Burn Injury Attorney in Indianapolis

A burn injury can be physically and emotionally devastating, potentially causing excruciating pain and permanent scarring. Victims may face financial hardship due to high ongoing medical bills for injury care and reconstructive surgeries. However, if you suffered a burn injury in an avoidable fire or accident, you could qualify for compensation. 

We see cases where individuals and families are hurt by fires every day. Morgan & Morgan understand the pain and ordeal burn injury victims are going through. Our experienced burn injury lawyers treat victims with the attention, care, and compassion they deserve. Contact us now for a free, no-obligation case review to find out how we could help you. 

Finding the Best Burn Injury Lawyer in Indianapolis

If you intend to hire an attorney to represent you in a burn injury case, consider working with someone who is specialized in such claims rather than a personal injury generalist. Burn injury claims can require extensive investigations into the cause of the fire or accident and the liable party. Working with an attorney who has access to investigators, expert witnesses, and legal support staff can be critical. 

Asking friends, family members, and coworkers for referrals can be an excellent way to find an injury attorney. You could also search the internet for burn injury attorneys in Indianapolis. The Indiana State Bar Association’s website can also be a great source of information and allows you to search for a local lawyer. Make a list of potential attorneys and aim to meet them personally before making your choice.  

Free Consultations 

The best burn injury attorneys offer free consultations, allowing you to meet them in person. When attending a free consultation, coming prepared with a list of questions ensures that you can get the best out of the meeting. Good questions include

• How many years of experience do you have with burn injury cases?
• Have you won injury cases at trial?
• Do I have to pay an attorney’s fee if I lose? 
• Will you or an associate handle my case?

While qualifications and experience can be crucial for helping you pursue a claim, you should also feel comfortable with your potential lawyer. If the attorney seems uninterested and unenthusiastic about helping you, keep looking for a better match. 

Causes of Burn Injuries in Indianapolis

Burn injuries are surprisingly common in Indiana. According to Indiana Government figures, fire injuries were the fifth leading cause of death in the state between 2003 and 2006. The most common cause of burns injuries in Indiana is residential fires, accounting for 76 percent of all burn injuries. While most injuries occur due to direct contact with flames or hot water scalding, some injuries happen due to contact with a chemical or electric source.

Common Burn Injury Claims

Fires and burn injuries can arise in various circumstances. Some of the most common reasons for burn injury claims include:

Apartment and House Fires

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), US Fire Departments respond to approximately 346,800 home fires annually. While most fires in a domestic context occur due to cooking accidents, other reasons for home fires include:

• Heating equipment
• Electrical wiring
• Intentional fire
• Smoking

If the fire happened due to no fault of your own, you could pursue compensation. For example, if your landlord failed to fix faulty wiring, appliances, or heating equipment, or there were no working smoke detectors in your home, you could sue. You could also have a case against a property owner if you were injured in a restaurant, hotel, shopping mall, or other private or commercial property.

Motor Vehicle Accidents 

Car accidents involving fires can lead to catastrophic and disabling injuries. If you were hurt in a crash and someone else was responsible, you could seek damages for your injury and financial losses.  

Work Accidents

According to a study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), between 10 to 45 percent of all burn injuries, and 40 percent of all deaths from burns, arise in work-related accidents such as fires and explosions. If you are affected, you could be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Moreover, if a third party caused the fire or explosion, such as another contractor or property owner, you could have legal recourse and receive additional damages.

Other Burn Injury Cases

• Defective products such as cars and appliances
• Electrocution 
• Faulty industrial machinery 
• Care home burns and scalding injuries

If you were hurt at home, at work, in a car accident, or elsewhere in Indianapolis, speaking to a burn injury lawyer can help you understand your legal rights and options for pursuing compensation. 

Burn Injuries and Their Consequences 

Burn injuries are classified according to severity: first, second, third, and fourth-degree.

First-degree burns are generally superficial and can heal on their own. Second-degree burns need medical treatment as they penetrate the deeper skin layers and can involve painful blistering and swelling. Third-degree burns destroy superficial and deeper skin layers. Fourth-degree burns are the most severe fire injuries that can damage underlying bones, tendons, and muscles. 

When the skin, our largest organ, is severely burnt, other detrimental health conditions can follow, including: 

• Severe dehydration
• Respiratory stress
• Sepsis 
• Organ failure
• Disfigurement
• Excess fluid in tissues (edema)
• Painfully tight skin 
• Depression and anxiety 
• Dangerously low blood pressure

Burn injury victims can see their lives turned upside down and may face a long recovery involving considerable medical expenses and other costs. If you or a loved one was hurt in a fire, our burn injury lawyers in Indianapolis could help you pursue what you deserve from the responsible party.

How Morgan & Morgan Helps Burn Injury Victims 

We have helped the injured for over 30 years recover what they deserve, securing more than $20 billion in damages for our clients. Morgan & Morgan’s motivated burn injury attorneys can handle all aspects of your injury claim, such as identifying the liable parties, proving negligence, and fighting vigorously for your best interests. Our lawyers may:

• Gather and review your medical reports and records.
• Obtain vital evidence, such as police reports, photographs of the scene, fire department reports, and other materials. 
• Provide medical expert witnesses to testify on the extent of your injuries and medical costs
• Investigate the cause of the fire and liability
• Handle negotiations with the insurance company
• File a lawsuit and present your case powerfully in court 

If you are looking for the best burn injury lawyers in Indianapolis, Morgan & Morgan is here for you. Our burn injury lawyers are waiting to hear from you and want to help you recover what you need to rebuild your life after suffering a devastating burn injury. 

Compensation for Burn Injury Victims in Indianapolis 

A severe burn injury can result in devastating consequences for the victim and their family, such as:

• Prevent the victim from returning to their career
• Cause a permanent disability
• Require ongoing and extensive medical treatments
• Lead to depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Moreover, the entire family could be financially impacted when losing the victim’s income, companionship, and services. However, depending on your injuries, medical expenses, and other costs, you could qualify for the following damages and others: 

• Hospital bills and other medical expenses
• Permanent scarring and disfigurement
• Household assistance
• Emotional trauma
• Limb amputations
• Loss of life quality
• Reconstructive surgeries
• Pain and suffering
• Lost wages and estimated future loss of income
• And More

Determining the value of your potential settlement can be challenging. However, burn injury cases can involve large payouts due to the high damages and significant pain and suffering attributed to such injuries. A burn injury lawyer at Morgan & Morgan can assess your damages and calculate the value of your claim.