Burn injuries can be devastating, requiring multiple surgeries and leaving life-long scars. It only takes a moment for a burn injury to leave the victim injured and scarred. Unfortunately, many burn injuries are preventable and would never have to happen if not for negligence. The parties responsible for causing burn injuries should be held accountable for their actions.
Through a burn injury lawsuit, the injury victim can seek compensation for their losses, including medical bills and lost wages. If you suffered a burn injury or smoke inhalation injury in the Chicago area, contact the Cullotta Bravo Law Group today.
Burn Injury Accidents in Illinois
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “every day, over 300 children ages 0 to 19 are treated in emergency rooms for burn-related injuries and two children die as a result of being burned.”
Burn injuries and scaldings can happen anywhere, including the home, school, office, or while on vacation. Some of the most common burn injuries involve people doing daily tasks and going about their normal life. Examples of burn injury accidents in Illinois can include:
- – Scalding injuries from broken hot water heater
- – Tipping over a pot on the stove
- – Spilling hot coffee, tea, or other liquid
- – Children touching a hot stove top
- – Electrical fires
- – Smoke inhalation
- – Chemical burns
- – Fireworks
- – Flammable clothing
- – Smoking in bed
- – Unattended children in hot cars
- – Electrical shorts
- – Overloaded circuits
- – Grease fires
Who is Responsible in a Burn Injury Accident?
Sometimes a burn injury is just an accident. However, there may have been someone who was aware of the threat of a burn injury and did nothing to stop it. In a personal injury lawsuit, liability is often based on negligence. If someone breached their duty of care to others that caused injury to another, that person may be liable for the damage caused.
Business Owner Burn Injury and Premises Liability
Under premises liability, the property owner may be liable for injuries that occur on their property. Property owners may have a duty to patrons, visitors, and tenants to keep their property in a reasonably safe condition or warn them about burn injury hazards.
Property owners who may be responsible for burn injuries under premises liability may include:
- – Restaurants,
- – Hotels,
- – Office buildings,
- – Apartment buildings,
- – Grocery stores, and
- – Campgrounds.
Product Defect Burns
Many burn injuries are caused by a defective product, such as an electrical fire when a battery explodes. As more and more products include a rechargeable battery, like phones, tablets, scooters, and hover-boards, defective batteries can get too hot, catch fire, or explode, causing burn injuries.
When a defective product causes a burn injury, the victim may have no idea who was responsible. However, under Illinois product liability law, the injury victim may not have to prove who was responsible. If the product was defective as sold to the consumer, the manufacturer or vendor may be strictly liable for any defects, including:
- Failure to warn of burn injuries
- – Manufacturing defects
- – Design defects
Work-Related Burn Injuries
Workplace burn injuries are common. Many occupations have a higher risk of burn injuries, including construction, industrial jobs, and even cleaning and maintenance. If a worker suffers a burn injury on the job, workers’ comp may cover the injury by providing medical care and benefits for the time the individual is unable to work.
Other injuries that occur in the workplace may be compensated through a personal injury lawsuit. If a burn injury is caused by a defective product or a third party, such as a contractor, then the injury victim may be able to file a personal injury claim against the party responsible for causing the injury.
Burn Injuries and Children
Children are especially prone to burn injuries because of their size, limited communication, and their understanding about what objects are hot without touching them. When children are left in the care of others, such as daycare or a school, those in charge of the children are tasked with keeping children safe from dangers, including burn injuries.
Restaurant Burn Injuries
Burn injuries are common for workers and customers in restaurants. Burn injuries could involve scalding food or liquid, hot plates, or open flames. When a customer is injured because of a server’s negligence, the server may not have the financial resources to pay for the damages. However, the employer is generally liable for the negligence of an employee. This increases the injury victim’s chance to recover full compensation for their injuries.
Damages in a Burn Injury Accident
In a personal injury claim, the injury victim can seek compensatory damages. Damages cover the losses associated with the injury, including:
- – Medical expenses
- – Lost income
- – Loss of earning potential
- – Pain and suffering
Burn injury damages can be more complicated than other accidents. Burn injuries often involve extensive tissue damage which may require multiple surgeries and skin grafts. It can take years before a burn injury victim reaches the point of maximum medical improvement. Therefore, anyone who suffers a burn injury should be cautious about taking a settlement offer from the insurance company.
Talk to your Aurora and Chicago personal injury lawyer about your injuries and how to make sure you recover the maximum compensation. Taking a small settlement offer now may leave you paying out-of-pocket for years to come.
Time Limit to File a Burn Injury Claim
There is a limited amount of time to file a burn injury claim. Most burn injury lawsuits have to be filed within 2-years of the accident or injury. Filing the claim too late may mean the claim is denied and the injury victim cannot recover damages for lost income or medical bills. Talk to your Illinois personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after an injury to make sure your claim is filed in time.
Aurora and Chicago Burn Injury Lawyer
If you were injured in a burn injury accident in Aurora, Chicago, or DuPage County, you need an experienced Illinois personal injury lawyer. Burn injury claims can involve extensive medical costs for recovery and you should contact an injury attorney with a proven track record of success. Contact the Cullotta Bravo Law Group today at 630-898-7800 to schedule your free consultation.
