If you suffer a burn injury in Duluth, GA, due to someone else’s negligence, hold the at-fault party accountable. To do so, you may have to file a personal injury lawsuit. A compassionate catastrophic injury attorney can discuss your legal options with you and decide on one that can help you secure compensation.
For those who want legal help with a personal injury claim, partner with Barrios Virgüez. Our Duluth burn injury lawyer is dedicated to getting winning results for all of our clients. Contact us today.
Common Causes of Burn Injuries
Burns are preventable, and most of them occur in the household or workplace, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). There are many reasons why burn injuries happen. These include:
- Home or apartment fire
- Car fire
- Faulty space heater
- Radiation
- Electrical wiring
Burns can cause blisters, swelling, and red or peeling skin. They must be treated immediately after they happen. Otherwise, a burn victim may require extensive medical care, be forced to miss work or school for an extended period of time, and deal with other long-lasting problems.
What to Do if You Suffer a Burn Injury
Call 911 to treat your injury as soon as it occurs. Medical personnel will arrive on the scene to treat your injury. Police officers will collect information from you and anyone else who saw it happen.
Continue to treat your injury for as long as needed. For instance, a doctor may order physical therapy for a burn that you suffered in a car accident. In this instance, go to therapy sessions and track your medical bills.
If someone else caused your injury, file an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. A Duluth burn injury attorney can help you out. They can submit a request for compensation to an at-fault party’s insurer, submit a lawsuit on your behalf, or both.
How a Burn Injury Claim Works
You can ask an at-fault party’s insurance company to pay for your injury. Keep in mind that the insurer looks out for their client’s best interests — not yours. As such, the business will do everything within its power to avoid paying you.
A burn injury lawyer in Duluth understands the challenges that come with dealing with an insurance company. They can help you file a lawsuit within two years, per Georgia’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims. Your attorney can calculate your damages and submit your claim accordingly.
You can ask for economic and non-economic compensation in your lawsuit. Economic damages are awarded for medical bills, lost wages, and other losses that are quantifiable. Non-economic compensation is provided for pain, suffering, and other subjective damages.
Types of Burn Injury Cases
A car accident is one of the most common personal injury cases for burn injuries. As an example, a motorist may speed and crash their car into your vehicle, which causes an explosion. If you suffer severe burns during the collision, you can hold the at-fault driver accountable.
There can be times when an employer does not take the proper precautions to protect their workers against burn injuries. If you get burned at work, you may need to file a claim with help from a local workers’ compensation lawyer. However, your company’s insurance company may decline your claim, and you may need to file a personal injury lawsuit to get compensation based on your injury.
Along with these cases, if someone uses a product that explodes and causes a burn, this individual can sue as part of a defective product lawsuit. Or, if someone suffers a burn that proves to be fatal, their surviving family members may be able to file a lawsuit, and should speak with a wrongful death lawyer. To find out if you are eligible to submit a claim for compensation, connect with a burn injury attorney in Duluth.
How to Get Compensation After a Burn Injury
To receive compensation, you must prove that the at-fault party was negligent, which led to your injury. There are four elements of negligence that you must show were present when you suffered your burn. These are:
- Duty of Care: This refers to a legal obligation in which an individual would be expected to practice a reasonable amount of care toward others.
- Breach of Duty of Care: If someone breaches their duty, they acted recklessly around others.
- Causation: Because an individual breached their duty, you suffered a burn.
- Damages: Your injury caused you to incur economic or non-economic losses.
The team at Barrios Virgüez understands what it takes to prove negligence in a burn injury lawsuit. We can help you gather evidence and witness statements and build a compelling argument. For more information, get in touch with our burn injury lawyers in Duluth.
What a Duluth Burn Accident Lawyer Does
A Duluth burn injuries attorney conducts an investigation. They learn how and why your injury happened. Your lawyer builds a body of evidence to prove negligence.
In addition, your lawyer understands the laws in Georgia. For example, your attorney is aware of car insurance requirements and how they relate to an auto accident case. Your lawyer can teach you about these.
Your attorney negotiates and litigates for you, too. They negotiate with the at-fault party and their insurance company to help you get a fair settlement. If your case goes to trial, your lawyer advocates for you and protects your legal rights and best interests.
How Fault Laws Apply to Burn Injury Cases
You can be found to be partly responsible for your burn injury. If this happens, you may not receive the full damages you requested. This is due to the fact that fault laws are in effect in Georgia.
There is a modified comparative fault rule in place in Georgia. This rule states that you can only receive damages in a personal injury lawsuit if you are less than 50 percent at fault. If you are deemed to be primarily responsible, you cannot be awarded damages.
To understand how fault laws relate to your case, consult with a Duluth burn accident attorney. In the best-case scenario, your attorney can make it clear that you are in no way responsible for your injury. This can help you secure 100 percent of the damages that you request.
Get Started With Your Burn Injury Claim in Duluth
Barrios Virgüez is a leading personal injury law firm in Duluth. We are available to discuss your burn injury case. To schedule a consultation with a Duluth burn injury lawyer, contact us today.
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