You didn’t expect the flames, explosion, electrical spark, or scalding liquid that changed everything. One moment, you were fine. The next, you were facing months, or even years, of surgeries, pain, and recovery.
Burn injuries are traumatic, and the road to healing is never just physical. But you’re not alone. A New Jersey or New York personal injury lawyer can help you hold the responsible party accountable and fight for the compensation you deserve after a fire, explosion, or other burn injury.
Here’s what burn injury victims in New York and New Jersey need to know about their legal options, and why filing a personal injury claim may be the most important step in rebuilding your life.
What Are Some Common Causes of Burn Injuries?
Burn injuries can happen anywhere, in the workplace, at home, on the road, or even while receiving medical care. Some common causes include:
- Workplace accidents. Electricians, construction workers, and restaurant employees are especially vulnerable to chemical burns, electrical burns, or scalds.
- Vehicle collisions. Explosions, fuel fires, and hot metal can cause severe burns in car, truck, or motorcycle accidents.
- Defective products. Faulty appliances, overheated batteries, and poorly designed electronics may ignite unexpectedly.
- Premises liability incidents. Unsafe property conditions, like exposed wiring or a lack of fire suppression systems, can lead to catastrophic fires.
- Corrosive chemicals. Industrial cleaners, acids, and household products can cause deep tissue damage and extensive scarring when they come into contact with the skin.
Each cause may involve a different liable party, such as an employer, product manufacturer, or landlord, which makes legal representation essential for identifying responsibility and proving negligence.
How Serious Does a Burn Have to Be to File a Personal Injury Claim?
Any burn injury that results in significant medical treatment, missed work, or long-term pain could justify a personal injury claim. While minor first-degree burns (similar to a sunburn) generally heal on their own, second- and third-degree burns often require:
- Skin grafts
- Extended hospital stays
- Plastic or reconstructive surgery
- Physical therapy
- Pain management
If your burn caused permanent scarring, loss of mobility, or emotional trauma, these effects are devastating and potentially legally compensable. A personal injury claim helps you seek financial support to cover your injury's immediate and lasting effects.
What Compensation Is Available in a Burn Injury Case?
Burn victims often face overwhelming expenses and life disruptions. Fortunately, New York and New Jersey law allow injury victims to pursue damages for economic and non-economic losses. Your compensation may include:
- Medical expenses. Health care costs may include hospitalizations, surgeries, rehabilitation, prescriptions, and ongoing treatment.
- Lost income. Wages lost during recovery or reduced future earning capacity due to disability or disfigurement may be part of your legal compensation.
- Pain and suffering. Chronic pain, physical discomfort, and emotional distress related to trauma or appearance changes are difficult to quantify but are an essential part of your financial recovery.
- Scarring and disfigurement. Compensation for permanent changes to your appearance that may affect personal and professional opportunities and should be part of your financial compensation.
- Loss of enjoyment of life. If your burn injury prevents you from engaging in hobbies, travel, intimacy, or other meaningful activities, those losses should be calculated and included in your damages.
A New Jersey or New York personal injury lawyer can evaluate your specific situation and help calculate the full value of your claim.
How Do I File a Burn Injury Claim in New York or New Jersey?
Filing a personal injury claim starts with gathering strong evidence and understanding who may be legally responsible. The process generally includes:
- Seeking medical attention. This is essential not just for your health, but also for documenting the extent of your injuries.
- Contacting an attorney. Burn injury claims often involve complicated medical, technical, and liability issues. An attorney can help preserve evidence and build your case from day one.
- Investigating the cause. Your legal team will gather all evidence from the accident scene and review your medical records. Additionally, your lawyer may consult fire investigators, workplace safety experts, product engineers, and other expert witnesses to identify what happened and why.
- Filing the claim. You have a limited time to file a lawsuit after a personal injury.
- Negotiating or litigating. Many claims settle out of court. Your lawyer will negotiate with the appropriate insurers and defendants to settle your claim, and, if necessary, take your case to trial to fight for the compensation you deserve.
Insurance companies are not on your side. They may try to blame you for your injury, downplay the severity of your burns, or offer a quick payout that barely covers your hospital bills—let alone your lost income or pain and suffering.
An experienced New York personal injury lawyer understands how to counter these tactics and advocate for your rights. At Hofmann & Schweitzer, our team has decades of experience helping injury victims throughout New York and New Jersey get the compensation they need to rebuild their lives after devastating injuries.
