Suffering a severe burn is an extremely traumatic experience that can leave both physical and emotional scars. When someone else’s negligence is the cause, burn victims have grounds to pursue compensation through a personal injury claim. However, proving liability for burn injuries in these complex cases requires the expertise of a skilled personal injury lawyer.
At Herrling Clark, our team has extensive experience investigating burn injuries and establishing accountability. Here are some key factors we analyze to determine who was at fault.
Evaluating the Incident’s Circumstances
To build a strong burn injury case, all details surrounding the incident must be carefully examined. Some common details in burn injury cases, include:
- Where and how the burn occurred;
- Who was responsible for creating the fire or heat that caused the burn and how did that fire or hot object come into contact with the injured party;
- Were the appropriate safety protocols followed; and
- Have there been any previous complaints or violations regarding hazardous conditions?
Pinpointing the specific cause and origin of the burn is key to determining liability.
Exploring Types of Negligence
In general, the types of negligence that could lead to burn injuries fall under a few common categories, which include:
- Workplace – Lack of training, unsafe equipment or ignoring safety measures;
- Product Liability – Defective or dangerous design, manufacturing flaws or inadequate warnings;
- Premises Liability – Hazardous property conditions, code violations or negligent security; and
- Vehicle Accidents – Crashes caused by impaired, reckless or distracted driving.
An experienced burn injury lawyer understands these different categories and the liabilities involved in order to build a case.
Utilizing Expert Testimony
Nobody ever wants to admit fault for a burn injury, so it is common for such crimes of negligence to boil down to conflicting accounts of what happened. It’s never a good strategy to rely upon just the word of one individual vs. another, so an effective strategy can be to call upon an expert to provide informed testimony. Such individuals may include:
- Forensic evidence experts;
- Engineers and product safety experts;
- Workplace safety professionals; and
- Medical treatment providers.
Analysis from an unbiased third-party can go a long way to prove liability for burn injuries.
Top Burn Injury Lawyers
The long-term impact of serious burns can be devastating – affecting victims’ quality of life, employment situation and financial well-being. At Herrling Clark, our lawyers have a depth of experience dealing with burn injury cases and broader personal injury law. If you have suffered burn injuries due to another’s negligence, we can help determine liability and fight for justice. Contact us today for a free case evaluation from our top-rated personal injury firm.
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