GEORGIA BURN INJURY LAWYERS

According to the US Fire Administration, most fire deaths in Georgia occur in homes and other structures. However, almost 23 percent of burn injuries happen in car accidents and other motor vehicle-related incidents in the state. 

Residential Buildings and Structures

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) says that cooking accidents are the number one cause of fires in residential buildings. Other significant causes of fires in homes include faulty electrical appliances, defective heating, smoking, and unattended candles. In some cases, deadly fires are started by arsonists.

If you experienced a fire in your home and incurred injuries and financial losses, you could hold a landlord or another party accountable and receive compensation. Landlords must adhere to Georgia fire safety regulations, ensure that appliances and wiring are in good repair, and minimize the danger of fires. Moreover, rental properties must have appropriate fire-fighting equipment, including:

• Fire extinguishers or blankets
• Smoke alarms
• Fire doors

Commercial Properties

According to the NFPA, the fire service responds to an average of 3,520 fires in motels and hotels annually. Fires can occur in many types of commercial properties, such as:

• Shopping malls
• Hospitals and medical centers
• Factories 
• Warehouses
• Restaurants and bars
• Theme parks

Property owners should take concrete steps to ensure their customers and visitors are reasonably safe from fires. A business or property owner may be responsible for your injuries and expenses if you get hurt in a fire. 

Workplaces

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), fires caused almost 3.5 percent of all work fatalities in 2013. While fires can happen anywhere, including in office environments, they tend to be more common in the following workplaces and industries:

• Oil and gas industry
• Chemical industry
• Construction
• Hospitality
• Manufacturing

Businesses should train workers on how to avoid fires at work and have procedures in the event of a fire. If you suffered a fire injury at work, you are probably eligible for Georgia workers’ compensation benefits. However, in some cases, workers can file a personal injury lawsuit against a third party or an employer. A burn injury lawyer in Georgia can clarify your options.

Motor Vehicle Accidents 

Vehicle crashes can cause horrific injuries, particularly if vehicles catch fire. In some cases, fires arising in severe collisions are more destructive and damaging than the accident itself. However, if your burn injuries happened due to another’s fault, such as a drunk or speeding driver, you could have legal recourse and recover damages with an insurance claim or lawsuit.  

Sometimes, car fires occur due to manufacturing mistakes, such as faulty electrical wiring or a leaking fuel tank. If this has happened to you, you could have a case against a car maker or part manufacturer.

Defective Consumer Products

Faulty consumer products can cause fires and injuries when they overheat and catch fire or explode. Defective products can include:

• Electric kitchen appliances such as ovens, toasters, and others
• Hair dryers and hair straighteners
• Portable heaters
• Extension leads
• Light fixtures and fittings

If you or a loved one got harmed by a faulty consumer product, a manufacturer might be responsible for your injuries and monetary losses.

A severe burn injury can change your life. Medical treatment may continue for months or even years. Victims with significant burns may require: 

• Skin grafts and plastic surgery
• Wound and infection care
• A home health aide
• Speech therapy
• Physical therapy
• Psychological counseling 

The Damaging Long-Term Consequences of Burn Injuries

Some burn injuries heal with time and cause no long-term effects. However, a victim with severe injuries may suffer lifelong consequences, including but not limited to the following: 

Scarring and Disfigurement

Significant burn injuries typically cause raised and discolored scars and permanent disfigurement. Permanent scars can be severely emotionally distressing, particularly when they occur on the face, neck, torso, and arms.  

Permanent Nerve Damage

Nerve injuries can be expected with deeper burns. Symptoms of nerve injury include numbness, tingling, pain, and sensitivity to touch. Minor nerve damage may heal with time, and the symptoms can eventually disappear. However, if a severe burn injury completely destroys nerves, victims may experience a complete and irreversible loss of feeling at the injury site. 

Loss of Function and Loss of Limbs

Particularly severe and deep burns can destroy muscles and damage bones. Victims whose muscles and bones are affected by a burn injury may lose all mobility or function near the injury site. If the damage is extensive, limb amputations may be necessary. 

Emotional Consequences 

Living through a fire at home, work, or in an accident can be a profoundly upsetting and traumatic experience, especially if catastrophic injuries are involved. It is not uncommon for burn injury victims to experience the severe emotional after-effects of a fire, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, or depression. 

Help Is Available for Victims of Burn Injuries

If you suffered an extensive burn injury, the medical and counseling costs over your lifetime could be crippling. Morgan & Morgan understand the mental, physical, and financial struggles burn injury victims face. We believe that you should not have to shoulder the financial burden if someone else caused your injury. Our Georgia burn injury lawyers can assess your case and determine your options for recovering fair compensation.

Every burn injury claim is unique. What you can recover will depend on the circumstances of the incident and the scope of your injuries. However, depending on whether your injury happened at home, at work, or elsewhere, you could have various avenues for recovering compensation, such as: 

Burn Injury Claim or Lawsuit 

If someone else, such as a landlord, property owner, or car driver, caused your burn injury, you could have a legal claim against them. Victims could be entitled to various damages, including: 

Medical Costs 

The medical expenses in connection with a severe burn injury can be astronomical and ongoing. Hospitalization alone for the average burns victim amounted to over $93,000 in 2014, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Victims could qualify for all medical costs in connection with their burn injury, such as:

• Medications 
• Medical devices
• Surgeries
• Appointments with burns specialists
• Physical therapy
   

Loss of wages

Victims suffering from significant burn injuries may be away from work for months or, in the worst cases, never return to their careers. If this has happened to you, you could receive amounts for past, present, and future loss of wages due to your fire injury. 

Pain and Anguish

Even minor burn injuries can be excruciatingly painful and negatively impact your life quality. However, if you suffer from a severe burn injury, you could qualify for a range of non-economic damages in addition to reimbursement for your expenses, including: 

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional trauma
• Disfigurement
• Disability

Georgia Workers' Compensation Program 

Filing a lawsuit against the responsible party may not be the only path to getting compensation. If your burn injury happened at work, you are probably entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, which include: 

• Medical expenses
• Replacement of most of your wages
• Death benefits for the family of a deceased worker
• Help with finding another job

Generally, workers injured on the job would first turn to workers’ compensation insurance and file a claim with the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation. Those injured at work and eligible for workers comp generally cannot file a legal claim against their employer except in rare cases. However, if your employer was grossly negligent or a third party caused your injury, you may qualify for legal recourse and could file a personal injury lawsuit. 

If you get hurt at work and do not know where to turn to get compensated, Morgan & Morgan can be here for you. Our burn injury lawyers in Georgia can assess your specific circumstances and move forward with a claim on your behalf.

The statutes of limitation in Georgia can vary, depending on the type of lawsuit you are bringing. However, if you have a personal injury claim, you should file suit within two years of your injury. Missing the deadline could mean losing the right to pursue compensation. Therefore, it is critical to seek legal help and advice as soon as possible after your burn injury. Our attorneys can protect your rights and ensure you meet all applicable legal deadlines, giving you the best chance to receive what you deserve.

To receive an insurance payout or prevail in a personal injury lawsuit, burn victims have to prove that another, whether a business or individual, is legally liable for their injury. In a legal case, you would have to show that: 

• The defendant owed you a “duty of care”
• They breached their duty
• The breach caused your burn injury 
• You have damages such as medical bills, wage loss, and others

For example, if your burn injury happened in a car accident, a speeding or drunk driver causing your accident may have breached their duty. Therefore, they are potentially responsible for the accident and must make you “whole” again and pay for your losses. Likewise, if your landlord failed to install fire doors or smoke alarms, and you came to harm in an apartment fire, you could have a case against them.

Hiring an Attorney Can Be Critical for Proving a Claim

In reality, personal injury lawsuits can be challenging to prove, especially when evidence is hard to come by after a destructive fire. However, Morgan & Morgan has the expertise and resources to fight even tough cases. We can work with professional investigators to collect the evidence required to prove your claim. 

You do not have to struggle with a lawsuit on your own when you could have America’s largest personal injury law firm on your side, fighting vigorously for maximum potential compensation.

Since paying out-of-pocket attorney’s fees can leave burn victims out of pocket, you should consider hiring a lawyer who works with a so-called “contingency agreement.” The advantage of contingency is that you only pay your lawyer if and when you win and recover compensation. If you lose, you pay nothing. 

Morgan & Morgan never charges clients anything upfront. Our fee is free until we win. We want every burn injury victim to have the best legal representation possible and the best shot at winning the compensation they deserve.

Morgan & Morgan Is Here for You

Morgan & Morgan has recovered more than $13 billion for the injured to date. We never settle for less because we know you need adequate compensation to pay your bills and get your life back after getting hurt in a fire. 

Morgan & Morgan understand how tough life can be for those impacted by a severe burn injury and their families in Georgia. Our attorneys are ready to fight hard for the best results as quickly as possible. Get in touch with us now to identify your best next steps in a free consultation.