Cherokee County Burn Injury Lawyers
Burn injuries are painful and, in some cases, life-altering. They can occur from apartment fires, car accident fires, or contact with chemicals. In some cases, burn injuries can be so severe that they alter a person’s physical appearance either temporarily or permanently. Psychological scars are also common. A Cherokee County burn injury lawyer could assist you with your catastrophic injury claim if you have been burned in a fire or chemical accident. You might be able to hold the liable party financially accountable for your devastating losses.
Types of Burn Injuries
Because the nature of burn injuries can vary greatly, they have been categorized into four primary levels. The least serious is first-degree burns, which only affect the outermost layer of a person’s skin. These injuries may be painful but they do not produce any blisters or significant long-term effects, and usually do not warrant a lawsuit. Second-degree burns, however, do typically produce blisters because they also affect lower layers of the skin. Due to their effect on lower layers, medical treatment is often required.
Third-degree burns are even more serious because they can char the skin, and cause loss of feeling and nerve damage. Once a burn injury extends into muscle tissue and bone, it is considered a fourth-degree burn. Fourth-degree burns can come with potentially life-long effects and could even lead to death.
The Causes of Burn Injuries
Because negligence is often a contributing factor to burn injuries, most cases are negligence claims—which means another party’s irresponsible and carelessness resulted in someone else’s injury, and as a result they are considered negligent. For example, fires that occur at apartment complexes, motels, restaurants, and movie theaters often result from the property owner’s negligence, or the negligence of one of their agents. Some fires may be the result of faulty wiring or improper maintenance. The fire damage may even be exacerbated by the lack of smoke detectors or adequately-maintained fire extinguishers.
Under Official Code of Georgia § 51-1-2, holding a property owner responsible for burn injuries requires that the plaintiff show that the property owner breached their duty of care. The plaintiff must also show that the property owner’s breach was the actual cause of actual injuries. Obtaining legal counsel from a burn injury attorney in Cherokee County could be beneficial to proving negligence.
Compensation for Burn Injuries
Georgia law allows plaintiffs who suffered burns to recover compensatory damages and, in some cases, punitive damages. Compensatory damages exist to compensate someone for the physical and financial repercussions of the accident. This includes medical bills and the loss of wages due to missing work. In addition, emotional anguish resulting from the distress of the injury and the potential disfigurement are also covered.
In some cases, the court may also decide to award punitive damages. Punitive damages are monetary amounts that a jury may award to punish, penalize, or dissuade the liable party from repeating the same behavior in the future. Like other personal injury cases, burn injury claims could resolve in a settlement. In either situation, a Cherokee County severe burns lawyer could provide guidance and expertise which may impact the claim
Get Legal Help with a Cherokee County Burn Injury Lawyer
Burn injuries are traumatizing and their effects can be far-reaching; however, you can hold the parties responsible for your accident accountable by filing a burn injury claim. Proving liability may be difficult. However, a Cherokee County burn injury lawyer could assist with your claim. Call our office today and schedule a consultation to review your situation.
