A burn injury can be significantly damaging physically, financially and emotionally for a survivor. Severe burns can have long-term or permanent effects. At Goldenberg Lauricella, PLLC, our local burn injury lawyers in Minneapolis are passionate about helping injured individuals through the personal injury claims process.
We are ready to fight for your rights during this difficult time. Since 1986, our team of personal injury attorneys in Minnesota has been seeking justice for those injured by negligent individuals and institutions. Explore your legal options as a burn injury victim today during a free initial case consultation with our local lawyers.
Why Choose Goldenberg Lauricella, PLLC?
- Our lawyers are known for achieving life-changing case results for life-changing injuries. We have recovered over $200 million in settlements and jury verdicts for our clients.
- Our personal injury attorneys have over 40 years of experience representing clients in Minnesota, Wisconsin and nationwide. We understand how burn injury cases work in Minneapolis.
- We are burn injury attorneys who truly care about our clients. Our goal is to give you peace of mind through strong legal advocacy every step of the way.
- You won’t pay our Minneapolis burn injury lawyers anything unless we win your case and secure financial compensation for your losses.
What Does a Burn Injury Lawyer Do?
If you hire a personal injury lawyer to represent you during a burn injury case in Minneapolis, you immediately gain access to an advocate who will be committed to your successful recovery. Your lawyer can connect you to top doctors in the area to make sure you receive the medical treatment and care that you need.
For the legal process, your lawyer can investigate the event that caused your burn, collect and preserve key evidence to build your injury claim, identify liable parties, and file the necessary paperwork to seek justice on your behalf. A lawyer will fight for maximum compensation in and out of the courtroom while you heal from your serious injuries.
An insurance company won’t want you to get the results that you truly deserve during a burn injury case. Insurance companies use many tactics to minimize client payouts. With a lawyer, however, you have a legal representative who can take over negotiations with an insurance claims adjuster to help you achieve a fair settlement.
Types of Burn Injuries
Identifying the type of burn injury is critical in a patient, as this will determine the most appropriate form of treatment. An electrical burn, for example, may affect a victim’s internal organs and require in-depth care.
There are four main burn injury types based on the source of the burn and what caused it:
- Thermal burns (heat or open flame)
- Electrical burns (electricity)
- Chemical burns (caustic chemicals)
- Radiation burns (UV, x-ray or other sources of radiation)
Understanding the type of burn injury can also help determine liability or accountability. A chemical burn in a workplace setting, for instance, could point to issues with the chemical itself (i.e., product defects) or negligence by an employer to protect workers from known hazards.
Burn Injury Degrees
In addition to classifying a burn injury by type, a physician will also diagnose it based on the degree, or severity, of the burn.
There are three burn injury degrees:
- First degree: the mildest type of burn, impacting only the epidermis (the outermost layer of skin). Symptoms can include redness and pain. These burns typically heal completely on their own, with no permanent scarring.
- Second degree: a moderate burn injury that impacts the epidermis as well as the second layer, the dermis. These burns can cause blisters and open wounds, posing a risk of infection. Second-degree burns can be more painful than first-degree burns.
- Third degree: a severe burn injury that can impact tissues deeper than the dermis, including the underlying tendons, muscles, nerves and bones. Third-degree burns are emergencies that often cause permanent damage, scarring, disfigurement and disability.
While first-degree burns may not require professional medical care (unless they’re large or in vulnerable places of the body), second-degree and third-degree burns always necessitate a trip to the doctor’s office.
Common Causes of Serious Burns in Minnesota
Burn injuries can happen when someone is negligent or doesn’t act with an appropriate amount of care. The cause of a burn in Minneapolis can determine the victim’s rights and options for making a financial recovery.
Top causes of serious burns in Minnesota include:
- Structural or house fires
- Car accidents and vehicle fires
- Workplace incidents
- Chemical or electrical fires
- Scalds from steam or hot objects
- Defective products
- Dangerous premises
- Physical assault or abuse
If one or more parties reasonably should have prevented a person’s burn injuries, the victim has grounds to pursue financial compensation from the at-fault party through a personal injury claim.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Burn Injury in Minneapolis?
Holding someone accountable for a burn injury typically requires proof of negligence. There must be evidence showing that an individual or entity owed the victim a duty of care, breached this duty of care and caused the burn injury in question.
The liable party will depend on the circumstances surrounding the incident. Examples include:
- Motor vehicle driver
- Product manufacturer
- Business or company
- Employer
- Property owner or landlord
- Utility or electrical company
- Government agency
Evidence potentially available to prove liability in support of a burn injury claim includes police reports, witness statements or accounts of what happened, workplace records, photographs, video footage, and testimony from relevant experts.
Compensation for Burn Injury Victims in Minnesota
A burn injury lawyer from Goldenberg Lauricella, PLLC can help you pursue maximum financial compensation for the losses you suffered due to your severe burn injury in Minneapolis. We can search for sources of insurance coverage or compensation, then negotiate a settlement or litigate your case in court if a settlement cannot be reached.
Compensation may be available for losses such as your present and future medical expenses, permanent disability or disfigurement, pain and suffering, lost wages, lost capacity to earn, and any property damage. As your lawyers, we will fight for a fair case outcome with no fees unless we win.
Contact Us to Schedule Your Free Burn Injury Case Review in Minneapolis
If a tragic accident left you or a loved one with serious burn injuries in Minneapolis or the surrounding area, you aren’t alone. The attorneys of Goldenberg Lauricella, PLLC are here to help you hold someone accountable and achieve the personal injury case outcome that you deserve.
We understand your situation and what you’re going through. We are known for representing burn injury survivors with skill, care and compassion. Contact us by calling (612) 333-4662 today for a free case review.