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Any personal injury accident can result in major injuries, which means major expenses for the victim. If those injuries are burns, they can change someone’s life forever—leaving the sufferer with ongoing pain and irreversible disfigurement. The result can be lifelong physical and emotional pain that no victim should have to bear without compensation.
If you or a loved one has suffered third-degree burns after an accident in Georgia, here’s what you need to know about your next steps, possible settlement amounts, and when it’s appropriate to pursue a lawsuit with a burn injury lawyer.
What Makes Third Degree Burns So Serious?
Even if an accident is mild, burns can cause permanent damage to you and your well-being. Your skin is your first defense system, protecting your entire body from harm. When it suffers damage, the results can be catastrophic, potentially leading to scarring, infections, breathing issues, chronic pain, and movement limitations. At worst, burns can even kill someone.
When you have burn injuries from an accident, your chances of getting financial recovery for pain and suffering are high. Juries typically take burn injuries very seriously, as the medical costs can be high coupled with the emotional strain of living with serious burns for the rest of your life.
If you were the victim in an accident that led to third-degree burns, you need a good personal injury lawyer who can help ensure you get the financial recovery needed to account for your costs and suffering.
Can I Sue for My Third Degree Burns After an Accident in Georgia?
Yes. Third-degree burns are known as “catastrophic injuries,” which are those that permanently keep a victim from working or enjoying life as they would before their accident and injuries. That can also require years of medical treatment, surgeries, and follow up care.
And, as with all personal injuries in Georgia, you have the right to make a claim for recovery from the person whose negligence led to your burn injuries. Depending on how your accident occurred, this negligent person or party could be a boss or business owner, homeowner, a product manufacturer another driver, or someone else who was not fulfilling their duty of care to protect others from harm.
Have Much Money Can You Get for Third Degree Burn Injuries in an Accident in Georgia?
The severity of third-degree burns often results in higher settlements than other types of personal injuries. However, the exact amount can vary greatly depending on the details—and the lawsuit process can take time.
To recover for your damages from your burns, you’ll need to be able to prove the other party was liable. A good burn injury lawyer can help you do this demonstrate that:
- The at-fault party had a duty of care to prevent harm
- That party did not uphold their duty of care
- As a result of the breach of the duty of care, you sustained your burns and other damages
During a third-degree burn lawsuit, the jury will also consider how and where the burn injuries happened, as these details can affect your potential claim or settlement amount.
For example; if a victim suffered severe burns to his or her face, a burn injury attorney will look at how the burns affect the victim’s relationship with their spouse, their ability to wear clothes the same way, and their enjoyment of going out in public. If the burns are not easily hidden, the potential settlement may be higher.
The actual location of the accident will also be taken into account. For example, severe burns often happen during accidents involving:
- Fires
- Car accidents
- Flammable materials
- Defective household products or industrial equipment
- Gas explosions
- Electricity or wiring issues
- Accidents on a worksite (would likely be a workers compensation claim)
- Scalds from hot foods or beverages
This will lead to questions about whether the accident was avoidable and what events led up to the burns. If the accident could have potentially been avoidable, a jury may not award the victim as much. This is why it’s so crucial to have an experienced attorney on your side. They can compile solid evidence that the accident couldn’t have been avoided.
The amount of damages the at-fault party can pay (mainly, the insurance coverage they hold) and intent of the at-fault party are also factors that help determine your settlement amount.
If you and your lawyer are able to show your burns happened because of someone’s negligence, you are entitled to recover for damages like:
- Medical bills, current, and future
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Possibly punitive damages, if the court determines the at-fault party’s actions were wanton or reckless
Contact a burn injury lawyer as soon as possible to find out potential settlement amounts based on your situation.
What If I Lost a Loved One From a Burn Injury in Georgia?
If you lost a spouse or parent because of a third-degree burn injury, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the deceased person. In Georgia, damages from wrongful death cases can include:
- Medical costs
- Funeral expenses
- The deceased’s loss of income and earning potential
- Loss of companionship
- Pain and suffering
Talk to a Burn Injury Lawyer for Free Today
Our attorneys are John Foy & Associates take third-degree burn injuries very seriously. We have seen how much they can impact an individual’s life, and we want to help you recover what you need to get treatment and move on as fully as possible. We’ve been helping burn victims seek financial recovery for more than 20 years, and we’d love to speak with you about your own case. For a FREE consultation to discuss the details, call us today at 404-400-4000, or fill out the form to the right to get started.
