Burns can be devastating, traumatic injuries, leaving people with disfiguring scars. Likewise, a burn could impact a person’s ability to use the affected area depending on the location of an injury.
If you or your loved one sustained burns in an accident, reach out to a skilled catastrophic injury attorney at Roberts Markland LLP. A Denver burn injury lawyer could review the circumstances and explain the legal options available to you.
Most burn injuries, known as thermal burns, occur when the skin contacts a flame or a hot surface. However, caustic chemicals, friction, and electricity can also cause burns. Common incidents leading to burn injuries include:
If another party’s conduct had a role in the accident, they could be liable for the burn victim’s damages, including medical treatment, lost wages, and the subjective effects of a burn injury, like pain, disfigurement, disability, and emotional trauma. However, a skilled attorney in Denver could investigate an incident that resulted in a burn injury and identify the parties whose conduct contributed to it.
Apart from first and second-degree burns, which only damage the outermost layers of a person’s skin, burn injuries often require significant medical intervention. For example, third-degree burns involve all the layers of skin and can penetrate the subcutaneous fat layer. Burns of this significance usually require hospitalization. In addition, the National Institutes of Health reports that treatment for these burns could include irrigation, debridement of the injury, and skin grafts. Depending on the injury location and severity, other medical interventions may be necessary.
Fourth-degree burns are often fatal, but with immediate intervention, some people survive them. Fourth-degree burns often penetrate and damage or destroy the muscle. In some cases, fourth-degree burns could lead to limb amputation. These burns typically require months of hospitalization and rehabilitation.
A negligent party whose conduct led to a person’s burn injuries could be financially responsible for all necessary treatment expenses. A hardworking attorney in Denver could help plaintiffs demand appropriate compensation from the responsible parties in court.
Statutes of limitation define the timeframe for injured individuals to file lawsuits in Denver. In most cases, Colorado Statute §13-80-102(1)(a) allows two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit seeking damages. However, if a plaintiff sustained a burn injury in a car accident, they must file suit within three years.
However, in specific circumstances, the law makes exceptions to the statute. For example, if a liable party leaves the state before the plaintiff files a suit, the time they spent out of the area would not count toward the time limit. Additionally, if an injured person was a minor when they sustained an injury, the statute of limitations does not begin until their 18th birthday.
Courts will not hear a case if the plaintiff files outside the statutory deadline. Therefore, consulting an injury attorney in Denver immediately after a burn injury could preserve an injured person’s right to seek compensation for their losses.
Burns are critical injuries that could have permanent consequences. However, if another party caused your burn injuries, the law holds them liable for your losses.
A Denver burn injury lawyer understands the devastating impact of burns and the challenges you face as you recover and try to move forward. Reach out to Roberts Markland LLP today to begin your case.
