Tulsa Burn Injury Attorney

Burn injuries can happen at home, at work, while in a store, or during a motor vehicle accident. While minor burns often heal on their own, more serious burn injuries can be some of the most painful and damaging of wounds. Medical costs for treating burns, especially over a large portion of the body, quickly become astronomical when skin graft surgery and other operations are required. In addition, most burn victims experience mental anguish and emotional upheaval as a result of disfigurement.

When a burn injury occurs from someone else’s negligence or irresponsible behavior, it can be helpful to understand how to pursue compensation for the pain and damages that ensue.

How Can a Tulsa Burn Injury Attorney Help?

Serious injuries can arise from scalding hot water, chemical burns, or defective products. In addition to other damage that occurs during a car, truck, or motorcycle accident, fuel or other materials can catch fire and cause tremendous wounds from burns.

The immense amount of injury that can occur and the resulting medical costs can make a personal injury lawsuit very complicated. An experienced burn injury attorney in the Tulsa area can lead the fight for maximum compensation and relief while the burn victim recovers. A skilled law firm will manage the legal proceedings and negotiate with insurance companies for a fair outcome.

A qualified law firm will develop a strong case for the client with the following actions:

• Collect statements or depositions from any and all witnesses
• Gather police or government agency reports about the incident
• Examine the sufficiency of safety equipment where the burn injury occurred
• Investigate any history of burn injuries if the accident occurred at a place of business
• Review medical records and medical bills to calculate an accurate damage amount
• Obtain photos of injuries and the accident scene
• Consult with experts and secure testimony from medical and other professionals
• Negotiate with insurance companies and opposing counsel

Because burn accident victims often face a lifetime of recovery and devastating medical costs, they need a strong legal team working in their defense to win the maximum compensation available. A skilled Tulsa burn injury lawyer will aggressively litigate the victim’s claim to ensure they and their loved ones have the financial relief they deserve. In the most extreme situations, attorneys can pursue a wrongful death lawsuit.

Frequent Causes of Burn Injuries

The American Burn Association estimates that nearly 500,000 people suffer serious burns each year that require medical attention. Of that number, 40,000 of the accident victims require short-term or longer hospitalization, often in specialized burn treatment centers. Medical professionals will require details from the victim or their family about the circumstances surrounding the burn in order to treat it most effectively.

Some of the most common causes of burns include:

• Fires: Unattended campfires, cigarettes and cigars, wildfires, automobile accidents, and spontaneous chemical combustion can all cause fires that bring catastrophic burns or death.
• Chemicals: At home and work, chemicals are widely used in daily life. However, many can cause painful burns when they contact human skin.

  These include bleach, chlorine, and ammonia, which can be especially dangerous if they are combined.

• Medical Treatment: Radiation is a common source for burn injuries, as it is often used in medical treatment. When overused, it can cause significant damage to body tissues and be the basis for a medical malpractice lawsuit.
• Electrocution: Electricity is a major source of burn injury accidents. Loose wires or shoddy electrical work can start a fire or electrocute someone who comes in contact with a socket or wire. Another source of injury can be lightning strikes or contact with high-voltage equipment at work.

How to Help Someone Who Has Been In A Burn Accident

When a person suffers a burn in an accident, it is important to act quickly and provide immediate medical care to minimize the damage. Ensure the person is moved away from any area where they may experience further injury, and keep anyone else in the area away from harm. Once they are out of the dangerous situation, attend to their needs as best you know how until help arrives.

Other important steps you can take include:

• Call 911: For higher degree burns, especially from fire or chemicals, always call for emergency assistance.
• Move the victim to a safe area: Disconnect any source of electrical current, pull them away from fire, or do whatever is necessary to get them to safety.
• Assess the injuries: Even if you have no medical training, it is important to note how the victim is injured and if they are conscious or at least breathing. Observing this and reporting to first responders will aid in their treatment.
• Begin first aid: If the person is not breathing, initiate rescue breathing if you are trained. Remove any belts or necklaces that could be restrictive if the burned skin begins to swell. If possible, cover injuries with cool, moist bandages.
• Watch for signs of shock: Look for fainting, a pale complexion, or shallow breathing as indications that the burn victim is entering shock.

How Do I Seek Compensation for A Burn Injury?

Personal injury cases can be complicated, and each one is unique in terms of what a settlement will involve. Burn injury cases are no exception, especially since burn injuries require a long time to heal and can cause significant disfigurement. In some cases, a person may die from their injuries if a large portion of the body is involved. Because of the pain and likelihood of permanent scarring, burn injury cases usually have a greater value of settlement or jury award.

There are many avenues accident lawyers can pursue reimbursement, such as workers’ compensation or company insurance if a burn accident happens on the job or in a place of business. Automobile insurance may cover burns and other medical costs in the event of a truck accident or car accident. Homeowner’s coverage may be called on if a child is burned by chemicals that were improperly locked away in someone’s home. Attorneys for all sides who are experienced in personal injury law will work out the details of a settlement, basing their offers on what they estimate the burn victim could be awarded in court.

If no settlement can be reached among the parties, then the plaintiff may choose to pursue a jury trial.

How a burn injury occurred becomes very important since the extent of negligence from any defendant can influence the amount of compensation a jury will award. If the defendant(s) exhibited gross negligence (behaving purposefully or extremely negligently), a jury may choose to award punitive damages. These are intended to financially punish a person or company that committed an especially grievous act, and they are given in order to serve as a warning to others.

How Are Burn Injuries Classified and How Does That Affect A Burn Injury Case?

No matter what type of burn a person suffers, how severe the damage is will play an important role in a personal injury case regarding burn injuries.

The degree of burn, length of care needed for immediate recovery, and any follow-up treatments or surgeries required must be taken into account by the plaintiff’s law firm. In some instances, compensation must be recovered at the time of the settlement or trial that will be sufficient for a lifetime of medical bills.

Doctors assess burns with different criteria, as follows:

• Degree of the burn: Burns are classified in four degrees. The higher the number, the more deeply and severely the tissue is damaged.

  Higher degree burns can cause disfigurement and death, and usually yield a larger settlement.

• Size of the burn area: Burns may cover anywhere from a small amount of the body to the majority of it. Burns that cover more than 10% of the body and are higher in degree are more likely to cause permanent scarring or amputation.
• Location of the burn: Burns often require skin grafts, either from the victim’s own body or lab-grown ones. When parts such as joints, feet, hands, face, or genitals are involved, specialized medical treatment is necessary.
• Health of the victim: The age of the burn victim can impact the level of cost; pediatric burn cases are very delicate, and elderly patients are at higher risk of death. Pre-existing conditions in the heart or lungs can slow a burn patient’s ability to heal.
• Additional injuries: Victims who suffer additional injuries in their burn accident, such as smoke inhalation or broken bones, face an even longer road to recovery and much steeper medical expenses

Hire A Qualified Tulsa Burn Injury Attorney Today

The road to recovery after a burn accident is long and painful. Severe burns can leave a victim with lifelong physical damage, such as scarring or loss of motor function. Rehabilitation can require reconstructive surgery, psychological and physical therapy, and mobility devices such as wheelchairs.

When you or a loved one has been badly burned due to someone’s negligence, reach out to the Tulsa burn injury attorneys at Graves McLain Injury Lawyers. Our team will work hard for you and your family to win the settlement you deserve.

Contact us for a free consultation today online or by phone at 918-359-6600.