Catastrophic injuries make the recovery process after an accident extremely difficult. If you have been injured due to another negligent party’s actions, you will not only be dealing with the insurance company — but also trying to get proper medical treatment.
Burn injuries often require extensive medical treatment, both at the time of the injury and long-term. At Hilley & Frieder, P.C., we believe that you should focus on your recovery. You can focus on your well-being while our Atlanta burn injury lawyers focus on maximizing your benefits and compensation for your claim.
When you work with our law firm, you have the benefit of knowing that a team of experienced personal injury lawyers in Atlanta will be handling your case, from start to finish. We are a husband and wife team and have more than 50 years of combined legal experience. Personalized legal services, aggressive advocacy, and commitment are pinnacles of our firm. You can set your expectations high when you work with our team.
A burn injury is characterized by damage to the skin or deeper tissues, such as the tendons and muscles, caused by contact with a dangerous object or element, such as heat or a harsh chemical. It is a painful wound that comes with a high risk of complications, such as infections and permanent scars. Suffering a severe burn injury is physically as well as emotionally traumatic for a victim. It can give an accident victim the right to seek justice and financial recovery from one or more at-fault parties in Atlanta.
Types of Burn Injuries
There are different types of burn injuries based on what caused the damage to the skin and other tissues. It is important for a doctor to identify the type of burn injury, as this will determine the appropriate medical treatment for the patient. An electrical burn, for example, must be treated differently than a thermal burn, as electricity may have passed through the victim’s body and caused internal injuries in addition to visible tissue damage.
There are five main types of burn injuries:
Thermal burns: heat, fire, hot liquids or steam.
Chemical burns: acidic, base or caustic chemicals.
Electrical burns: electricity, such as a live power line.
Radiation burns: sources of radiation, such as x-rays or the sun.
Friction burns: blunt trauma and heat exacerbated by high speed.
Thermal burns are the most common type of burn injury diagnosed after traumatic accidents, such as car crashes and explosions. All types of burns, however, can be suffered in a variety of settings, such as the workplace, and unsafe premises or right at home. No matter what type of burn injury you suffered in Atlanta, you may qualify for financial compensation if one or more parties had the power to prevent the injury.
Once a physician has identified the type of burn injury, he or she will further inform the patient’s treatment plan by classifying the degree of the burn. Degrees are determined based on the severity of the burn and its thickness, or how deep it has penetrated the skin and underlying tissues. Although some charts classify burn injuries into six different degrees, the four-degree system is the most common. Here are the four basic classifications of a burn injury in order from least severe to most severe:
Second-degree to fourth-degree burns always demand professional medical care. It is also important to see a doctor for a first-degree burn that is in a sensitive location, such as the face or the crease of a joint, or one that is more than three inches in diameter. A burn injury specialist will provide a patient with IV fluids, antibiotics, wound debridement and other treatments to help prevent infections and other common burn injury complications.
What Are the Long-Term Effects of a Burn Injury?
Burn injuries often cause more than just short-term tissue damage. A victim cannot always make a full recovery after being burned, especially with a severe burn. A major burn injury can result in an impaired health status for the victim even many years after the incident. While treatments such as surgeries, therapies, medications and rehabilitation can help a burn injury survivor heal, many experience long-term effects, such as:
Burn injuries can have physical, mental, emotional and psychosocial effects on survivors. Many victims report impaired health and reduced well-being after suffering burn injuries. With social support, counseling and advanced medical treatments, however, burn injury victims can often achieve improved levels of recovery.
Most people know that burn injuries can be caused by fires, such as accidental structural fires, explosions or fireworks. Burn injuries are more complex than most people realize, however, and can be caused by a variety of other types of accidents and incidents in Atlanta, as well. Common examples are:
All of these accidents are typically preventable. If a driver, employer, property owner, product manufacturing company or another party reasonably should have prevented your burn injury, you may qualify for financial compensation through a civil lawsuit. The lawyers at Hilley & Frieder, P.C., can handle all of these types of accident cases and more.
A burn injury as the result of an automobile accident or unsafe premises (such as a restaurant) can involve an extremely difficult recovery process. These burn injuries can end up leaving scars, result in disfigurement and require surgery in order to be corrected. Medical attention is needed immediately and often times specialist medical professionals are needed in order for the injured person to begin on a clear path to recovery.
At Hilley & Frieder, P.C., we have experience handling burn injuries from all types of auto accidents, including:
We are highly experienced car accident attorneys who can guide you and your family through the legal process required to obtain financial compensation for a car accident burn injury in Georgia. We will investigate your collision, search for evidence proving that the other driver is at fault and go up against a car insurance company on your behalf.
Suffering a burn injury can be extremely painful and traumatic in more ways than one. At Hilley & Frieder, P.C., we are passionate about helping clients demand justice and fair financial compensation for the losses experienced due to a burn. We use proven legal tactics to hold parties accountable for acts of negligence or carelessness that seriously injure others.
While we recognize that filing a civil lawsuit can be daunting, it is the best way to seek justice and hold the at-fault party accountable. It can provide valuable financial compensation for your losses during this difficult time, such as:
You may be eligible for compensation for both economic and noneconomic losses as a burn injury survivor. Some burn injury cases in Georgia also result in punitive damages. This is a different type of compensation that punishes a defendant for especially wrongful acts, such as gross negligence or malicious intent to harm. Severe burn injury cases are typically worth more than minor burns. Discuss the value of your case with one of our lawyers before accepting an insurance settlement.
Hiring a lawyer to represent you during a burn injury lawsuit can give you access to valuable resources, legal knowledge and capabilities that you would not have had alone. Your lawyer will know exactly how to build a strong case based on compelling evidence, for example, as well as go up against an insurance company to demand full financial compensation for your injuries. Your lawyer can take care of many important legal tasks on your behalf, such as:
In addition to efficiently handling the legal side of your case, a burn injury attorney can lend you greater peace of mind as a burn injury survivor. You’ve been through enough as an accident victim. A lawyer can answer your legal questions, provide sound counsel and guidance, and help you take the next steps forward. Trusting a lawyer with your financial recovery can allow you to focus more mental energy on your physical and emotional healing after a severe burn injury.
Contact our firm today to schedule a free initial consultation with one of our experienced Atlanta burn injury attorneys. We can be reached online or by phone at (404) 233-6200 or 877-938-2300. Located in Atlanta, our firm serves clients throughout Georgia in auto accidents, truck accidents and other personal injury claims.
Mia Frieder was the contributing attorney to this content.
