Burn Injuries

There are a number of situations that may give rise to serious burns, including residential fires, vehicle crash fires, electrical burns, and scalding liquids. According to the American Burn Association, about 450,000 burn injuries per year require medical treatment. Burn or smoke inhalation deaths per year number in the thousands, and there are about 40,000 hospitalizations related to these events annually. Someone who has suffered this type of injury due to the negligence of another person or entity should consult the accident attorneys at the Dean Law Firm. We have helped many individuals in the Ocala area hold accountable the parties that have harmed them.

While first degree burns may heal relatively quickly, more serious burns (second or third degree) may leave permanent scars and cause serious emotional distress. Second degree burns occur when the second layer of skin, known as the dermis, is burned, in addition to the first layer of skin. Usually, second degree burns involve blisters and severe pain and swelling. Third degree burns involve all layers of the skin and can even affect bones, muscles, and fat. The area affected by the burn may look charred or dry and white. Sometimes smoke inhalation accompanies third degree burns, and this can result in carbon monoxide poisoning.

When another person or entity is responsible for your injuries, you may be able to recover damages. The principles of law that apply will vary depending on the specific situation involved. However, injured individuals generally try to prove a defendant's negligence. This means they will need to show the defendant's duty, a breach of that duty, actual and proximate causation, and actual damages.

These basic elements may vary somewhat based on the situation. For example, if your landlord failed to provide a working smoke detector that was required in the lease, he or she may be liable for injuries sustained because the smoke detector failed to pick up a fire in your building that made its way to your apartment. However, in general, a landlord is not liable for injuries on leased premises.

There may be multiple parties responsible for a fire that harms you. For example, a multi-vehicle crash that results in burn injuries may be the fault of several negligent drivers. In Florida, defendants are only responsible for paying their percentage of liability as determined by the jury. This means that when multiple parties are at fault, a victim will not recover the full amount he or she is owed unless all the defendants who have liability have insurance or funds to cover their apportionment of damages.

A person who suffers burn injuries can recover damages for costs and losses like medical expenses, lost income, lost earning capacity, household services, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment, and emotional distress. The more severe the burns, the higher the damages are likely to be.

At the Dean Law Firm, our injury lawyers understand how devastating burns can be for people in Ocala and nearby communities like Crystal River and The Villages. We pursue compensation aggressively for individuals who have been harmed or lost a loved one in a fire caused by someone else’s negligent conduct. Call us at 352-387-8700 or contact us via our online form. We represent injured individuals throughout the state, including those in Lake, Citrus, Marion, Sumter, and Levy Counties.