Burn Injury Attorneys in Mobile, AL

The American Burn Association reports that almost half a million individuals receive medical treatment for burn injuries each year. Of those who receive treatment, roughly 40,000 of them are hospitalized, and 3,000 do not survive. Suffering a severe burn is one of the most painful and traumatic experiences anyone can ever go through. In fact, as the country witnessed in the horrific 9/11 attacks a couple decades ago, many people would rather jump to their deaths than stay trapped in a burning building.

When someone experiences a serious burn injury, it can be one of the most disrupting events of their lives. Extensive medical treatment will often be required, and the victim may have to miss several weeks or even months from work while recovering, putting a major financial strain on the entire household. Sometimes, a burn is self-inflicted, such as when someone touches their hand on a hot stove. In many cases, however, these injuries happen because of the negligence of another person or party.

In the latter cases, it is very important to speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer, so you fully understand your legal rights and options. Burning accidents and subsequent injuries are often very complicated cases with multiple potential contributing factors. Those responsible will also expend a lot of resources fighting these cases, especially when they are trying to avoid paying out large sums of money for their actions. This is why you need skilled legal counsel in your corner fighting hard to recover the full and fair compensation you deserve.

At Hedge Copeland, we understand that burn injuries take a major physical, emotional, and financial toll on victims and their families, and we are here to provide strong legal guidance and moral support during this difficult time. We work closely with our clients, taking the time to thoroughly investigate their case and develop the most effective legal strategy toward securing a favorable outcome. We deal directly with the other side, and we take care of all the complex legal tasks, so our clients can focus on recovering from their injuries and getting their lives back on track.

Our lawyers have nearly six decades of experience representing clients who have suffered severe burns and all types of personal injuries in Alabama. Representing injured plaintiffs is all we do, and we have in-depth knowledge of this area of the law. We routinely go up against well-funded adversaries such as large corporations and insurance companies, and we are not intimidated by their high-priced legal team. Bottom line: we have the knowledge, skills, resources, and commitment needed to successfully pursue maximum compensation on behalf of each client we serve.

Types of Burn Injuries

There are five main types of burn injuries:

• Thermal Burns: These are injuries that happen when the body comes in contact with flames, fire, or other hot substances or surfaces, such as hot liquid, steam, a stovetop, pan, or heated iron. Thermal burns are the most common type of burn injury.

• Smoke Inhalation: During a fire, the flames can produce heavy smoke and toxic carbon monoxide. When this is breathed in, it can cause major internal damage and even death.

• Chemical Burns: These injuries result from exposure to powerful chemicals and chemical substances. Chemical burn injuries can be caused by toxic household products, and they are also common in factories and other workplaces.

• Electrical Burns: These types of burns happen when the body experiences an electrical shock, also commonly known as electrocution. The shock or jolt can often be so powerful that it causes severe internal injuries. It can also cause clothing and hair to start on fire.

• Radiation Burns: These types of burn injuries occur due to overexposure to UV rays or x-rays. Sunburn is the most common type of radiation burn, but this can also happen because of being in a tanning bed or receiving radiation treatment for too long. Sometimes, machinery defects can also be a contributing factor to this type of burn.

Burn injuries are categories used based on their severity:

• First-Degree Burns: These are the most minor type of burns that damage just the surface of the skin. If a first-degree burn affects only a small area, it can usually be treated at home. However, if it affects a larger area and/or sensitive areas of the body, and it may require medical attention.

• Second-Degree Burns: These are burns that are more serious and penetrate the first two layers of skin, known as the epidermis and dermis. These types of burns are more painful, typically resulting in blisters and tissue damage. They often require some medical attention and some time to recover.

• Third-Degree Burns: These are the most serious types of burns, penetrating three layers of skin. Immediate medical attention is required for a third-degree burn; and depending on what areas of the body are affected, this type of injury can even be life-threatening.

Pursuing a Burn Injury Claim in Alabama

When a burn injury happens because of another party’s negligence, the victim is entitled to compensation, also known as damages. Compensatory damages can be pursued not only for direct economic losses such as medical bills, lost earnings, and property damage, but also for noneconomic losses such as pain-and-suffering, psychological distress, diminished quality of life, disfigurement, and permanent injury.

In more limited cases in which the actions of the party responsible for the burn injury were especially egregious, punitive damages may also be awarded. Punitive damages are not intended to compensate the victim, but rather to punish the wrongdoer and help discourage similar behaviors in the future.

As we touched on earlier, burn injury cases are often complicated and challenging to pursue. This is especially true in states like Alabama, where they apply the “contributory negligence” legal standard. Contributory negligence means that if an injured party is found to have “contributed” in any way to the underlying accident or event that caused the injury (even 1%), they can be barred from recovering damages. With such a high bar to clear, it is all the more important to get a seasoned attorney involved as soon as possible, so your right to compensation can be protected.

Speak with an Experienced Alabama Burn Injury Attorney

If you or a loved one suffered a burn injury in Alabama, Hedge Copeland is here to help. Message us online or call our office today at 251-432-8844 for a free, no obligation consultation and case assessment. We look forward to serving you!

We take all personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, so we only get paid if you do.