Burn Injury Lawyers in Tampa

You can rely on our legal services if you have been burned due to:

• Fire: Open flames are an obvious source of a serious burn injury, but the source of such flames is not always obvious. For example, defective hoverboard products gained infamy during the 2015 holiday season after consumers across the country were seriously burned by the toys, which had a risk of spontaneous combustion due to a battery failure.
• Hot surfaces: In some cases, a severe burn injury may be caused by a hot surface, such as the outside of a crockpot that becomes superheated. Products need to be designed safely to keep consumers from inadvertently touching superheated surfaces, or else the product manufacturer could be liable for any resulting burn injuries.
• Electrical currents: When a person comes into contact with a strong electrical current, the flow of electricity can cause external and internal burn injuries. Electrocution injuries are highly dangerous and should always be assessed by a medical professional as soon as possible after an accident.
• Hazardous chemicals: Certain caustic chemicals like industrial cleaners can cause a chemical burn injury when in direct contact with skin. You might be surprised to find that some household products you can buy off a shelf may pose a chemical burn injury risk.

As you might have noticed, a common theme in many burn injury claims is product manufacturer negligence. Many household or unassuming products can become extremely dangerous due to defects that cause them to catch flame, become superheated, or short circuit.

Escalating Degrees of Burn Injuries

When someone suffers a burn injury, the medical professionals who assess it and treat them will assign the burn injury a degree. The higher the degree, the more damage it has caused to the patient. Likewise, the higher the degree, the more likely it will require extensive and costly medical treatments.

The degrees of burn injuries are categorized as:

• First: A comparatively mild burn injury that reddens the skin and causes pain when touched. First-degree burns will rarely require professional medical treatment and would not normally validate the need for a personal injury claim.
• Second: A serious burn injury that requires medical attention and professional treatment. Skin will darkly redden and may blister. Severe pain will be experienced by the patient, including during the healing process. Depending on the extent of a second-degree burn, a personal injury claim may be warranted.
• Third: A severe burn injury that affects all layers of skin and possible tissues underneath. Immediate medical attention is required. Untreated, even a small third-degree burn can be life-threatening due to its vulnerability to infection. At first, pain may not be felt due to the destruction of underlying nerves, but extreme, chronic pain is usually felt soon after and while the injury heals. You should speak with our burn injury attorneys if you have been diagnosed with a third-degree burn.
• Fourth and higher: Catastrophic burn injuries that are even worse than a third-degree burn are numbered fourth, fifth, and sixth. Burns of these degrees are typically not considered survivable due to the extreme and extensive harm caused to the victim. A wrongful death claim would likely be filed by any surviving family members of the deceased.

How Much Can I Recover from a Burn Injury?

A primary question on your mind will likely be “what compensation can I get from this burn injury?” This is an important question, because having a general idea can help you choose an attorney that fights for the maximum compensation you deserve.

Your compensation will depend on numerous factors, but here are some general items you will likely get payment back from if your claim is successful:

Part of our job as your Tampa burn injury lawyers is studying your medical record to better understand your injury and the damage it has caused. With a careful evaluation of your burn injury, we can more accurately calculate your damages, especially noneconomic damages based on pain and suffering.

Contact our firm to arrange a free initial consultation to evaluate the key details of your claim.