Burn Injuries

Legal Guidance for Accident Victims in Los Angeles

Burn injuries can be particularly traumatic. In addition to acute and immediate physical pain, the victim may have to experience prolonged discomfort and the emotional pain of disfigurement and scarring. Burn victims may be concerned about how they will pay their medical bills as well as scarring, which can affect a victim’s line of work or enjoyment of life. If you suffer injuries due to someone else’s negligence in Los Angeles or the surrounding cities, the Los Angeles burn injury lawyers at Sharifi Firm may be able to help you pursue damages.

Bringing a Negligence Claim for Compensation

Burns can be caused by multiple sources, including heat, electricity, or chemicals. Burn injuries come in three degrees, with third-degree burns being the most severe and usually the most expensive. A first-degree burn involves penetration of only the outer layer of skin. When a burn penetrates the first and second layer of skin, it is a second-degree burn. A third-degree burn involves all layers of skin and destruction of nerve endings.

In some cases, burn injuries can be not only disfiguring but also life-threatening or disabling. They may penetrate the skin, thereby affecting tissues, muscles, blood vessels, and vital organs like the lungs or heart. A burn can impair joint function, manual dexterity, and body temperature, or it can cause inhalation difficulties and septic failure. During the recovery period, it can be very stressful for burn victims to pay their substantial medical bills and other expenses.

If you are hurt because of an individual or company’s negligence, a burn injury lawyer in Los Angeles can help you sue for compensation. You will need to prove the defendant’s duty, a breach of duty, a causal connection between the breach of duty and the injuries, and actual damages.

The damages that may be sought in a California personal injury case are both special and general damages. Special damages include such items as out-of-pocket expenses, medical bills, lost income, loss of earning capacity, and physical rehabilitation. General damages are intangible damages such as pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment. These can vary significantly in burn cases, depending on the subjective perception of the jury and the ability of a Los Angeles burn injury attorney to prove these damages.

In general, young female accident victims with facial burns may be awarded more money for burn injuries because juries (and insurers) tend to assume that they naturally suffer more distress or embarrassment as a result of the scars. However, actors or models of either sex or members of other professions in which appearance is particularly important may also be presumed to suffer substantial damages as a result of visible burn injuries. In some cases, the value of the burn may be established by showing the cost of trying to have plastic surgery to cover up the burn. A plaintiff’s credibility in describing the non-visible harm suffered can also make a significant difference to the damages awarded in a burn case.

Contact a Burn Injury Attorney in Los Angeles to Seek Damages for Your Injuries

If you suffer burn injuries, it is important to obtain the services of a knowledgeable, dedicated attorney who can present the story of how you got hurt in a compelling way to insurers and the jury. At Sharifi Firm, our lawyers are tenacious advocates for victims of car accidents and other preventable events in the Los Angeles area, and we are committed to pursuing the greatest amount of compensation possible for our clients. We represent victims across Southern California, including in Riverside, Temecula, San Bernardino, and Rancho Cucamonga. For a free, no-obligation consultation, contact us at (866) 422-7222 or via our online form.