Just about everyone has experienced the pain of a small burn, from touching a hot pan to the searing pain of bare feet on pavement on a hot August day. Burn injuries, however, are much more serious, often necessitating reconstructive surgery. Serious burns are also accompanied by chronic pain and could possibly even threaten your life. If someone else’s negligence caused you to experience a severe burn injury, you may be able to file for compensation with the help of a burn injury lawyer in Maryland.
At the Jaklitsch Law Group, our Maryland personal injury lawyers have won more than 9,000 cases on behalf of clients recovering from injuries caused by others. If you have suffered a burn injury during a car accident, in an apartment fire, or due to an electrical hazard, we have what it takes to help you seek justice for your losses.
Pursuing Compensation After a Burn Injury in Maryland
Victims of burn injuries often experience life-changing effects after an accident. Long months of recovery, chronic pain, limitations on your physical abilities, and disfigurement may all accompany a burn injury, impacting your life immensely. You deserve fair compensation for all that you have spent in recovery and all that you have suffered. At the Jaklitsch Law Group, our burn injury lawyers are here to help you:
- Build a strong case against the negligent actors who caused your injuries and impacted your life so severely.
- Calculate the compensation necessary to cover the expenses you have incurred associated with your burn injuries.
- Pursue a settlement including that calculation, which also acknowledges the pain and suffering you have experienced.
Since 1999, our lawyers have pursued cases while providing top-level legal services and a personal touch. We are a small law firm that is able to give clients personalized attention, but we bring with us the strength, experience, and resources of a large firm. Whether you suffer a burn injury after a car accident or a premises liability incident, our burn injury attorneys can help you get the compensation you deserve.
Types of Burn Injury Cases We See in Maryland
Burns are a type of wound caused by contact with a variety of sources, not just heat and open flame. These wounds can be superficial or go down to the bones and muscles. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, infants and the elderly are at higher risk for burn injuries. But burns can happen anywhere, from worksites to the home.
Types of burns often seen in cases include:
- Thermal (Heat) Burns: From hot temperatures of steam, metals, scalding liquids, or open flames, thermal burns cause the skin to experience cellular death or charring.
- Radiation Burns: Prolonged sun exposure and other sources of radiation can cause tissue damage, including dryness, blisters, swelling, and open wounds that are prone to infection. Radiation from X-rays, cancer treatments, or workplace hazards is a common cause of this condition.
- Chemical Burns: A chemical burn occurs when a corrosive substance (such as battery acid, solvents, or detergents) damages the skin, eyes, or internal organs. Chemical burns are more common for people who work with chemicals at their job or with young children who are around household chemicals.
- Electrical Injuries: Both alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) power can cause burns or electrocution. Many workplaces are more at risk for these injuries, but they can also occur on poorly maintained premises or due to faulty consumer goods and product liability issues.
Burns should be taken seriously and can often be life-threatening. No matter the type of burn injury sustained, you may experience anything from a first-degree, or superficial, burn to a fourth-degree burn extending through all layers of skin and impacting muscle, tendons, and possibly bones.
Types of Accidents that Cause Burn Injuries
At The Jaklitsch Law Group, our burn injury attorneys see clients who have been injured in a variety of accidents types. Every situation involving a personal injury is unique, and we treat every claim with personalized dedication. Working with our team, you should know we have handled cases such as:
- Burns sustained in fiery car accidents
- Chemical exposure or thermal burns from commercial truck accidents
- Burns from premises liability, such as exposed wiring or poorly maintained fire prevention systems
- Scalds from hot liquids served at a restaurant
- Burn injuries from defective products
- Radiation burns from faulty medical devices or treatments
Our burn injury lawyers strive to empower you with the information you need to make the right choices in pursuing justice under the law. Check out our resources page for lega tips, advice, and frequently asked questions to learn more about what to expect with your personal injury claim. For further questions, set up a free case consultation with our team to learn more and get answers specific to your unique situation.
Maryland Data on Residential Fires
While fires are not the only cause of burns for which a person can pursue compensation, the National Fire Incident Report System provides an interesting look at Maryland’s fire losses, casualties, and residential fires. Maryland hosts 262 registered fire departments, of which 60% are registered as volunteer departments, slightly lower than the national average of 70%. The state reports a lower fire casualty count than the national average, at 1 death per 1,000 fires compared to the national average of 2 deaths per 1,000 fires.
Of the state’s fire incidents, fires that were reported in residential structures are most often the cause of casualties, accounting for 64% of fire-related deaths and 78% of injuries. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, Maryland saw 45 home fire fatalities in the last reporting year of data.
Serious Burn Injuries and Wrongful Death Cases
Burn injuries are often devastating for the victim. Severe burn injuries can take years of recovery, if recovery is even possible. If a victim sustains bad enough injuries, they may experience loss of limb(s), mobility constraints, scarring, disfigurement, and even death. Compensation for severe burns that were a direct result of someone else’s negligence should be pursued to the full extent of the law.
We hold negligent people accountable for their actions. If you lost a loved one due to a severe burn injury, you may be able to pursue compensation on behalf of your family through a wrongful death claim. Speak with one of our burn injury lawyers today to discuss what your next step is in the pursuit of justice.
Calculating Your Possible Burn Injury Settlement Value
Our burn injury attorneys work to increase your settlement value and get you the maximum possible compensation for your injuries and losses. If you are still recovering, we will make sure to calculate any potential future expenses to make sure your total settlement will cover you both now and in the future. Your burn injury settlement may cover expenses and losses such as:
- Hospital bills and doctor’s visits
- Cosmetic surgery, skin grafts, and other treatments
- Medical devices made necessary by your accident
- Lost pay from the time you were unable to work
- Loss of quality of life due to chronic pain and mobility constraints
- Emotional trauma and mental health complications like PTSD, depression, and anxiety
- The losses from permanent disfigurement and scarring
- In-home healthcare or support if your ability to do necessary tasks is limited
For severe injuries, we may consult with experts to help us assess your losses, including both economic costs and pain and suffering. These can include physiatrists, physical therapists, plastic surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, and other professionals.
Shared Liability in Maryland Burn Injury Claims
When negotiating a settlement with insurance or in a lawsuit, the defendant may argue that the plaintiff is also responsible for the accident or, in some way, for their own injuries. This is a significant problem in Maryland, as the state adheres to a strict approach to contributory negligence. This phrase means that if the injured person’s actions contributed in any way to their injuries, they are completely barred from recovering any damages from the other liable party.
An Example of Contributory Negligence
An example of this could be if an injury victim were pursuing compensation after being scalded by a hot coffee. When the plaintiff received the beverage at a drive-through, the cup slipped out of their hands, spilling the drink on their lap and giving them second-degree blistering burns.
The primary responsibility could be deemed to lie with a drive-through coffee shop that served a beverage at a dangerous temperature, thereby neglecting its duty of care to the customer. However, the customer may be considered to share in liability if they were deemed responsible for spilling the drink.
How Our Burn Injury Lawyers Can Help in These Cases
For this reason, it is important to work with a burn injury attorney to build a strong case of liability against the defendant and provide evidence of the plaintiff’s lack of responsibility for any part of the accident and ensuing injury.
Our Maryland burn injury lawyers will work with you to gather a large body of evidence and proof to back up your claim. At the Jaklitsch Law Group, we have secured over $200 million for our clients and will work hard to see that you get what you deserve.
Types of Evidence Your Burn Injury Lawyer Will Collect for Your Case
Because of how Maryland processes shared liability, it is vital that you and your lawyer collect thorough evidence to support your claim against the liable party and also show evidence to prove your lack of responsibility. The burden of proof lies with the plaintiff in any personal injury claim or case, and our burn injury lawyers will help you thoroughly examine every detail to build support for your request for compensation. These could include:
- Photos and video from the scene of the incident
- Medical records and documentation
- Eyewitness statements
- Police reports
- Traffic camera videos or nearby surveillance footage
- Photos of the burn injury during the stages of healing for proof of pain and suffering
The sooner you begin collecting evidence, the better, as some forms of evidence may degrade or disappear over time. Eyewitness testimony may fade with time, so collecting statements soon after the incident helps preserve details that may not be remembered in a few months’ time. Evidence like video recordings or traffic cam footage may get written over periodically, so requesting the videos sooner rather than later could help preserve important proof. Speak with a burn injury attorney today about what kinds of evidence could help support your claim.
Burn Injury Statute of Limitations in Maryland
When pursuing a personal injury claim or lawsuit for a burn injury, prompt filing and meeting deadlines will be crucial. One of the most important legal deadlines is called the statute of limitations, which is the time within which a person can pursue compensation for their personal injury.
Under Maryland statute §5–101, an injury victim generally has three years from the time and date the injury occurred. If that timeframe lapses, the injured person typically will not have any other options for pursuing compensation.
Are There Exceptions to the Three-Year Deadline?
There are some exceptions to this timeframe that could apply, such as in the case where an injury is discovered on a date after the incident or accident occurred. This is unlikely to happen with burn injury victims, as medical teams typically will identify outer injuries quickly. One situation where an injury may be discovered at a later date could include radiation burns or exposure to chemicals, both of which could build up over time.
Other exceptions may include cases involving minors or wrongful death claims, which could have less or more time added depending on the situation. Speaking with a burn injury attorney can help you determine how much time you have to file your claim and pursue compensation. Get started today so the time does not run out.
Contact Our Burn Injury Lawyers in Maryland Today
With almost 70 years of combined legal experience, the team at the Jaklitsch Law Group proves again and again that they have what it takes to fight for your legal right to fair compensation after a burn injury. We will be your guide throughout the entire process, providing you with the personalized attention and dedication you deserve. Contact us today for a free case consultation and get all your questions answered.
