Burns can be excruciating injuries that often leave extensive physical and emotional scars. If you’ve suffered a severe burn in an accident due to someone else’s recklessness or carelessness in Florence, South Carolina, you could be eligible to seek compensation for what you’ve endured and will deal with in the future.
The personal injury lawyers at Jebaily Law Firm provide skilled and supportive legal counsel to people who have suffered burns due to someone else’s negligence in Florence. We know that the path to recovery can be a long one, but we’re ready to put our experience and resources to work to pursue compensation to make the journey easier. Our attorneys will be prepared to discuss your case during a free consultation, whether at our Florence office, your hospital room, or wherever is most convenient for you.
Contact us by phone, contact form, or live chat to get started.
Common Types of Fire and Burn Injury Lawsuits
At Jebaily Law Firm, our attorneys have extensive experience helping people who’ve been burned in accidents in Florence.
Some examples of cases we’ve handled include:
- Burn injuries at work – Burn injuries can occur when workers are exposed to hot cooking surfaces, liquids, open flames, escaping steam, caustic chemicals, or open electrical circuits.
- Burn injuries in auto accidents – Accident victims can sustain burns from flames, explosions, hot metals, steam, hot liquids, or scalding chemicals. People also frequently suffer “road rash” friction burns from contact with rough surfaces.
- Burn injuries on dangerous property – Unsafe properties can leave visitors with devastating burn injuries when negligent owners fail to secure heating equipment, properly adjust water heaters, warn visitors of unsafe food temperatures, or leave fire exits free from obstructions, for example.
- Burn injuries from defective products – Defective or unsafe products could cause burn injuries by open electrical circuitry, improper ventilation, or inadequate warning labels, for example.
Demanding Compensation for Your Burn Injury
If you sustained a burn injury due to someone else’s negligence, you have the right to demand compensation by filing a burn injury claim. Any money you receive from a personal injury claim or a lawsuit is intended to compensate you for your injuries and any personal or financial losses you suffered as a result.
Depending on the nature of your claim, you could be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical bills and other healthcare expenses related to your burn injuries
- Lost wages from missed time at work while you recover from your burn injuries
- Projected future losses you will likely incur as a result of your burn injuries, such as lost earning capacity and expected future medical bills
- Pain, suffering, and losses in quality of life you endure as a result of your injuries
- Incidental expenses you incur as a result of your burn injuries, such as the costs of travel to and from medical appointments
How a Florence Burn Injury Lawyer Can Help
The dedicated lawyers of Jebaily Law Firm can help you after a Florence burn injury by:
- Explaining your legal rights and options for seeking compensation
- Calculating the full extent of your losses and the potential value of your burn accident injury claim
- Conducting an independent investigation into the burn accident to uncover valuable evidence and determine who was at fault
- Interviewing eyewitnesses and expert witnesses who can provide helpful testimony to support your claim
- Communicating with insurers, attorneys, and other parties on your behalf
- Negotiating aggressively for the compensation you deserve and taking your case to trial, if necessary
How Long Do You Have to File a Burn Injury Lawsuit in Florence?
Under South Carolina law, you have just three years from the date of your initial burn injury to file a lawsuit in Florence civil court. If you wait to file until after the three-year deadline has passed, the court will likely dismiss your case, and you will lose your right to demand compensation for your losses.
The team at Jebaily Law Firm can help you determine the exact timeline of your Florence burn injury case and ensure the essential documents and paperwork are filed with plenty of time to spare.
Types and Degrees of Burn Injuries
Burn injuries are typically categorized into different types based on the factors that contributed to the burn.
Common types of burn injuries include:
- Thermal burns – A thermal burn is caused by exposure to extreme temperatures, whether hot or cold. Many thermal burns occur due to direct or indirect contact with flames, steam, hot objects, scorching surfaces, and scalding fluids.
- Electrical burns – An electrical burn is caused by direct contact with electrical currents from uncovered or damaged cables. Electrical burns can cause damage to outer layers of skin as well as internal tissues.
- Friction burns – A friction burn occurs when the skin comes into direct contact with rough or abrasive surfaces, such as asphalt, concrete, or bristly carpets. The friction that results from dragging or pushing skin along these surfaces can generate extreme heat and severe burn injuries.
- Chemical burns – Acids, bases, and corrosive agents can cause chemical burn injuries, resulting in irritation and severe damage to the skin, eyes, and other soft tissues.
- Radiation burns – A radiation burn can occur when skin is exposed to ionizing radiation, which can come from prolonged contact with the sun’s rays, X-rays, or other types of radiation.
Burn injuries are also categorized based on the degree or the severity of the burn:
- First-degree burns – First-degree burns damage only the top layer of skin. This type of burn typically results in redness and irritation but does not cause blisters or any lasting damage.
- Second-degree burns – Second-degree burns result in trauma to both the top layer of skin and the layers below it. Second-degree burn victims typically suffer from redness, blisters, and occasional swelling.
- Third-degree burns – Third-degree burns penetrate through every layer of skin and damage the soft tissue underneath. Third-degree burn victims may have discolored or blackened skin and soft tissue.
- Fourth-degree burns – Fourth-degree burns are rare but incredibly traumatic. Fourth-degree burns thoroughly damage the skin and underlying soft tissue, often exposing bone or muscle and leaving victims with extensive nerve damage.
What to Expect with a Burn Injury and Recovery
Recovering from a burn injury can look very different depending on the type and degree of the burn. Some first-degree and second-degree burns will heal in a matter of days or weeks with rest, medication, and fluids at home.
More serious third-degree or fourth-degree burns often require specialized treatment at hospitals or burn trauma centers. Victims of severe burns may need surgery, skin grafts, and rehabilitation to regain motor function and prevent infection.
Talk to Our Experienced Florence Burn Injury Attorney Today
If you’ve suffered a burn injury due to someone else’s negligence, you deserve justice and fair compensation for the pain you’ve suffered and losses you’ve incurred. Contact us online or call Jebaily Law Firm today to take advantage of our more than 100 years of combined experience serving people who’ve been injured in Florence and surrounding areas of South Carolina.
