Charleston Burn Accident Lawyers

Most injuries you sustain in car, fall, or other accidents get better over time—even the most severe ones, like fractures, can heal. But burn injuries linger, and they can cause horrible physical and emotional pain.

Our lawyers at Rogers, Patrick, Westbrook & Brickman LLC are sympathetic—we have helped many clients deal with the legal aftermath of burn injuries. If someone else’s negligence caused you to suffer a burn, let our Charleston burn accident lawyers tell you what you need to know.

What Are the Different Types of Burn Injuries?

We have helped clients with a wide degree of burn severity, ranging from mild to life-threatening. Most frequently, they deal with thermal burns from fire or hot liquids, chemical burns from hazardous substances, and electrical burns from electrical currents. Every burn requires specific medical attention; many burn victims require long-term care for disfigurement, loss of bodily function, and emotional trauma.

These injuries often occur due to another party’s negligence, unsafe working conditions, or defective products. The burn victim may have legal grounds to collect compensation in these cases.

What Should You Do After a Burn Accident?

When you sustain a burn, seek medical attention immediately; if you do not get it looked at, your burn could lead to serious complications. Only when you have gotten your burn looked at by a medical professional should you try and document the incident where you received the burn. Take photos with timestamps and record your experience on a notepad or voice memo on your phone.

What Are the Long-Term Consequences of Burn Injuries?

Victims of serious burns may face months or even years of recovery, accompanied by possible surgeries and skin grafts. Physically, burn victims may deal with scarring, disfigurement, or restricted mobility—emotionally, they may start to struggle with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), social isolation, depression, and anxiety because of the trauma and changes to their appearance.

Financially, the long-term care and specialized treatments associated with burn treatment can quickly add up. Medical expenses can escalate, especially if you require long-term care or specialized treatments. If your injury affects your ability to work, the burn could severely strain your financial situation.

Who Can Be Held Liable for Burn Accidents?

If you want to file an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit to recover damages for your burn, you need to determine who caused your injury. The answer here depends on the circumstances. You could hold your employer liable if you suffered an injury at work due to unsafe conditions or lack of proper safety equipment. If a defective product caused your injury, you could file a claim against the manufacturer or distributor. Additionally, if a property owner’s failure to maintain a safe environment led to your burn, you can hold the owner responsible.

What Compensation Can You Receive for a Burn Injury?

Burn injuries can lead to extensive medical bills, long-term rehabilitation, and ongoing therapy costs. But the damage does not stop at the surface level; you may also need psychological counseling to cope with the emotional trauma.

A successful personal injury claim can cover your economic damages that have specific dollar amounts. You can also use this claim to cover any current and potential lost wages if your injury affects your ability to work.

Additionally, the court may award you non-economic damages to compensate for pain and suffering, a degraded quality of life, and other losses that do not have a tangible monetary cost.

How Long Do You Have to File a Burn Injury Claim?

If you sustain a burn injury in South Carolina and want to recover damages, per the state statute of limitations, you generally have three years from the date of your accident to file a claim. If you miss this deadline, you will likely lose your chance of recovering compensation to pay your medical fees.

However, the law may adjust the three-year time limit depending on your situation. If, for instance, you were under the age of 18 when you sustained your injury, the law gives you the three-year or your 19th birthday to file, whichever is longer.

If you discover your injury after the fact, the statute of limitations does not start ticking until you discover the damage—this is called the “discovery rule” in South Carolina.

If you plan to file your claim against a government entity, the law shortens the statute of limitations to two years and requires you to give notice before filing the actual lawsuit.

What Challenges Might You Face in a Burn Injury Lawsuit?

You may face difficulties proving negligence in court to claim the compensation you deserve. You may need input from technical specialists to explain your chemical and electrical burn to the court to hold the at-fault party liable for your injury.

Insurance companies pose another set of challenges. They might try to minimize the severity of your injuries or shift blame to you. They may argue that you had injuries before the accident or were more to blame for the incident.

How Can a Charleston Burn Accident Lawyer Help?

If you are dealing with the physical and emotional pain from a burn injury, you do not have time to deal with the legal headache of filling out paperwork, filing a claim, negotiating with insurance adjusters, and appearing in court by yourself. This process is why you need an experienced Charleston burn accident lawyer to help you investigate the cause of the accident, gather evidence, consult medical experts, and negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf.

They understand the complexities of burn injuries and all the relevant laws. They will help you pursue all avenues of possible compensation, including medical expenses, lost wages, and emotional suffering.

Protect Your Rights with the Charleston Burn Accident Lawyers at Rogers, Patrick, Westbrook & Brickman LLC

If you need qualified and dedicated legal help after a burn accident, trust the Charleston burn accident lawyers at Rogers, Patrick, Westbrook & Brickman LLC. Call us at 843-727-6500 or fill out our online form for a free consultation. Our Charleston, Mt. Pleasant, Aiken, and Columbia, South Carolina, offices serve clients throughout South Carolina.