Suffering a burn injury can result in permanent disfigurement and disability. These injuries are extremely painful and often require long-term care and rehabilitation to recover from. In some cases, a person may never fully recover.
If you or a loved one were burned due to the negligent conduct of another person, you should consider speaking with an experienced local attorney. A St. Louis burn injury lawyer could review your case and help you file a claim for damages against the responsible party.
People can suffer serious burns in a variety of situations. If another person is responsible for the incident that caused someone to get burned, that person could be held financial liable for the resulting harm.
For instance, a defective appliance could start a fire that can cause a consumer to suffer devastating burns. In other cases, a vehicle wreck could cause a person to suffer friction burns. Thermal, friction, radiation, chemical, and electrical burns all can cause a person to suffer substantial that requires significant treatment. While a local attorney could assist someone prove another person is responsible for their burns, they must first gather sufficient evidence of fault.
It falls on the plaintiff to both prove they suffered compensable losses from their burns and that another person’s negligence is directly responsible. One way to document this is through medical records and billing.
Seeking prompt medical care after suffering a severe burn could not only help a person better recover physically, but it also can provide evidence that the accident in question directly resulted in the individual’s burns. A doctor could also provide witness testimony as to the long-term implications the plaintiff’s burn injury could have on their life. In addition to medical bills, witness statements, physical evidence from the scene, and police reports could all serve as valuable evidence in a burn injury case.
After someone has been severely burned in an accident, a St. Louis attorney could help them accurately calculate their recoverable damages. Medical expenses, lost income, and decreased earning potential often make up a large portion of any civil suit. However, non-economic losses could also be recovered. These include:
Punitive damages may also be available. However, 35 Missouri Civil Procedure and Limitations §510.261 limits the circumstances under which these damages may be awarded.
Missouri offers a generous five-year statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits. However, it is important to contact a local attorney early because evidence can be misplaced, eyewitnesses can become no longer available, and the claim may be too difficult to investigate.
If you or a loved one suffered a devastating burn as a result of someone else’s negligence, do not hesitate to seek legal representation. A burn injury lawyer at our firm could review your case and help you decide how to best move forward with your claim. Call today to schedule your initial consultation with our reliable attorneys.
