Chicago Burn Injury Lawyer

Chicago Burn Injury Attorneys

Chicago Burn Injury Lawyers
Severe psychological and physical trauma affects many burn injury victims. They’re also commonly saddled with enormous medical debt, lost wages, emotional distress, and more. It’s even worse when someone else causes your injury. This includes a landlord who didn’t keep appropriate safety equipment in your building, a nightclub, restaurant, a hotel that didn’t follow fire safety rules, or an unsafe work environment. Burns are life-changing injuries that often require a Chicago burn injury lawyer to help recover fair compensation for the accident. According to the American Burn Association (ABA), about 500,000 burn injuries receive treatment in the United States each year. These injuries have a 94% survival rate, and they are, undoubtedly, one of the most severe traumas a person can endure.  At Curcio & Casciato, we focus on personal injury cases in Chicago for a reason. We strive to help those who suffered burn injuries and offer them respite from the stress of litigation. Our burn injury lawyers are top-notch, and they won’t stop until they secure the best outcome possible for your case. If you or a loved one is a burn victim or has burn injury claims, we’re here to help. For your free consultation, please call our Chicago office at 312-321-1111 today.

What Are the Different Degrees of Burn Injuries?

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Burn injuries are classified according to their severity and the damage done to the human body. First, second, third, and fourth-degree are the different types of burn injuries. The mildest injuries occur with first-degree burns, while the most severe injuries occur with fourth-degree burns.

First-Degree Burns

First-degree burns are something most people experience in their lifetimes. They are the most common burn injury and happen when someone gets a sunburn or touches a hot plate of food. First-degree burns cause inflammation, discomfort, blisters, and a manageable amount of pain.

Second-Degree Burns

Second-degree burns come with a higher pain level and more damage. That is because they involve the inner and outer layers of the skin. Scalding water, ovens and stoves, and harsh chemicals cause this type of burn. Blisters, very red or shiny skin, and possible skin peeling often occurs.

Third-Degree Burns

The inner and outer skin layers, as well as the fatty tissue beneath get destroyed when a person suffers third-degree burns. These burns also damage muscles, bones, and tendons. Also called full-thickness burns, third-degree burn injuries can impair skin regrowth. The skin may also scar, become infected, and appear white or yellow. The pain is generally excruciating. However, if the burn victim suffers from destroyed nerve endings, they may have minimal pain in certain areas.

Severe burn injuries cause agonizing symptoms, and many victims spend the rest of their lives with physical scars and permanent impairments. Burn victims also frequently suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and low self-confidence, especially if their burns scars cause them to look disfigured.

Lifetime struggles that burn injury victims deal with include: 

  • Brain damage
  • Lung damage
  • Infection
  • Muscle damage
  • Skin grafts
  • Disfigurement and scars
  • Loss of mobility
  • Emotional distress

Fourth-Degree Burns

A burn injury of this severity is the most serious. The muscle tissue and bone may be exposed, and the skin looks blackened, ashy, or charred. A fourth-degree burn may not be painful because the nerve endings are seared away. Victims of burns this severe may not survive. 

chicago burn injury attorney

Inhalation Injuries Caused by Fires

The most common cause of mortality in fires is smoke inhalation. The upper airways can easily become damaged from the heat, soot, gasses (such as cyanide), and so much more. People who are trapped in fires also frequently suffer from asphyxiation, which is when they don’t breathe in enough oxygen.

Industrial Burns from Chemical Plant Explosions, Oil Refinery Fires, Etc.

Every time plant and refinery workers go to work, they risk injury in an explosion. When these explosions happen, the consequences may be devastating, and workers may suffer chemical burns, electrical burns, radiation burns, thermal burns, and other serious burns. If the power of an explosion does not kill people who are close to the blast, the victims will almost certainly suffer from catastrophic industrial burns.  

How Do I Know if My Burn Injury is Serious and Permanent?

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Burn injuries of the third and fourth degrees are generally devastating since they prevent the person from working again. These burns can result in severe deformity, nerve damage, and even limb amputation. Applying skin grafts to the damaged region and administering antibiotics to prevent infections are the most common medical treatments for severe burns. The patient receives intravenous fluids to stay hydrated, and medical staff wraps the afflicted region until it heals.

Patients with third and fourth-degree burns may face significant consequences. Secondary infections, organ damage, and other life-threatening diseases are among them. The burn damage may be deadly if a patient doesn’t receive emergency medical attention right away. It may be physically and emotionally painful to live with the scars and deformity of a severe burn. Victims may have to adjust to a new way of life and may be unable to participate in activities they formerly liked. Many are also unable to work, putting them in a financial bind as medical costs mount. It’s critical to seek compensation from those who caused your injuries, and a Chicago personal injury attorney from Curcio & Casciato is here to help.

What Kind of Liability Exists In Burn Injury Cases in Chicago?

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Liability typically depends on the negligence that occurred and the party financially liable for the victim’s damages. Knowing who is at fault for your burn accident is vital when pursuing legal action.  

A common way many people receive burn injuries is in house and apartment fires. Illinois expects landlords to provide specific maintenance standards and protections for their tenants, such as:

  • Fire extinguishers on each floor if the building has more than three stories.
  • At least one smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector for each living space and interior stairwell.
  • No blocked exits.

If negligent landlords commit building code violations that result in tenants’ injuries, they may face legal action.

For many workers in the U.S., burn injuries on the job are a real possibility due to hazardous work environments such as factories, mills, oil rigs, etc.

Employees burned at work may be able to file for workers’ compensation. This type of insurance replaces an injured employee’s lost wages and provides medical benefits. Getting these benefits means the employee gives up their right to sue their employer for the harm they suffered.  

Workers’ compensation is limited and does not cover lifetime injuries, and some insurance companies reduce or deny benefits. Discussing your burn injury lawsuit options and rights with a burn injury attorney Chicago is best.

Contact a Chicago third-party personal injury lawyer for more information.

Burn injuries can also happen at businesses that have frequent fire hazards. Common locations where these burn injuries occur include restaurants, grocery stores, hotels, fitness centers, nightclubs, and more. In these locations, customers may experience scalding injuries, a thermal burn, or an electrical burn. 

Negligent owners of private or commercial properties may be liable when a person receives injuries from a scalding object or fire.

Contact a Chicago premises liability attorney for more information.

How Do I Get Compensation for My Burn Injuries?

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There are options for recovering costs if someone else’s negligence caused your burn injury. If the event costs you money, you can submit a claim for burn injury damages. It’s important to note that it’s not worth filing a personal injury claim over minor burns that you can treat yourself, even if a negligent person did cause those injuries. 

Getting the plaintiff back to where they were before the accident is the goal of a personal injury lawsuit. Damages may be available if you have medical costs, lost time from work, and other expenditures. First, however, we must establish the following elements of negligence.

  • Someone owed you a duty of care.
  • That person breached their duty.
  • That breach caused your injury.
  • Your injury resulted in a financial loss.

Burn victims face a long and challenging recovery. Not only because of the injuries and pain they suffer but also the mental anguish, lost wages, and mounting medical expenses. 

What is the Average Settlement Value of a Burn Injury Claim?

Each burn injury case has a different value. Chicago burn injury attorneys can certainly help you determine the value of your case. Below, we list a variety of economic and non-economic damages that can result in a higher settlement value.

  • Medical expenses
  • Other injury-related expenses
  • Lost wages
  • Permanent disfigurement or disability
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Loss of consortium
  • Emotional distress
  • Physical pain and suffering
  • Damaged property
  • Punitive damages

What Are the Time Limits for Filing a Burn Injury Claim?

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The purpose of statutes of limitations is to establish how much time a person has to file a lawsuit for a particular legal action. In most situations, the statute of limitations for a personal injury action in Illinois is two years from the date of the injury. There are several exceptions to the time restriction for filing personal injury claims, which a Chicago catastrophic injury lawyer can explain to you. Below, we list notable exceptions.

  • For a victim under the age of 18, the statute of limitations clock does not start counting down until they turn 18.
  • If someone does not discover their injury until after the two years have passed, they may still file a lawsuit. However, they must convince the court to extend the limitations period.

Experienced Chicago Burn Injury Lawyers at Curcio & Casciato

Curcio & Casciato is proud to be Chicago’s top personal injury law firm. We believe that victims deserve to have their voices heard. Our Chicago burn injury attorneys focus on setting you up in the best position for a favorable outcome in your case. If you suffered a burn injury due to someone else’s negligence, Curcio & Casciato is here for you. For more information or to schedule a free consultation, please call our Chicago office at 312-321-1111 today.

Our firm handles various aspects of the law including Chicago nursing home abuse and neglectChicago medical malpracticeChicago wrongful death, and more.