Did you or a family member suffer serious burn injuries in Augusta, GA? Burns can be painful and even life-threatening. If someone else was responsible for your injuries, an experienced Augusta burn injury lawyer at Hawk Law Group can help you fight to recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and your suffering.
Since we opened our law group, our team has recovered tens of millions of dollars on behalf of accident victims and their families. Between us, we have over 71 years of experience in personal injury law handling cases including Augusta medical malpractice, wrongful death claims, brain injuries, Augusta workplace accidents, and more.
When you’re ready to learn more about how we can use our legal skills to your advantage, contact our law offices in Augusta, Georgia, to schedule a free consultation at (706) 722-3500.
How Hawk Law Group Can Help With a Burn Injury Claim in Augusta
Serious burns can be incredibly painful. They can make it impossible to work or enjoy the activities you enjoyed prior to the injury. Of course, burns are also expensive to treat–and health insurance won’t cover everything.
If another person was responsible for your injuries, you may be entitled to seek compensation for your injuries. Typically, that means filing a claim with insurance companies. Insurance companies, of course, know how the legal system works. They’ll use technical details about the law to try to avoid paying fair compensation.
An experienced Augusta personal injury lawyer can help you counter these scare tactics.
At Hawk Law Group, we’ve recovered some of the highest verdicts in the CSRA. Hiring us means you’ll have a team of lawyers to:
- Investigate and determine who was responsible for your burns
- Gather and evaluate all available evidence
- Calculate the fair value of your insurance demand
- Handle all paperwork and insurance filings
- Retain experts who can help with difficult aspects of your case
- Negotiate with the insurance companies for fair compensation
You don’t have to struggle with a complex insurance battle on your own. Call our Augusta personal injury attorneys today to learn more about how our team can help.
Overview of Burn Injuries
Burns can seriously damage the outer layer of skin, as well as the tissue underneath. Flames, heat, steam, and even radiation can cause severe injuries. The most serious burn injuries can even cause damage to bones and internal organs.
The severity of a burn will depend on many different factors, including:
- The source of the burn
- The area of the body impacted
- The size and depth of the burn
Some burns cause only superficial damage to the outer layers of skin. More serious burns, on the other hand, have the potential to be life-changing or even fatal.
If someone else’s careless, reckless or wrongful acts caused the burn injury, you may be entitled to compensation. Call our personal injury law firm today for a free consultation.
Types of Burn Injuries
There are many different types of burn injuries.
Our Augusta burn injury attorneys often represent clients who have sustained:
- Thermal burns, which are sustained when you come into contact with hot objects, flames, scalding hot liquids, and even steam
- Chemical burns, which are caused by exposure to acids and other dangerous chemicals
- Radiation burns, which are often caused by workplace exposure to radiation or cancer treatments
- Electrical burns caused by exposure to live electricity
- Cold burns, or frostbite
- Flash burns caused by sudden exposure to flames, such as in an explosion
Regardless of the type of burn injury, it’s important to seek medical care immediately. These burns can cause permanent scarring and disfigurement. Then, contact our lawyers to schedule a free case review to learn more about your legal options.
How Common Are Burn Injuries?
According to CDC estimates, about 1.1 million Americans require medical attention due to burn injuries each year. Approximately 50,000 burn victims require hospitalization every year. About 20,000 victims suffer major burns that cover at least 25% of the body.
About 4,500 Americans die from burn-related injuries each year. As many as 10,000 Americans die due to burn-related infections.
Unfortunately, about 25% of all burn injury victims are children under the age of 15 years old.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Burn Injuries?
Burn injuries are classified by degree. First-degree burn injuries are the least serious type of burn. Fourth-degree burns are the most severe. The symptoms of a burn injury will depend on the degree of the burn.
First-Degree Burns
First-degree burns cause superficial damage to the epidermis, or outer layer of skin. If you have suffered a first-degree burn, the skin will appear red and will be painful to the touch. Typically, first-degree burns heal without medical attention.
Second-Degree Burns
Second-degree burns, or partial thickness burns, penetrate the epidermis to damage the layer of skin beneath.
Symptoms of a second-degree burn include:
- Redness and swelling
- Blistering
- Extreme pain
- Fluid that leaks from the burned skin
Second-degree burns can lead to permanent scarring and disfigurement.
Third-Degree Burns
Third-degree burns, or full-thickness burns, penetrate the skin and damage the tissue underneath. These burns typically damage the nerve endings, so victims often don’t feel any pain right away.
Third-degree burns often cause the skin to appear white or yellow. The skin may also appear leathery.
Fourth-Degree Burns
Fourth-degree burns completely destroy the outer layers of the skin. The skin may appear white or charred-looking. It’s also possible that the bone beneath the muscles and tissue may be exposed.
As with third-degree burns, the nerve endings may also be damaged. That means victims of fourth-degree burns often don’t feel pain immediately. Still, these burns have the potential to be life-threatening.
What Are the Long-Term Consequences of Burn Injuries?
Serious burns can require years of treatment. Victims are often hospitalized for extended periods of time and may even be transferred to a burn center for ongoing care and skin grafting procedures.
Some of the possible long-term consequences of a serious burn include:
- Reconstructive surgeries
- Permanent disfigurement and scarring
- Infection
- Amputations
- Shock
- Development of ancillary medical conditions, including sepsis
- Permanent nerve damage
- Chronic pain
- Wrongful death
The psychological impact of a serious burn can also cause long-term damage. Victims often suffer from severe depression and PTSD. Our lawyers factor these serious consequences into the equation when we calculate your case value.
If you have suffered a severe burn, you don’t have to handle the consequences alone. Contact our lawyers in Augusta to learn more about how we can help you fight to recover the compensation you need to cover your treatment costs and expenses.
What Causes Most Burn Injuries?
Some of the most common causes of burn injuries include:
- Car and other motor vehicle accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Household fires
- Exposure to toxic substances
- Faulty electrical wiring and dangerous property conditions
- Motorcycle accidents
- Truck accidents
- Bus accidents
- Accidents involving heavy machinery
- Boating accidents
- Construction accidents
- Defective products
- Missing or faulty smoke detectors
- Negligent property owners
If you were burned and someone else was responsible, don’t hesitate to call for legal advice today. Our lawyers will do everything we can to determine the cause of your injury and fight for justice.
What Is My Augusta Burn Injury Case Worth?
The value of your personal injury case depends on the severity of your injuries.
Many different factors can play a role in your case value, including:
- The cost of your medical treatment
- The nature of the medical care you receive
- Whether you’ll require ongoing medical care or suffer a permanent impairment
- How the injury impacts your current earnings and future earnings prospects
- The pain and suffering you have endured
- The emotional impact of the injury
- The nature of the at-fault party’s actions and the circumstances of the injury
Every personal injury case is slightly different from the one before. Our lawyers often bring in experts who can help us understand the unique aspects of your injury.
What Compensation Can I Recover for My Burn Injuries in Augusta, Georgia?
Under Georgia personal injury laws, injured parties can seek compensation for economic and non-economic damages.
Depending on the nature of your injuries, you may be entitled to recover compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Future medical bills
- Lost future earning capacity
- Reconstructive surgeries and other treatments
- Rehabilitative care
- Long-term care
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement
- Scarring
- Mental anguish
- Diminished quality of life
- Loss of consortium
If you lost a family member due to a fatal burn injury, we can also help you fight to recover compensation for wrongful death.
How Long Do I Have To File a Burn Injury Lawsuit in Georgia?
The statute of limitations in Georgia is only two years. Most accident victims have only two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you wait any longer, you’ll lose your right to sue for damages entirely.
Contact an Augusta Burn Injury Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Do you have questions about your legal options after sustaining a burn injury? Contact Hawk Law Group to schedule a free consultation today. With an experienced Augusta burn injury lawyer by your side, you significantly increase the odds of recovering the maximum compensation you deserve.
Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office in Augusta, GA
338 Telfair St. Augusta, GA 30901
(706) 722-3500
