McDonough Burn Injury Attorneys

Not all burn injuries heal with ice and ointment. Some are serious, life-altering events. The physical and mental scars you receive can last long after the accident has passed. This trauma deserves compensation, and a skilled McDonough burn injury attorney from Kaufman Injury Law can help you obtain it.

No amount of money can undo the past or take away the permanent, debilitating injuries you’ve sustained. However, receiving a fair and adequate award can serve to hold the negligent party responsible for their misdeeds. It can also make a difference in your ability to get the treatment you need without jeopardizing your finances.

Let the McDonough burn injury lawyers at Kaufman Injury Law fight for your rights. Contact us to schedule a no-cost consultation and learn more about how to take legal action.

Common Causes of Burn Injuries in McDonough

Sunburns and hot stoves are just two ways McDonough residents frequently suffer painful burns. Here are a few of the most common types of burns and the factors that contribute to them:

Thermal Burns

Contact with an open flame or a heated object, such as boiling water or a hot surface, can cause a thermal burn. The risk of a severe burn injury increases with the temperature of the object and the duration of contact. Under the right conditions, second- and third-degree burn injuries can develop quickly.

Chemical Burns

Household cleaners and other products often contain dangerous chemicals that may cause burns if they come into contact with your exposed skin. Chemical accidents have the potential to cause widespread skin and tissue damage quickly. The longer these substances stay on your skin, the deeper and more painful the burns can be.

Radiation Burns

Sunburns are the most common form of radiation burns, but they aren’t the only type. You can also experience these burns from radiation therapy and the misuse of medical devices like X-rays. Prolonged exposure to radiation from any source can lead to severe burn injuries.

Electrical Burns

You could sustain an electrical burn if a live electrical current passes through your body. A strong current can instantly create severe tissue damage, as well as disrupt the electrical activity of the heart and muscles.

Approximately 5% of all burn patients admitted to hospitals like Piedmont Henry Hospital in Stockbridge have suffered electrical burns.

These and other types of burns are often the result of negligent actions. When someone else’s carelessness causes harm to you or your loved ones, you should make it a point to consult a McDonough burn injury lawyer about your legal rights.

Who Bears Responsibility for Burn Injuries?

Anyone whose actions cause or contribute to your burn injury can be held liable through a burn injury claim. However, they may not be the only liable party. Your attorney’s investigation could reveal that other people and entities also bear responsibility. These other parties might include:

• Property owners who failed to address a burn risk on their property
• Manufacturers of dangerous chemicals
• Electrical workers and contractors
• Store owners and employees who don’t respond to a burn accident properly

Identifying all individuals and entities who contributed to your injuries is an essential first step to getting the compensation you deserve. The sooner you retain an attorney, the faster they can get to work building a strong case for repayment.

What Happens When You Retain a Burn Injury Lawyer?

Two of the most effective steps you can take following a burn are seeking medical attention and contacting an experienced attorney. When you work with a knowledgeable burn injury lawyer serving McDonough, they’ll perform the following duties:

Investigate the Facts of Your Case

Your attorney will begin by looking into the facts of your burn accident. They’ll review the available evidence to determine how you sustained your injuries and how severe the damage is. This will help them determine who’s responsible for your injuries and the amount of compensation you should seek.

Prepare and File a Claim on Your Behalf

If you decide to pursue a compensation claim, you must file it with the Henry County Superior Court within two years of the date of your accident. Your lawyer will complete this critical step promptly to ensure that your rights are preserved and your case can proceed.

Attempt to Negotiate a Settlement

If evidence of fault is clear and your injuries are well-documented, the at-fault party might try to settle with you. In this situation, your attorney can work to negotiate a fair settlement amount that reflects the full extent of your losses.

Having a lawyer’s help at this stage will prevent you from being taken advantage of or settling for an insufficient amount.

Take Your Case to Trial (if Necessary)

If your attorney can’t work out a fair settlement, they’ll begin preparing to present your case in court before a judge and jury. They must be able to convince the court that your burn injuries are more likely than not the result of the other party’s carelessness. If they do, you’ll receive damages to offset your losses.

Compensation Available for Burn Accident Victims

You could experience considerable losses from a burn injury, depending on its severity. While painful, first-degree burns are superficial and will generally heal on their own. However, second- and third-degree burns affect deeper layers of tissue, including the muscles and bones. These injuries are characterized by:

• Intense pain
• Destroyed tissue that must be replaced with skin grafts
• Dangerous infections
• Nerve damage
• Emotional and psychological trauma

The costs of your medical treatment, reconstructive surgeries, and ongoing medical care can all be paid back through economic damages. So can any wages you’ve forfeited because you can’t work and any future reduction in your earning potential. If you’re seeing a therapist, economic damages would cover this expense, too.

In some cases, non-economic damages might also be available. This category of damages is intended to compensate you for your intangible losses, such as pain and suffering, not being able to participate in life activities as you once enjoyed, loss of companionship with your spouse, and the overall decline in your quality of life.

Why Knowing the Value of Your Case Is Important

The damages awarded in a severe burn injury case can reach into the thousands of dollars. However, the actual amount of compensation you can reasonably expect to receive will depend on a number of factors, including:

• Your overall prognosis and chance of recovery
• How well documented your losses are
• The actions you take following your burn accident
• How eager you are to settle your case versus taking it to trial

Understanding your case’s value and the compensation you stand to obtain empowers you to make informed decisions about your claim, including whether it would be better to accept a settlement offer or take your claim to trial.

Our McDonough Burn Injury Attorneys Are Here to Help

If you’ve received burn injuries in an accident, reach out to Kaufman Injury Law to schedule a free consultation.

Our compassionate burn injury lawyers have years of experience helping injury victims who have suffered catastrophic harm due to someone else’s actions. Your attorney will investigate the facts surrounding your case, help you understand your rights, and walk you through the steps required to pursue justice and fair compensation. Contact our team today to speak with a qualified burn injury attorney in McDonough and take the first step toward recovery.