ST. PETERSBURG BURN INJURY ATTORNEY

Burn injuries can occur in many ways, some of them very unpredictable. Our burn injury attorneys have decades of experience handling such claims and have likely seen a case like yours before. Some of the burn injury cases we have handled in the past resulted from:

• Electrical fires;
• Motor vehicle accident fires;
• Defective product fires;
• Scalding water and pipes;
• Locked fire exits; and
• Fires in recreational areas (hotels, clubs, restaurants, stores, malls, etc.).

Whether you live in a house, a duplex, a big apartment building or a structure in between, you need to be vigilant about fires. Although the majority of fires occur outdoors, according to the U.S. Fire Administration, nearly a third of all U.S. fires occur in residential structures.

If you live in your own home, it is your responsibility to make sure it is fire safe. If you are a renter — whether in a home, an apartment building, or low-income housing — these responsibilities fall to the landlord. In St. Petersburg, the section on property maintenance in the city ordinance defines what landlords must do to keep their tenants safe from fires.

If the landlord fails to comply, tenants may be able to hold them accountable in the event of a fire. Landlords don’t want their tenants to know though, and they may try to pressure them into not taking legal action after a fire, even though the landlord’s negligence caused the fire and subsequent injuries.

Some of the landlord’s responsibilities regarding fire safety can include:

• Checking the property’s electrical wiring is in proper condition, and safely installed;
• Ensuring smoke alarms are on the property and correctly installed;
• Having a safe, sturdy fire escape;
• Keeping the fire escape clear;
• Installing fireproof doors;
• Having regularly serviced fire extinguishers on the property; and
• Keeping escape routes clear in shared areas of a building, such as a hallway or laundry room.

When a worker sustains a burn injury on the job, they file a claim for compensation with their employer's workers’ compensation insurance company. Workers’ compensation insurance is designed to offer quick and fair compensation to employees for workplace injuries in return for employees relinquishing their right to take legal action against their employer.

However, insurance companies may try and limit payouts and unfairly deny benefits to injured employees. If you believe this is happening to you, it may be time to consult with an experienced attorney to find out what your legal options are.

For burn injury victims there may also be a way to receive compensation for pain and suffering, loss of life’s enjoyment, loss of consortium or disfigurement, which are never included in workers’ compensation payouts. Burn injury victims may be able to file a third-party lawsuit against a subcontractor or product manufacturer for damages in addition to their workers’ compensation benefits.

Every burn injury that occurs in the workplace is different, though, and to find out what your full range of legal options you should consult an experienced attorney.

At Morgan & Morgan, we believe that every person should have access to quality legal representation regardless of their income. If you were burned in a fire caused by the negligence of another or in the workplace, our burn injury attorneys in St. Petersburg may be able to help.

The case evaluation is free, there is no upfront cost for hiring one of our attorneys, and you won’t pay a cent unless they win your case. There is no risk in contacting us, so if you think there is a possibility we can help with your burn injury claim don’t hesitate to reach out by filling out a free case evaluation form today.