Finding Legal Help for Your Third-degree Burns

Third-degree burn injuries are the most serious types of burns. Third-degree burns affect the deepest layers of the skin, permanently destroying the skin tissue. The severity of the burn results in a charring of the skin, which causes the skin to appear blackened or white.

Paying for the Cost of Living with a Third degree Burn

Besides the physical permanency of a third degree burn and the intense pain that results, the severity of living with these types of burns can result in excessive monetary costs because of the inability to work and the long-term medical care needed. A person with a third degree burn may seek to bring a personal injury lawsuit against the person or people responsible for their injuries. A burn injury case involves many complexities, from determining the cause of the burn to establishing the medical treatment necessary to calculating an appropriate damage award to cover medical treatment and lost earnings.

An attorney will use expert testimony to help establish how the injury occurred and how much it will cost to provide lifetime monetary support for the individual suffering from third degree burns. One type of expert used in burn injury cases involves a cause and origin expert. The job of a cause and origin expert is to establish the source that caused the burn injury. Establishing the source helps to determine liability.

In cases that involve severe injuries, such as third-degree burns, a life care plan will provide for the needs of the injured individual. The money placed in the life care plan will support the injured person for remainder of their life. In a third-degree burn case, the monetary amount is determined by analyzing the needs of the person. For instance, the third-degree burn victim may need a wheelchair, special bandages or medication, surgeries, help cooking, and assistance from an in-home nurse or accommodation in a living facility. A life care plan includes these case-by-case costs. The inability to work or the ability to work but in a different profession is also included in the calculation of a life care plan.

Once these needs have been established, an economist calculates how much it will cost for the third-degree burn victim to live. The cost of living is the amount it will require to provide for the third-degree burn patient for their entire life, with the consideration of inflation and the rate of return. Once settlement occurs, a life care plan will pay for the injured individual’s needs in incremental payments over the life of the injured person.

How Legal Assistance Can Help

A consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney can provide the information needed in order to determine whether to file a personal injury claim for injuries sustained from third degree burns. An attorney can review evidence, such as photographs, fire department reports, and medical records, to help make this determination. An attorney will offer advice on the possible legal causes of action against a defendant or multiple defendants. Most personal injury attorneys accept cases on a contingency fee basis, so the lawyer receives compensation only after a case is settled or results in a favorable ruling for the plaintiff.

If you would like to learn about whether you have a personal injury case or if you have questions regarding your legal rights, please contact us.