West Palm Beach Burn Injury Lawyer
Each year, roughly 500,000 people nationwide are treated for burn injuries. Many of the cases are serious and require extensive hospitalization and even surgical intervention. So while you may think of burn injuries as rare, they are in fact far more common than people realize.
Burn injuries are often the result of accidents caused by someone else’s negligence. A skilled West Palm Beach burn injury lawyer can help you in obtaining compensation if you are the victim of such an accident. Smith, Ball, Báez & Prather is a team of dedicated Florida personal injury lawyers who represent victims who have suffered serious burn injuries and are now struggling to rebuild their lives.
Taking Burn Injuries Seriously in Florida
Burns are among the scariest types of injuries a person can suffer as they affect the skin itself. There are many potential causes of burn injuries. Some of the more common scenarios that we see among our clients include:
- Building fires. A person’s home, office, or any building may catch fire for a variety of reasons. Negligence comes into play when the property owner fails to correct a known or easily identifiable defect that led to a building fire, such as faulty wiring or a lack of working smoke alarms.
- Car accidents. While most car accidents do not result in fire, it is possible when a vehicle’s gas tank or electric battery is compromised.
- Chemical exposure. People who work on or near construction and other hazardous material sites may incur burn injuries due to chemical exposure.
Fortunately, most burn injuries are considered minor or “first degree.” These burns only affect the top-most layer of the skin and generally produce few symptoms beyond temporary redness and irritation. Second-degree burns are considered more serious as they damage underlying layers of skin and produce severe blistering and scarring.
At the upper end of the scale are third- and even fourth-degree burns. These injuries effectively destroy all layers of the skin. Victims typically require skin grafting or skin replacement procedures and extensive physical therapy and rehabilitation. It is also important to note that all serious burn injuries can produce secondary risks, notably infection and organ damage, not to mention extensive pain and suffering.
Burn accident victims can seek compensation for all of these damages and more through a personal injury claim. Under Florida law, a victim may recover both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover all of a burn victim’s medical bills, lost income, and other out-of-pocket costs related to their recovery. Non-economic damages address pain and suffering and other intangible losses. It may also be possible in certain cases to seek punitive damages against a defendant whose actions constitute gross negligence or intentional misconduct.
Contact Smith, Ball, Báez & Prather Today
A serious burn injury is both life-threatening and life-altering. Victims often require years to fully recover, and in some cases the scarring and disfigurement are permanent. So when such injuries are the result of third-party misconduct, it is important to hold those parties legally accountable. If you need to speak with a qualified West Palm Beach burn injury lawyer, contact Smith, Ball, Báez & Prather to schedule a consultation today.
