Severe burns can change your life in many ways. From chronic pain to scarring, living with the consequences of a burn injury can lead to lingering physical and emotional scars. You can also expect to face financial hardship as you recover from these burns as well.
If you suffered burn injuries due to someone else’s carelessness, you may be entitled to damages. A Birmingham burn injury lawyer can investigate your case and advise you of your options. Before you attempt to settle your claim on your own, reach out to a skilled catastrophic injury attorney first. Let The Outlawyer® handle the legal side while you focus on recovery.
Burn injuries fall into categories, called degrees. The extent of damage determines the degree of a burn, with fourth-degree burns being the most severe.
These burns affect only the outer layer of skin. You may notice redness, pain, and mild swelling, similar to a sunburn. They usually heal within days without permanent damage.
Second-degree burns reach deeper layers of skin. They often cause blisters, intense pain, and swelling. Healing can take weeks, and it is possible for a second-degree burn to lead to mild scarring.
These burns destroy all layers of the skin and can potentially damage some tissue underneath. Instead of the bright redness and blisters of second-degree burns, these injuries often look white or charred. The damage is often so severe that it destroys the nerve endings in the skin, which can result in chronic nerve pain.
Fourth-degree burns extend beyond the skin, damaging the tissue and even the bone. These injuries have the potential to be fatal and typically result in permanent disability for those who survive. Especially if you are left with irreversible pain or disability due to negligence, you need to seek legal assistance from an experienced lawyer for Birmingham burn injuries.
Burn injuries are possible under a wide range of circumstances. They can occur without warning when flammable materials are present, like a car’s gas tank. Other burns could be the result of a structure fire or even being exposed to harmful chemicals.
When it comes to seeking financial compensation for these injuries, what matters is showing that negligence caused them. Some of the most common situations that lead to burn injury claims include:
A burn injury attorney in Birmingham can review the cause of your injuries and answer your questions about your legal rights.
Alabama law gives you a limited amount of time to file a burn injury lawsuit, and it is crucial to comply with this deadline. In most cases, under Alabama Code § 6-2-38, you have two years from the date of the injury to take legal action. If you file after that time runs out, the court will likely dismiss your case with prejudice.
Dismissal with prejudice is a worst-case scenario for you, since it means you are barred from ever seeking damages for your injuries again. This is true even if there is no doubt that someone else was at fault for your burns.
Because of what is at stake, you should act as soon as possible. Burn injury cases are complex, and it can take time for a Birmingham attorney to build a viable claim for compensation. The sooner you get started, the better your chances of a full recovery become.
If you are living with burn injuries due to someone else’s actions, it may be time to explore your legal options. These cases can be difficult to navigate on your own, which makes it more important than ever to put your trust in The Outlawyer®. Call Matt Abbott to get help from a Birmingham burn injury lawyer today.