Burn Injury

Las Vegas Burn Injury Lawyers

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If you or a loved one suffered critical burn injuries caused by the negligent or wrongful actions of another, you may have the right to financial compensation. A respected Las Vegas burn injury lawyer at Gina Corena & Associates could help you make the at-fault party repay you for your suffering. Contact our law firm at (702) 680-1111 for a free consultation.

Categories of Burn Injuries

When many people think of burn injuries, they are quick to assume the worst. But there are different categories of burn injuries, each with their own troubles, symptoms, and treatments. According to the American Burn Association, they are as follows:

  • First-degree burns – First-degree burns are the most mild type of burn injury, as they only affect the epidermis, or the outer layer of skin. First-degree burns may not necessarily require emergency medical treatment unless infection develops.
  • Second-degree burns – Second-degree burns damage the deeper, dermis layers of the skin’s tissue and are far more painful and severe than first-degree burns are due to blistering. Second-degree burns often require medical attention, and the risk of infection is higher.
  • Third-degree burns – Third-degree burns are the worst type of burn injury and will nearly always require emergency medical attention immediately. The tissues below the skin have been damaged in third-degree burns, and victims will often require skin grafting in order to recuperate.
  • Fourth-degree burns – Fourth-degree burns damage both layers of the skin and the underlying tissue, sometimes deep into the muscles and bone. Fourth-degree burns can often be life-threatening.

People are also quick to assume that burn injuries are always caused by explosions or fires. But this is not the case. Burn injuries can also be caused in a wide variety of ways, some of which include:

  • Frostbite (also known as cold burns)
  • Thermal burns (which happen when you touch hot liquids or other hot objects)
  • Chemical burns (caused by toxic and flammable substances and acids)
  • Friction burns (caused by bike and motor vehicle accidents)
  • Electrical burns (caused by coming into contact with an electrical current) 
  • Radiation burns (brought on by cancer treatment, x-rays, and sunburn)

These are only a few of the types of burn injuries victims can sustain. Your attorney will need to know everything there is to know about your burn injuries, as this will help us to recover maximum compensation for your suffering.

Common Causes of Burn Injuries in Las Vegas

Now that you have a better idea of the different types of burn injuries there are, it is important to consider the ways in which these injuries occur. One of the only ways that you can recover compensation for your damages after suffering a burn injury in Las Vegas is by finding out who the at fault party is.

The type of accident or incident you were involved in will point your burn injury lawyer in the right direction in the hopes of uncovering who is responsible for your injuries. With that being said, there are countless ways in which burn injuries can occur. But there are some that happen far more often than others in Las Vegas. These include:

  • Structural fires
  • Fires caused by defective products
  • Thermal burn accidents
  • Accidents caused by scalding
  • Fires caused by dangerous conditions
  • Jobsite fires and explosions
  • Car accidents
  • Chemical accidents
  • Truck accidents
  • Motorcycle accidents
  • Negligent security cases
  • Premises liabilities 
  • Construction accidents
  • Housefires (especially electric heater accidents)
  • ​Wrongful death

These are only a few of the more common ways in which burn injuries occur. If you have been involved in another type of accident or incident that caused you to suffer catastrophic burn injuries, you may still have grounds for a personal injury case against the liable party. 

When your injuries are considered catastrophic, or have developed complications that may have resulted in permanent disability, it is important that you make the culpable party pay for their negligence.

Fault for Accidents Causing Burn Injuries in Las Vegas

Arguably the single most important job your burn injury lawyer in Las Vegas will have is establishing fault. The vast majority of burn injury victims can only be compensated if they are able to show that someone else’s negligence caused their burn injuries. 

The individual or entity who is found liable for the burn survivor’s injuries will be responsible for compensating them for their suffering. For this reason, you can expect your attorney to carefully examine the details of your case in order to determine the truth.

The culpable party in your burn injury case can vary considerably depending on the type of accident or incident that caused your burn injuries. For example, if your burn injuries were caused by a car accident, then your attorney may be able to file claims against a number of different parties, such as:

  • Negligent drivers
  • Auto parts producers
  • Vehicle technicians
  • Government agencies
  • Dram shops
  • Safety inspectors
  • Other third parties

Or perhaps your burn injuries occurred at work. In cases like this, you may have the opportunity to file a claim against your colleagues, your supervisors, your boss, your employer, the company you work for, equipment manufacturers, and other relevant individuals or entities.

Every type of accident and incident has its own circumstances that can have a tremendous impact on a burn injury victim’s case. If you are unsure who is at fault for your burn injuries, you are not alone. You should be able to spend your time healing from your injuries, contact our office today so your personal injury lawyers can get started on identifying the liable party in your Las Vegas burn injury case.

Comparative Negligence for Las Vegas Burn Injuries

There would be far more burn injury claims filed in Las Vegas if more people understood how the state’s modified comparative negligence system worked. Many burn injury survivors are hesitant to reach out to a lawyer for help, because they believe that sharing fault for their injuries prevents them from being able to seek compensation for their injuries in civil court.

But this is not true under Nevada law. Here, we follow a modified comparative negligence system with a 50% bar threshold. This means that you can share as much as 50% of the fault for the accident you were involved in and still recover compensation for your damages.

However, you should expect your burn injury settlement to be reduced by your portion of fault. Here is an example of how modified comparative negligence in Nevada could impact your Las Vegas burn injury award:

Jane suffered severe burn injuries over 60% of her body after she was involved in a catastrophic car accident caused by a drunk driver. At trial, it was discovered that Jane was not wearing her seatbelt at the time of her accident. 

For this reason, the judge found her to be 5% liable for her injuries. The jury awarded Jane a sum of $500,000 for her damages. But because she was 5% at fault for the accident, her $500,000 award was reduced by 5%, and Jane’s case was closed at a final award of $475,000.

As can be seen, even sharing a moderate amount of faults for your accident can have a dramatic impact on the amount you can be awarded in your case. Be sure to protect your compensation. Have an experienced burn injury attorney handling your case so that fault is fairly assessed in your case.

How to Prove Fault for Burn Injuries in Las Vegas

Proving fault for Las Vegas burn injuries can be more of a challenge than many people realize. Your attorney will need to open up a detailed investigation into the circumstances of your case in order to determine who is at fault and how the accident occurred. 

Your attorney will be tasked with proving liability based on a preponderance of the evidence. This means that the evidence must support the defendant’s liability. Some types of evidence may be more helpful to your case than others. Your attorney may use the following pieces of evidence in order to build a powerful burn injury lawsuit against the defendant:

  • Photos of your injuries
  • Photos of the accident
  • Video footage of the accident
  • Medical documentation of your injuries
  • Physician statements and recommendations
  • Forensic evidence
  • Witness statements
  • Testimony from experts
  • Police and accident reports
Statute of Limitations for Las Vegas Burn Injuries

When you are preparing to take legal action against those responsible for your traumatic burn injuries, there are specific state laws that you need to be aware of. For example, under Nevada law, you must have your personal injury claim filed before the statute of limitations expires. 

For burn injury claims in Las Vegas, this means you will have two years from the date of the injury to get your claim filed in the civil court system. However, this deadline can be extended to as much as three years if your burn injuries were caused by medical malpractice. 

The statute of limitations start and end dates can often be confusing for burn injury victims. You already have been through so much. Have an experienced legal advocate handle the procedural details of your case so you can focus on recuperating without putting your injury settlement at risk.

How to Recover Maximum Compensation for Your Burn Injuries in Las Vegas

After you have endured devastating burn injuries, you may be wondering how you will continue to go on with your life. Between the severe psychological trauma of your injuries, the self-esteem issues you may experience, and the financial distress of the accident, it is easy for burn survivors to become overwhelmed.

Your attorney may be able to help you recover maximum compensation for your burn injuries when someone else’s negligence or misconduct caused them. The way in which your accident occurred will determine your legal options for financial recovery.

For example, in some cases, you may be able to file a claim with the insurance company. Through filing an insurance claim, you may be able to recover a portion of your economic losses. But insurance companies are rarely willing to work with claimants. Instead, they prioritize their profit margin. You can expect the insurance company to fight back and do everything possible to avoid paying out on your case.

Fortunately, you may be able to seek recovery of the remaining damages you have endured through filing a civil claim. Burn injury survivors who do not have an insurance company to pursue a claim with may find the most success in pursuing their burn injury lawsuit in civil court. 

What Damages Can Burn Injury Victims Recover in Las Vegas?

Your serious burn injuries are likely to have a considerable impact on your life, potentially permanently altering it. No amount of compensation is going to change what you have been through or what has happened to you. But recovering maximum compensation for your damages can give you the financial support you need to begin to rebuild your life and put this horrifying experience behind you.

You have the right to be repaid for every way your life has been affected by your burn injuries. This means you should be compensated for both your economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are monetary while non-economic damages are not. Here are some of the more commonly awarded damages in Las Vegas burn injury lawsuits:

  • Loss of income
  • Diminished quality of life
  • Physical pain and suffering
  • Inconvenience
  • Disfigurement
  • Scarring
  • Emotional distress
  • Loss of future potential earnings
  • Medical expenses and healthcare equipment
  • Other medical bills 
  • Loss of household services
  • Damage to your reputation

There are many other damages that you may be able to recover as part of your burn injury claim. Remember, every person‘s case is different. You can learn more about what your lawsuit is worth when you speak further with your personal injury attorneys and burn injury lawyer.

Las Vegas Burn Injury FAQ

After suffering catastrophic burn injuries in an accident in Las Vegas, you may be feeling concerned about your future. It is normal to have many unanswered questions about who could be at fault for your injuries, how much your case is worth, and more about your civil claim.

We hope to make this process less challenging for you during a time when you are already struggling to get through your days. Here are the answers to some of the more common questions our clients have had surrounding burn injury claims in Las Vegas. 

If you have additional questions that we did not answer here, be sure to reach out to our office to further discuss your individual concerns.

What are the long-term complications of burn injuries?

The long-term implications of a bird injury are undeniable. Many burn patients suffer the after effects of their injuries for months or even years to come. Victims may be at further risk for contractures, skin infection, scar tissue, disfigurement, and respiratory issues related to smoke inhalation.

Beyond that, burn injury victims may also suffer from severe emotional trauma relating to the accident that caused their burn injuries. It is not uncommon for Victims to inder devastating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of what they have been through.

Should you settle with the insurance company?

It is difficult to say whether you should settle up with the insurance company without having reviewed the details of your case. With that being said, it is almost never a good idea to accept an insurance company’s settlement offer without having reviewed it with your attorney. 

Insurance companies lose money by paying out on claimants claims. They have entire teams of people working to find reasons to plausibly or wrongfully deny you the benefits and compensation that are rightfully yours. That is not to say that it is not possible to secure an injury settlement of some kind from the insurance company. Your attorney may be able to negotiate a settlement that meets your needs. 

But do not be surprised if the insurance company initially makes an insultingly low offer or attempts to manipulate the statement you give them regarding the accident. It is not uncommon for insurance companies to attempt to place unwarranted blame on burn injury victims in order to avoid having to pay out on the victims’ case. You can protect your injury settlement by having your burn injury attorney in Las Vegas show the insurance company that you mean business.

Can you recover punitive damages for your Las Vegas burn injuries?

It is certainly possible that you could recover punitive damages after suffering a burn injury in Las Vegas. Under Nevada law, punitive damages are not awarded frequently. The civil court system will only award punitive damages in instances where the liable party’s actions are found to be egregious or abhorrent.

For sunburn injuries, the accident may have occurred accidentally. But in cases of gross negligence or misconduct, the court may decide to impose punitive damages to further punish the defendant. You can find out more about the likelihood of your case seeing punitive damages when you reach out to your attorney to find out how much your burn injury claim is worth.

Get Help From a Burn Injury Attorney in Las Vegas

The recovery process following devastating burn injuries can be traumatizing. But a compassionate and experienced Las Vegas burn injury lawyer at Gina Corena & Associates is here to help you through these difficult times. 

Focus on recuperating from this ordeal and have our firm handle the legal details of your case. When you are ready to schedule your free case evaluation, give our office a call at (702) 680-1111 or complete our online contact form.

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