Burn injuries remain a major public health concern and are a leading cause of accidental deaths and injuries in the United States. According to recent data from the American Burn Association (ABA), approximately 398,000 burn injuries require medical treatment each year in the U.S. Among these cases, around 29,165 lead to hospital admissions, with a mortality rate of 2.7%. Although the survival rate is high, burn injuries can be financially burdensome, physically debilitating, and emotionally distressing. Severe burns often necessitate extensive medical treatments, including surgery and rehabilitation, and can result in permanent physical impairments or disfigurement. The recovery process involves significant physical and psychological challenges, especially when the burns are due to someone else's negligence.

Burn injuries that happen in a car accident, in a workplace or construction accident, or in any public place can cause severe injuries. Burn injuries can actually cause excruciating pain, and there is a very high chance that some types of burns will result in scarring, disfigurement, chronic medical complications, limited mobility, and other negative effects. Being aware of what to do in the event of a burn injury is imperative. The most important thing to do as soon as possible after getting medical attention is to hire a New Jersey personal injury lawyer with burn injury expertise.

Assisting and advocating for clients in their pursuit of fair compensation after suffering an accident or injury has been the responsibility of the attorneys at Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law, for over a decade. Among these are individuals who have been injured in burn incidents or car accidents in New Jersey. If you are injured and in need of assistance, please contact us today for a free consultation. We are ready and available to help you and your family move forward during this hard time.

WE ARE HERE TO ASSIST YOU IN RECOVERING FROM YOUR SETBACK

Make Certain That Your Present and Potential Medical Needs are Covered

Burn injuries frequently result in personal injury and product liability claims. In the event of sustaining a burn injury, it is imperative to promptly engage in a consultation with a NJ burn injury lawyer to address the particulars of your case. The financial burden associated with the treatment of burn injuries can be substantial, contingent upon the extent of the burns sustained and the necessary medical treatments. Certain burn injuries may require long-term care throughout an individual's lifetime. The financial implications of such circumstances can be highly detrimental to an individual who is already grappling with the emotional and physical ramifications of their injury.

Individuals who have suffered from second and third degree burns as a result of the negligence of others may be eligible to receive compensation for their injuries. Retaining a burn injury attorney enables individuals to pursue the highest possible compensation, thereby mitigating the financial strain associated with medical expenses, income loss, and the physical and emotional distress endured after an accident.

Professional Burn Injury Attorneys With Exceptional Negotiation and Litigation Abilities

The field of burn injury law is characterized by its intricacy and the difficulties associated with understanding and maneuvering through its legal framework. Individuals seeking guidance in the area of personal injury law can find valuable support from a burn injury lawyer practicing in New Jersey. Experiencing burn injuries or being a caregiver for a burn victim during the recovery process can cause significant anxiety and worry. Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law, a legal professional specializing in representing individuals affected by burn injuries in the state of New Jersey, serves as an advocate. Our burn injury attorneys are able and ready to handle all interactions with insurance companies, compile pertinent evidence to bolster your legal claim, and engage in negotiations to secure a fair settlement on your behalf.

Protecting Your Rights Is Our Top Priority

Brandon J. Broderick is available to provide legal assistance in the event that you require representation after suffering a burn injury, allowing you to prioritize your recovery. Our law office, located in the state of New Jersey, is dedicated to ensuring that individuals receive the appropriate and just compensation following an accident. We assure you of our commitment to exert all efforts within our capacity to protect your rights and provide you with assistance during this challenging period.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to us at your earliest convenience to schedule a complimentary consultation in order to discuss the legal options available to you.

What Types of Burn Injuries are Most Common?

Burn injuries can happen in a variety of situations, such as at a construction site located in the state of New Jersey and in car accidents resulting from the negligent behavior of drivers. In both scenarios, the offender may be held at fault.

A few prevalent forms of burn injuries include the following:

  • Chemical Burns: Burn injuries can be significantly severe, and even common chemicals possess the capacity to induce such harm. Certain substances have the potential to ignite, while others may cause a critical reaction if inhaled or come into contact with the skin.
  • Car accident: Burn injuries are among the most severe and traumatic injuries that an individual can endure as a result of a car accident. Such injuries frequently transpire when the occupants of a vehicle are exposed to intense flames and heat upon the vehicle's ignition following an impact. Burn injuries can vary in severity, with third-degree burns capable of deeply penetrating the skin and causing damage to vital organs, muscles, and even bones, while first-degree burns exclusively impact the extremity of the skin. Burn accident survivors may simultaneously experience post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression, among other severe forms of psychological trauma.
  • Defective products: On a daily basis, burn injuries resulting from faulty products constitute a substantial and frequently disregarded hazard. A product malfunctioning as a result of design flaws, manufacturing errors, or inadequate safety warnings may give rise to these types of injuries, which may affect children's toys, electrical appliances, or kitchen equipment, among others. Injuries to deep tissue requiring extensive medical intervention, such as skin grafts and reconstructive surgery, may result from the extreme severity of these burns. Such injuries may result in profound psychological consequences, including anxiety, trauma, and a loss of confidence in commonplace objects.
  • Electrical burns: Electrical burns are among the burn injuries that construction workers sustain most frequently during the course of their employment. Serious organ damage may result from the transmission of electricity throughout the body.
  • Steam burns and scalds: Another prevalent form of burn injury is scalds and burns caused by hot water or steam. Plumbers are particularly vulnerable to severe injuries when installing pipes or working with hot liquids.
  • Thermal burns: Thermal burns are capable of causing death. Burns such as these may occur due to welding accidents or in the presence of open flames on construction sites. They can also occur when a vehicle catches fire during a car accident. In certain instances, thermal burns can be fatal or result in third-degree burns that necessitate skin grafting. Fire is the cause of these burns.
  • Sunburns: Employees who are engaged in outdoor work without sufficient protection are, despite what may seem self-evident, vulnerable to major sunburns. Significant burns, sun poisoning, and heatstroke may result from extended sun exposure.

Burn injuries often ensue as a consequence of electrical fires instigated by defective components, wiring, or other electrical work. The design of electrical equipment prioritizes user safety. Throughout the years, regrettably, there have been a significant number of occurrences in which people have unintentionally burned themselves as a result of inadequate installation or maintenance. A power surge, for instance, could potentially result in irreparable harm to an electrical device through the infliction of severe burns.

The existence of smoke, fire, or hazardous chemicals are additional substantial factors that contribute to burn damage. All too often, these substances have consequences that go far beyond just burning. Sadly, the wounds caused by smoke, fire, or harmful chemical burns can really take months—if not years—to heal.

What Are the Different Classifications of Burns?

Burns are classified as first, second, third, or fourth degree, according to the severity and depth of their penetration into the skin's surface. It might be impossible to quickly classify a burn injury. Because burn injuries progress gradually, the full extent of the damage may not become evident for an additional day or two.

This is how burns are classified:

  • First-degree (superficial) burns: The epidermis, the outermost layer of skin, is the only tissue affected by first-degree burns. The burn site is painful, dry, and red, with no blisters present. This category includes sunburns that are mild in nature. Long-term tissue damage is uncommon and commonly presents itself as a pigmentation alteration of the skin.
  • Second-degree (partial thickness) burns: Second-degree burns impact not only the epidermis but also a segment of the dermis, which comprises the lowestmost layer of skin. Additionally, the burn site may experience swelling, pain, and redness, in addition to developing blisters.
  • Third-degree (full thickness) burns: The epidermis and dermis are both damaged by third-degree burns. The subcutaneous tissue, which is the deepest layer of the skin, can be penetrated. The burn site may exhibit a charred and blackened appearance.
  • Fourth-degree burns: Fourth-degree burns have the potential to penetrate additional layers of tissue, such as the epidermis and underlying tissue, and may also impact muscle and bone. As a result of nerve ending destruction, the impacted region is devoid of sensation. A prolonged period of rehabilitation is necessary after fourth-degree burns have been treated with critical medical attention. Burn survivors who endure fourth-degree burns may incur irreversible disabilities and disfigurement.

You may have sufficient grounds to file a burn injury lawsuit or legal claim, regardless of the nature of the burns that were negligently or carelessly caused by a third party. Contacting a burn injury attorney in New Jersey without delay is critical in order to have their professional guidance provide an assessment of your legal alternatives.

In a New Jersey Burn Injury Lawsuit, How is Fault Established?

In the event of sustaining a burn injury, it is important to keep in mind that establishing the fault of an opposing party is a fundamental prerequisite for obtaining compensation for the resulting damages. This is what is known as "determining fault."

In the majority of cases, fault for burn injuries resulting from negligent or irresponsible behavior falls on the individual or group responsible. You must still present evidence to establish that one or more individuals were responsible.

Having an experienced NJ burn injury attorney on your side is highly advantageous for your case. Sometimes, the difficulty of determining fault depends on the circumstances. A lawyer can assist in determining who is responsible for your injuries by analyzing every aspect of your burn injury lawsuit.

How Much Compensation Can I Pursue for a Burn Injury?

Victims who sustain severe burn injuries may possess the capacity to pursue significant compensation for their injuries. Burn victims frequently sustain bone-extending tissue damage, which manifests as persistent, unbearable pain, immobility, and physical deformity. Prolonged periods of physical therapy and expensive cosmetic procedures are frequently necessary to treat these severe injuries.

The support provided by a spouse, child, or parent to the injured individual during this challenging period is a secondary consequence of burn injuries. Several variables will influence the amount of compensation you receive. The nature and duration of your injuries, the manner and liability for the accident, the number of victims impacted, the need for continuous medical care, and your ability to return to work are some of these variables that will be considered.

What Types of Damages Can I Receive After I File a New Jersey Burn Injury Lawsuit?

The legal system awards compensation to the victim for the life-altering effects of a personal injury. In order to fulfill your physical, emotional, and financial needs, you may receive a variety of forms of compensation.

In a burn injury lawsuit, a New Jersey burn injury attorney will typically pursue the following types of damages.

  • Economic damages: Economic damages encompass medical expenditures, lost wages, and generally any other expenses directly attributable to the accident or injuries sustained.
  • Non-economic damages: Non-economic damages are designed to provide compensation for the different forms of suffering that are not typically associated with dollar amounts, such as pain and suffering.
  • Punitive damages: Although punitive damages are not awarded in the majority of personal injury cases, they may be awarded in situations where the burn injury was caused by willful or gross negligence.

If a Loved One Has Died After Suffering a Burn Injury in NJ Is It Possible to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

Tragically, some burn injuries are so devastating that the victim does not survive. In this type of case, a wrongful death claim can be filed by the personal representative of the estate of the deceased family member. Similar to a negligence lawsuit, this claim is made on behalf of the deceased person's estate or surviving relatives, who get the awarded damages to make up for any losses they may have had due to the death. In order to obtain compensation for any injuries the deceased may have had from the time of the accident until their death, the deceased's representative may file a claim through survival actions.

To fully comprehend the legal procedure involved in a wrongful death lawsuit, it is imperative that you contact a New Jersey burn injury attorney.

Is There a Deadline to File a Lawsuit After a NJ Accident That Results in a Burn Injury?

When talking about personal injury lawsuits in New Jersey, burn injury cases are just one of many examples. The statute of limitations for burn injury lawsuits in New Jersey is identical to that of other types of injury cases, such as those arising from car accidents. 

Compensation claims for burn injuries are subject to a two-year statute of limitations in New Jersey, commencing from the accident date. Due to this deadline, victims who do not file a lawsuit by the deadline risk losing their claim to compensation. A compelling case takes a significant amount of time and resources to prepare, even though two years may seem like a long time. You should contact a New Jersey burn injury attorney without delay to initiate the legal process if you have sustained a severe burn injury due to the negligence of another party.

Top NJ Burn Injury Lawyer Brandon J. Broderick Can Assist You In Recovering Compensation Today

In New Jersey, having a family member or yourself suffer a severe injury, especially a burn injury, can have traumatic effects. Your ability to move on and heal might be aided by a successful personal injury lawsuit. We recognize the significance of your case and its resolution for the future of your family, as well as the distress that you and your family may be experiencing at this time.

The legal team at Brandon J. Broderick not only approaches each case with utmost diligence and concern but also assists clients by engaging directly with insurance companies, collecting and analyzing witness statements, medical reports, and other pertinent information from healthcare providers to substantiate the severity of their injuries and establish the negligence of another party.

Contact us today to receive a complimentary consultation and case evaluation.

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