Orange County Burn Injury Lawyers
Burns are incredibly painful. They can leave you with long recovery times, the need for physical therapy or surgery, and even cause wrongful death.
Get Legal Help After a Severe Burn
If you or a loved one has been burned due to the negligence of another party, you should take legal action to hold that party responsible. Burn injuries range in severity and may leave victims needing cosmetic surgery. In severe cases, burns can kill.
Burns are one of the most painful injuries anyone can experience and we here at Allen Flatt Ballidis & Leslie don't want you to face the challenges of recovery alone. For over 40 years, our legal team has been helping injury victims across Orange County get the compensation they deserve. Contact our Newport Beach office at (949) 752-7474 to see what we can do for you and your family.
Types of Burn Injuries
Burn injuries are measured by “degrees” based on the damage that has been done to the affected area. The classification is as follows:
- First-degree burns - This is the least severe of the burn injuries. First-degree burns only affect the outermost layer of skin and victims typically feel an intense burning sensation in the area of the injury. The skin may be red, dry, and painful to the touch. There is typically minor swelling, but no blistering should take place.
- Second-degree burns - Second-degree burns penetrate to an even deeper layer of skin known as the dermis. Burns of this nature typically result in redness and irritation, as well as blistering. They can require medical attention to help prevent infection and they can take two to three weeks to heal.
- Third-degree burns - This type of burn penetrates every layer of skin, and at times, victims feel little to no pain due to the intense damage done to nerve tissue. Third-degree burns can develop a waxy white color or a black, charred appearance. The skin is typically rough and leathery and has the appearance of undeveloped blisters. Third-degree burns require medical attention to treat, with surgery often required to remove the severely burned tissue. Scarring and disfigurement are common with these injuries and recovery times vary wildly.
- Fourth-degree burns - These burns occur when all the layers of skin are burned through and the tissue beneath is damaged. Fourth-degree burns can cause serious damage to muscles, tendons, nerves, bones, and even internal organs. At times, victims feel little to no pain due to the severe damage to nerve tissue and they require extensive medical treatment in order to heal properly. Disfigurement and grievous skin damage are common when these burns occur.
Burn Injuries Caused by Negligence
Burn injuries are caused by negligence when someone else's wrongful action or inaction directly results in your injury. In order to prove negligence, you must prove the following:
- The defendant owed you a “duty of care.”
- The defendant breached the owed duty of care.
- The defendant's breach was a substantial factor in causing you harm.
If all three of these qualifications are met, you should be able to receive compensation from the negligent party in a lawsuit.
Burn Injures and Premises Liability
If a burn injury occurs on the property of another person, he or she may be held liable. Property owners have a duty of care to maintain their premises and inspect it for any potential hazards. Dangerous conditions should either be fixed or have clear and obvious warning signs in place. If the owner of the premises did not fix a known hazard, or has failed to adequately warn visitors about the hazard and a burn injury occurs, the owner can be held legally responsible.
Burn Injuries and Product Liability
If a defective product causes a burn injury to you or a loved one, the company that made that product may be liable for the injury. Under product liability laws, a company responsible for the design, manufacturing, or sales of a defective product is strictly liable for any injuries caused by said product. In a product liability lawsuit, the victim must prove:
- The company designed, manufactured, distributed, or sold the defective product
- The product contained a manufacturing or design defect when it left the company's possession
- The victim used the product in a reasonable manner
- The product defect was a major factor in causing the victim's harm
Speak to Our Orange County Burn Injury Attorneys
If you or a loved one suffered a burn injury due to the negligence of another, you have the right to seek compensation from that person or company. Burn injuries can cause lifelong complications and disfigurement. You and your family need an experienced Orange County injury lawyer on your side to ensure you get justice.
The legal team at Allen Flatt Ballidis & Leslie has a 40-year track record of holding negligent parties accountable. Call us at (949) 752-7474 to schedule a free case evaluation and see what we can do for you. Let us handle your legal affairs while you and your family focus on healing.
Additional Information
- Burns - National Institute of General Medical Sciences
- Burn Injury - MedlinePlus
- American Burn Association
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