At Begam Marks & Traulsen, P.A., our Phoenix burn injury lawyers understand how difficult the aftermath of a burn injury can be. If you or a loved one suffered a serious burn in Phoenix, our burn injury lawyers can help secure just compensation for your injuries. Call today for a free and confidential case evaluation in Arizona.
Serious burns injuries are incredibly painful and often lead to long-lasting or permanent disfigurement and disability. Burn injuries are also, unfortunately, very common in the United States.
Burn Injury Resources:
- Do I Have a Burn Injury Lawsuit?
- Why Choose BMT as Your Burn Injury Attorney?
- Why Hire an Attorney for a Burn Injury?
- How Long will a Burn Injury Lawsuit Take?
- Burn Injury Statistics
- What are the Different Types of Burns?
- Expert Witnesses in Burn Injury Lawsuits
- Finding the Right Phoenix Burn Injury Lawyer
Do I Have a Burn Injury Lawsuit?
While the majority of burn injuries in the United States occur in the home, there are many circumstances in which a burn injury may lead to a lawsuit. If another person or party caused a burn injury to you or a loved one in Arizona, it’s important to speak with a Phoenix burn injury lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your options for legal recourse. This can be the result of:
- Defective products
- Gas explosions
- Car accidents and vehicle fires
- Workplace accidents
- Exposure to toxic chemicals
- Chemical spills
- Premises liability
- Negligent security
- And many others
If you believe another party’s negligence caused your burn, an experienced Phoenix burn injury lawyer will help you build a case to secure compensation for your damages. To succeed in a personal injury lawsuit for a burn injury, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant owed a duty of care to the plaintiff in the situation in question, but breached this duty in some way, directly resulting in the plaintiff’s damages. The plaintiff must also be able to provide evidence showing the extent of the damages caused by the defendant’s negligence.
Factors Influencing a Burn Injury Lawsuit
The length of a claim resulting from a burn injury may depend on several key factors. Some of these include:
- The willingness of a defendant and his or her insurance company to accept liability and negotiate a fair settlement
- Legal rules and procedures, especially if a claim goes to trial
- The amount of discovery and depositions during litigation
- How long it takes the victim to recover from his or her injuries. Specifically, this affects the amount of time it takes to evaluate a claim
- The willingness of both parties to settle without going to trial
Unfortunately, some defendants will refuse to accept liability altogether, which could lead to a drawn-out legal process. In other instances, a defendant or the insurance company will accept liability but argue about the worth of a claim. This highlights the need for an experienced burn injury attorney willing to fight for a fair settlement.
Should a case go to trial, one of the first legal procedures, discovery, will bring all the evidence to light and, therefore, might lead to a speedier resolution of a claim. Still, this discovery process can take weeks or months to complete.
Finally, the nature of a victim’s recovery itself will affect a burn injury timeline. To assure a fair settlement, a Phoenix burn injury lawyer may wait for a victim’s full injuries to manifest. This allows medical professionals to ascertain the amount of expected future medical care, which will factor into a victim’s compensation amount. In some cases, victims of burn injury may wait until their medical conditions stabilize before beginning the negotiation process.
Why Choose BMT as Your Phoenix Burn Injury Attorney?
When you need a burn injury attorney in Phoenix, it is essential to take time and research your options carefully before committing to legal representation. The burn injury attorneys at Begam, Marks & Traulsen, P.A. have the experience and resources necessary to handle the most difficult burn injury cases.
- Our attorneys have significant trial experience. If settlement is in your best interests, we will work diligently to ensure a fair and speedy settlement offer from the defendant in your case. If settlement negotiations fail, we are not afraid to take your case to trial if necessary.
- Senior partner Stanley J. Marks is a board-certified personal injury specialist. Only a very small fraction of Arizona attorneys has earned this distinction.
- We understand the Arizona court system and work diligently to maximize our clients’ compensation. We explore every available channel of recovery in every case we take.
- Our attorneys are not intimidated by big insurance companies and we can negotiate with insurers on behalf of our clients.
- We offer free case evaluations to potential new clients. A free consultation is an opportunity for an injured person to learn more detailed information about his or her legal position and make an informed decision about representation before making a financial commitment for legal counsel.
Regardless of how your burn injury occurred, the burn injury lawyers at Begam, Marks & Traulsen, P.A. have the skills, resources, and experience necessary to help you recover your losses and obtain fair compensation. We understand how traumatic these experiences are for victims and their families and will put our full strength behind your burn injury lawsuit.
Why Hire an Attorney for a Burn Injury in Phoenix?
You or a loved one may suffer a burn injury and think that your case is straightforward; you have identified the party responsible for the burn injury and have some grasp on the resulting damages. While some plaintiffs successfully handle self-representation and save money on legal fees for their burn injury claims, this is incredibly rare and an unreasonable expectation for an individual recovering from a severe burn injury.
The average person with no legal experience may overlook valuable avenues of compensation, forget a crucial court filing, or miss a deadline for important paperwork. Procedural errors could lead to a judge throwing out a case before it even reaches the trial stage.
Hiring a burn injury lawyer means you can focus on your recovery while your legal representative handles your lawsuit. Your attorney can help you prepare for depositions and trail appearances, compile strong evidence to support your claim in court, and even negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf if necessary.
How Long will a Burn Injury Lawsuit Take?
Burn injuries are often complex and require a difficult road to recovery. Victims can expect multiple procedures, surgery, and other impeding factors to their recovery. Since these expenses and medical bills can add up quickly over time, it’s natural to wonder how long pursuing a burn injury case will take.
Several factors may influence the nature and amount of a burn injury settlement or claim. For example, cases involving work injuries typically follow a faster timeline, since victims use a no-fault system of insurance to receive benefits.
If a burn injury arises from third-party negligence in Arizona, on the other hand, the case may be more complicated and involve multiple defendants. An experienced burn injury lawyer in Phoenix will identify the liable parties and pursue fair compensation on the victim’s behalf.
Arizona Statue of Limitations for a Burn Injury
The court system in Arizona imposes certain time limits to determine if a victim of a burn injury can bring a civil claim against another party. This timeline, called the statute of limitations, will affect a victim’s ability to file a personal injury claim. To pursue compensation for any injury caused by another party’s negligence, the plaintiff must file a personal injury claim within a two-year period.
The two-year clock begins on the date in which the injury occurred. On the other hand, an important exception to this rule may also exist, which is “the rule of discovery.” Under this exception, a person may also pursue a personal injury claim within two years from the time that a victim reasonably discovered an injury.
A person who attempts to file a personal injury claim after the two-year deadline will likely be unable to receive compensation, even if liability is clear. It’s essential for victims of burn injury to discuss legal options with a burn injury attorney as soon as possible.
If you or a loved one suffered a burn injury and believe someone else may be responsible, you have legal options. Contact the Phoenix burn injury lawyers at Begam Marks and Traulsen, P.A. today to schedule a free initial consultation with our firm.
Burn Injury Statistics
According to the American Burn Association (ABA), there were approximately 486,000 burn injuries that received medical treatment in 2016. This includes injuries that received treatment at hospitals and emergency departments. Minor burn victims likely also received treatment at clinics, community health centers, and private medical offices, which do not count in the ABA’s calculated total. If you or a loved one has been injured in an Arizona burn accident, the Phoenix burn injury lawyers at Begam Marks & Traulsen, P.A., can help you get the compensation you deserve.
That same year, there were around 40,000 hospitalizations related to burn injuries; about 30,000 were at specialized burn centers. These burn centers have an average of 200 admissions per year for burn injuries and skin disorders with similar treatments. In contrast, other hospitals average fewer than three burn admissions per year.
Burn and Fire-Related Death Statistics
Burns are also a contributor to fire-related deaths, which can occur both through burn injuries and smoke inhalation. Across residential, car accidents, and other fire sources, there were 3,275 fire-related deaths in 2016, meaning that one civilian fire-related death occurs approximately every 2 hours and 40 minutes.
Males suffer burn injuries more often than females, and most burns occur at home. Others occur through occupational, highway, and recreational activities. Fires and open flames account for almost half of burn injuries, while scalding is responsible for a third. Contact, electrical, chemical, and other burn causes account for the rest of injuries.
Despite the number of deaths attributed to burns, 96.8% of burn victims survive their injuries. This is because most burns are treatable, with only fourth-degree burns (and higher) likely to cause death.
Child Burn Statistics
Young children are at a very high risk for burn injuries. Children under 4 suffer 200,000 scalding-related burns per year. About half of these injuries are due to spilled food and drinks, with the rest coming from contact with hot tap water, irons, stoves, and heaters.
About 65% of children hospitalized for burns are from scald injuries, and 20% are from contact burns. Every year, about 500 children lose their lives to burn injuries.
Annual Cost of Burn Injuries
Burn and fire injuries account for over $7 billion in costs annually, with males accounting for 64% of injuries. Fatal injuries cost $3 billion annually, which is 2% of the total cost of all fatal injuries. Hospitalization for burn-related injuries accounts for $1 billion in annual costs.
Burns can cause extensive and lasting injuries to victims. As a result, a burn injury can change a victim’s life. If you or a loved one has suffered a burn due to another’s negligence, rely on Phoenix burn injury lawyers to help you get the compensation you deserve.
What are the Different Types of Burns?
Medical professionals generally refer to four different types of burns and use a degree scale to classify a burn injury’s severity. The four types of burns include:
- Thermal burns. Direct contact with hot surfaces or substances, open flames, or scalding liquids causes thermal burn injuries.
- Chemical burns. Exposure to toxic or corrosive chemicals can cause severe skin burns as well as internal burns in the respiratory system.
- Electrical burns. Electrical discharges can cause severe burns, cause clothing to catch fire, and can also cause nerve damage and cardiac irregularities.
- Radiation burns. Any exposure to harmful radiation can create a radiation burn. One of the most common examples of this type of burn is sunburn from overexposure to the sun’s radiation.
Different types of burns require different treatments. For example, electrical burns may cause heart problems or destroy the nerves in a region of the body, while chemical burns can cause severe illness and respiratory difficulty. Thermal burns can cause intense scarring which can later limit motor functions in the affected area. For example, a person who suffers a severe thermal burn covering his or her elbow may have difficulty moving his or her arm once scar tissue forms, reducing the elasticity of the skin.
What are the Different Degrees of Burns?
Medical professionals have classified burn injuries based on how deeply the skin has been harmed. These classes are referred to as “degrees” and there are six of them:
- First-degree burn
- Second-degree burn
- Third-degree burn
- Fourth-degree burn
- Fifth-degree burn
- Sixth-degree burn
First-degree burns are the least serious and generally only affect the outermost layer of skin. However, if a first-degree burn affects a sensitive area of the body or covers more than 10% of the surface area of the body, the victim should seek medical attention. Second-degree burns are more severe and penetrate more deeply into the layers of skin, and third-degree burns completely destroy the skin in the affected area. A fourth-degree burn is any burn that exposes the underlying tissues or bones beneath the skin and is a medical emergency. The most dangerous levels are fifth degree burns that reach a person’s muscles, and sixth degree burns that reach a person’s bones.
Expert Witnesses in Burn Injury Lawsuits
Many personal injury attorneys maintain networks of professional contacts who can act as expert witnesses in important cases. An expert witness is a neutral third party with a relevant professional background.
For burn injury cases, expert witnesses who can support a plaintiff’s claim may include experienced burn unit physicians, physical therapists who work with burn victims, counselors, and other medical experts who can offer professional insights into a plaintiff’s medical condition.
Expert witness testimony helps a judge and jury reviewing a burn injury case understand the full scope of the plaintiff’s experiences. Burn injuries are painful, traumatic injuries that can easily cause permanent disability or disfigurement. Pain and suffering compensation often form a significant portion of a burn injury victim’s recovery in a burn injury lawsuit, and the jury will refer to expert witness testimony when determining an appropriate amount of compensation.
Finding the Right Phoenix Burn Injury Lawyer
Phoenix burn victims need reliable legal representation they can trust to manage their legal battles, handle difficult insurance companies, and provide peace of mind during a very difficult time. The Phoenix burn injury lawyers at Begam Marks & Traulsen, P.A. are here to help.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with one of our Phoenix personal injury attorneys. We’ll assess the facts surrounding your burn injury case. Once we’ve reviewed your unique case, we let you know what type of compensation you could expect from a lawsuit.
“Richard and Steve: You two were great to work with, and I would recommend anyone to your firm. I’m very pleased with the way everything was handled and I’m grateful for all your hard work. I wish you both all the best.” – B.B