Burn injuries are incredibly common. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 398,000 people suffered fire or burn injuries in 2021, and 252,000 suffered injuries related to contact with hot objects or substances. These injuries can be caused by motor vehicle accidents, house fires, defective products, and other types of accidents.

Burns can cause both physical injuries, such as scarring, as well as psychological injuries. If you have suffered burns in an accident, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party. Our Indiana personal injury lawyers will help you get maximum compensation for your losses. 

At Habig Injury Law, we represent clients in the Greenwood and Bloomfield communities in Indiana. We pride ourselves on providing the highest quality legal representation to accident victims, including those who have suffered burns in all types of accidents. Reach out to our law offices today to schedule a free initial consultation with a member of our legal team.

If you have been burned in an accident, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party. Depending on the facts of your case, this may mean bringing a claim against another driver, the manufacturer of a dangerous or defective product, a business owner, or a landlord.

These claims are usually based on a theory of negligence, which is a type of carelessness. A person is considered negligent if they fail to use the level of care that a reasonable person would use in a similar situation. To prove negligence, you will need to introduce evidence of the following elements:

1. Duty: The at-fault party (defendant) owed you (plaintiff) a duty to use reasonable care
2. Breach: The defendant violated that duty in some way, such as by engaging in distracted driving
3. Causation: The defendant’s violation caused an accident or injury
4. Damages: You suffered losses as a result

In a burn injury lawsuit, you may recover financial compensation for all of your losses. Typically, plaintiffs in burn injury claims seek two types of damages: economic and non-economic damages. In more unusual cases involving intentional or reckless conduct, punitive damages may be awarded.

Economic damages pay for your direct financial losses. This may include money for lost wages, reduced earning capacity, property damage, medical expenses, and future medical care. These damages are often easier to prove with documentation such as pay stubs, invoices, and medical bills.

Non-economic damages compensate a plaintiff for their intangible losses. These damages can be harder to prove, but they are just as important as economic losses. This is especially true in burn injury cases. Examples of non-economic damages include money for pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress, scarring, and disfigurement.

Finally, punitive damages may be awarded in cases where the defendant acted intentionally or recklessly, such as in a drunk driving accident. Punitive damages are designed to punish someone who acted outrageously, rather than compensating an injury victim for their losses. Our Indiana burn injury lawyers can advise you about the possibility of seeking punitive damages as part of your personal injury lawsuit.

A personal injury attorney plays an important role in getting their client full compensation for their injuries. Our team of skilled Indiana burn injury lawyers will investigate your case, gather evidence, and develop a strong claim for compensation. We will also fight to get you every penny that you are entitled to under Indiana law.

Most personal injury claims involve an insurance company, whether you are filing a claim against a homeowner’s insurance policy, a car insurance policy, or a commercial general liability policy. Insurance companies are in business to make money. For each and every claim, their goal is to resolve the matter for as little money as possible.

In other words, your interests are not aligned with the insurance company’s interests. If the insurance adjuster can convince you to accept a lowball settlement offer, they will be thrilled. At the same time, you may be left without enough money to pay your bills and provide for your future needs.

As experienced Indiana personal injury lawyers, we are skilled at advocating for our clients. We aren’t afraid to take on the big insurance companies to make sure that our clients get top dollar for their injuries. We won’t back down and will never accept an offer that is for anything less than what you deserve.

The majority of personal injury claims are resolved outside of court. Generally, insurance companies are more likely to offer a fair settlement if they know that there is a real possibility that you will take the case to trial. We work hard to negotiate a settlement for our clients, but if the insurance company won’t offer you full compensation, we will go to court and ask a jury to return a verdict in your favor.

Studies show that people who are represented by legal counsel recover significantly higher compensation in personal injury cases compared to people who represent themselves. Our team of seasoned Indiana burn injury lawyers will fight to get you the compensation that you deserve for your injuries.

According to the American Burn Association, 1.1 million people suffer burn injuries that require medical attention. These injuries happen in many different ways. For example, you might grab the handle of a pan without a hot pad, burning your hand.

In some cases, a burn injury is just a matter of bad luck or momentary carelessness. In other situations, a person is burned because of something that another person did or failed to do. This may include:

• Dangerous and defective products, such as rechargeable batteries or power banks that overheat and explode or catch fire;
• Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents
• Fires at houses, hotels, and/or businesses
• Industrial fires
• Chemical burns
• Construction accidents

Burns can range from relatively minor to incredibly serious. Doctors classify burns into 3 categories based on how deep the burn is:

• First-degree burns, also known as superficial burns, only affect the outer layer of skin (epidermis). These burns may cause pain and redness.
• Second-degree burns, or partial-thickness burns, affect both the epidermis and the second layer of skin (dermis). These burns can cause pain, swelling, blisters, and changes to skin color.
• Third-degree burns, also referred to as full-thickness burns, affect all layers of the skin and may also involve the fat and muscle tissue under the skin. Third-degree burns may destroy nerves, so they may not cause pain. The burned areas may be leathery, with a black, brown, or white coloring of the skin.

If you have suffered anything more than a superficial burn, you should seek immediate medical attention. Even minor burns may require medical attention. Getting medical treatment can reduce the risk of scarring, infection, and other complications.

Burn injuries can be serious and may result in permanent disability or disfigurement. Our Indiana burn injury lawyers can help you decide to move forward after being burned in an accident.

Burn injuries can be devastating, resulting in significant medical expenses, permanent scarring, and emotional trauma. If you were hurt in an accident, our law firm can help you get the money that you are entitled to for your pain and suffering, medical bills, lost wages, and more.

At Habig Injury Law, we get big recoveries for big injuries. We take on the major insurance companies for our clients, helping them get maximum compensation. We offer free initial consultations and never charge a fee unless we recover money for you. To learn more or to schedule a free consultation with an Indiana burn injury lawyer, give us a call at 317-642-3813 or fill out our online contact form.