

Types and Severity of Burn Injuries

Someone suffers a burn injury when the skin becomes damaged from exposure to heat, an open flame, hot liquid, or a chemical substance. Some injuries are minor and heal without much medical attention. Others are more severe and require extensive treatment to recover.

Burns fall under multiple categories, depending on the severity. These classifications are also referred to as degrees. The degrees of burn injuries include:

• First-degree burn – A first-degree burn causes the least amount of damage. It only affects the outer layer of the skin and typically doesn’t result in any blisters or scarring. The injury site may appear red and be painful to the touch.
• Second-degree burn – The damage can extend from the top layer of the skin to layers underneath. It causes redness at the injury site, inflammation, and swelling. Some blisters may form and could cause scarring.
• Third-degree burn – A third-degree burn will damage all layers of the skin as well as nerves. This prevents the victim from experiencing any pain. It is incredibly dangerous because people often don’t realize the extent of the injury.
• Fourth-degree burn – Damage extends from the outer layer of the skin to the muscles, tissue, and tendons below. An injury of this sort can go as deep as the bone. Patients often need a skin graft for a fourth-degree burn. Permanent scarring is typical with this type of injury.

Minor burns often don’t cause any ongoing issues. It is possible to recover completely and resume your regular routine. However, more severe and life-threatening injuries can lead to complications. Common complications caused by burn injuries are:

• Trouble breathing from inhaling smoke during a fire
• Infections and sepsis
• Permanent scarring
• Disfigurement from burns to the face and large portions of the body
• Psychological trauma, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression
• Joint and bone problems, resulting in a loss of mobility
• Chronic pain while healing
• Blood loss from severe burns and open wounds
• Hypothermia from extensive skin and tissue damage

If an infection spreads throughout the body, vital organs can shut down. Some people die from severe burn injuries. Others become disabled and require daily assistance to shower, dress, and eat. Even if your scars heal, you could face long-term emotional issues from this experience.

Compensation for Burn Injuries

The compensation available after suffering a burn depends on various factors, including the severity of the injury and the expenses you incurred during treatment. Typically, the worse the injury, the higher the compensation a burn victim deserves. However, when you file a claim, the insurance company won’t be on your side. Their goal is to save money by avoiding a large payout. If they can find a valid reason to deny your claim or offer an inadequate settlement, they will.

OnderLaw can file a claim and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. We know the tactics they use to take advantage of claimants and will fight hard to protect your rights.

The compensation you receive should compensate for any losses you suffered in the accident, such as:

• Emotional distress
• Damage to personal property
• Medical expenses
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Pain and suffering
• Physical impairment or disfigurement
• Lost wages
• Lost earning capacity

Filing an insurance claim isn’t your only option in a burn injury case. You could file a lawsuit against the at-fault party. There is a strict deadline you must meet if you want to sue them for compensation. California has a two-year statute of limitations. That means you have two years from the date of the incident to file your lawsuit.

Besides your compensable losses, you can also pursue exemplary damages. However, this isn’t a form of compensation. Instead, an award of this type is a punishment against the defendant for their actions. A jury requires clear and convincing evidence of malice, fraud, or oppression to provide this financial award to the injured party.

State Burn Accident Statistics

Children suffer burns at an alarming rate. According to statistics gathered by Safe Kids Worldwide, 91,635 emergency room visits were due to burn and fire injuries of children between zero and 19 in 2018. Additionally, there were 7,211 hospitalizations in this age group, and 320 children died.

Kids between zero and four years old are at the highest risk of death from burns and fires. Boys made up 57 percent of fatalities, while girls accounted for only 43 percent of deaths. Nonfatal injuries resulted primarily from thermal and scalding burns.

In California between 2014 and 2018, the fatality rate associated with burns and fires was 0.1 per 100,000 children.

Contact OnderLaw for a Free Consultation

The San Bernardino burn injury lawyers of OnderLaw have advocated for accident victims since 2002. When you hire us, you will have a dedicated and experienced team in your corner. We will fight by your side to hold the negligent party liable and reach the best possible outcome in your case.

We understand the financial implications of a serious burn injury. You might worry about the additional cost of hiring a lawyer. We won’t burden you with upfront fees or costs. We take cases on contingency and don’t collect any of our legal fees unless we secure compensation for our clients. You won’t have to pay us if we lose your case.

We also offer a free initial consultation. You deserve to receive the legal advice and guidance necessary to make an informed decision about what to do next. There is no obligation to retain our services. We are happy to discuss the circumstances of your injury and help you determine the best options for reaching your desired result.

If someone’s negligent misconduct caused your burn injury, call OnderLaw right now and let us get you on the road to recovery.