Huntington Beach Burn Injuries Attorney

Burn injuries are devastating. In a split second, a person can suffer permanent disfigurement of their face, neck, arms, or torso, causing intense pain and disability. Many burn victims also come down with infections, which could be life-threatening if not treated promptly.

At El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers, we have represented many burn victims and their families in lawsuits seeking financial compensation. A burn can cost thousands of dollars in medical treatment while resulting in social isolation and other distress. To find out whether you can file a personal injury claim, contact a Huntington Beach burn injuries attorney at our law firm. We can listen to your story, answer questions, and then provide an overview of whether you have a valid legal claim. 

Major Causes of Burn Injuries

Burns are usually caused by contact with:

• Fire
• Steam
• Hot liquids or solids
• Chemicals
• Electricity

A person can suffer burns in all sorts of accidents, including:

• Car wrecks
• Truck accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Product explosions or other accident
• Fires on someone’s property
• Electrocution

Reasons Why Burns Are Difficult Injuries

Burns have the potential to be catastrophic. Here are some of the reasons why these are tough injuries:

• Burns can lead to permanent disfigurement and embarrassing scars. Someone who suffers a burn on their hands or face might feel distress when out in public.
• Burns can lead to limb loss. Third and fourth-degree burns might permanently damage nerves and other tissue, forcing a doctor to amputate the affected limb. A person might need to relearn how to cook, clean, or get dressed. Others will need crutches or a wheelchair permanently.
• Burns can develop dangerous infections. Watch any burn, even one that’s small. Signs of infection include redness and pus pouring out. When left untreated, an infection could lead to sepsis.
• Victims struggle emotionally following a burn, often with fears about how they will take care of themselves. Burns affect the entire family and put stress on anyone’s marriage.
• Even if a burn heals, a victim will likely have contractures, which require surgery and physical therapy.

Who Can You Hold Accountable for Your Burn Injury?

In a consultation, we’ll want to know more about how you were hurt. This information will help us begin to winnow down who you can sue for your burn.

We have years of experience bringing claims against the following:

• Motorists. A negligent driver could have struck you, causing your vehicle to explode or catch on fire. These motorists are responsible when they drive carelessly. Let us make an insurance claim on the driver’s liability coverage. We might also sue a truck driver for smashing into your car, or else sue the trucker’s employer.
• Property owners. We might sue whoever owns the property where you were hurt in a fire or explosion. The owner has a duty to keep the premises reasonably safe for those invited to visit. For example, an exploding hair dryer in a hotel could have burned you, so we might sue the hotel for compensation. A private homeowner might also have insurance to cover fires and other accidents on their premises.
• Businesses. You might be injured on business property, in which case you probably can sue the business. They should keep the premises safe for customers, and they should have liability coverage.
• Product manufacturers or designers. Hundreds of defective products enter the marketplace every year. Dangerous appliances and toys can catch on fire due to defects or poor materials. A surprising number of clothing items are recalled each year for violating fire safety standards. Please visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission website to stay on top of the most recent recalls.

Reach out to our firm so we can review the facts. We want as much evidence as possible to use in your claim. Once we piece together what happened, we can identify the proper defendant in your case.

Medical Expenses and Burn Injuries

Medical care is extensive and might include:

• Antibiotics to control infection
• Emergency room visits
• Skin grafts
• Hospitalization
• Psychotherapy
• Surgery or amputation
• Prosthetics
• Wheelchairs
• Pain medication

Minor burns might not require any hospitalization. However, someone with a serious burn could incur tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills—and sometimes quite a bit more than that. It all depends on the burn. A serious burn resulting in amputation can result in life-long disabilities and possibly require a home attendant to help with daily activities.

Burns create psychological distress, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Entire families might need counseling to help them adjust to the changed circumstances.

How We Win Burn Injury Cases

Our law firm takes a comprehensive approach to burn injuries. We strive to:

• Understand the condition of your burn injury and how it will affect the remainder of your life
• Calculate the lifetime cost of medical care, including future surgeries and/or ongoing rehabilitation
• Estimate the value of emotional distress and bodily pain
• Analyze any comparative negligence, such as your failure to follow the rules of the road, which might have contributed to a motor vehicle crash

This preparation helps us negotiate with confidence. We can maximize the other side’s share of fault to increase the amount of money you take home. We will also argue that you deserve compensation for future damages, such as loss of earning capacity.

El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers is among the most successful personal injury law firms in Huntington Beach. We have obtained millions of dollars for our clients, and we can meet to review whether you have a strong claim. Don’t settle for an inexperienced lawyer who hasn’t tackled burn cases before. Our burn injury clients have unique needs, and we know how to properly negotiate your claim.

Burn Injury Statistics

According to the American Burn Association, burns are one of the most common injuries:

• In 2021, 398,000 people received treatment for burn injuries.
• 3,900 people died from fire or smoke inhalation, with 680 dying from fires in a motor vehicle accident.
• 4.4% of all burn admissions required surgery and extended mechanical ventilation.
• Deep burns without any need for mechanical ventilation represented 32% of all admissions to burn centers.

Most burns occur in the warmer months, May through August. This isn’t surprising. Many people are burned while camping or on vacation. Nonetheless, it is important to remain vigilant throughout the year.

About two-thirds of burn injury victims are male, and one-third are female. The median age for admissions with a burn injury is 39. Helpfully, the survival rate was over 97%, but this number masks the many challenges burn injury victims face. Someone might survive but be confined to a bed or otherwise unable to return to their jobs.

Speak with a Huntington Beach Burn Injuries Attorney

Burn injuries have the potential to bankrupt victims and their families. Few can afford to spend six figures on medical treatment for a serious burn. And few families can continue to afford their mortgage when a family member is unable to work due to an accident.

Please seek professional support for the grueling road ahead, including legal assistance with negotiating a settlement. We have met many men and women struggling bravely to overcome serious burns and amputations, and we are eager to meet you, too.

Call our firm at (714) 536-9366 to discuss your accident. California law generally gives victims only two years to file a lawsuit, and you don’t want to let the deadline slip away, because you can lose the ability to sue. Contact us as soon as possible.