Orlando Burn Injury Lawyers - Paul Knopf Bigger

A severe burn can have devastating consequences, requiring you to undergo painful medical care and potentially leaving you unable to work and earn an income. If someone else was responsible for your injury, these costs should not be yours. But getting the at-fault party to compensate you for their actions could be challenging without the help of an experienced Orlando burn injury attorney. That’s why you should turn to Paul Knopf Bigger for assistance.

We’ve dedicated our careers to righting wrongs for accident injury victims, and we’re eager to advocate for your rights and interests as we pursue the compensation you deserve. No matter how challenging your burn injury case is, we welcome the opportunity to make a difference in your life, and we will put your interests and needs at the forefront of how we approach your claim. With our proven track record of success at the negotiating table and in the courtroom, you can trust us to do whatever we can to get you every penny you’re owed.

If you’ve suffered a burn injury due to another party’s negligence or fault, contact Paul Knopf Bigger for a free, no-obligation consultation. We will meet with you and explain how we can fight for your rights to financial relief and accountability from those responsible for your injuries.

What Are the Common Causes of Burn Injuries?

At Paul Knopf Bigger, our legal team helps clients recover from life-altering burn injuries caused by:

What Are the Types and Degrees of Burns?

Doctors classify burns according to the mechanism of the injury and its severity. Common types include:

• Thermal Burns – These burns result from contact with a heat source, such as a flame, hot surface, steam, or scalding water.
• Chemical Burns – Such burns occur when the skin or other tissues come into contact with a substance or material that triggers a chemical reaction that generates excessive heat or dissolves tissues.
• Electrical Burns – An electrical burn can occur when a person touches a live electrical wire. The victim’s skin and internal organs can be damaged as the current runs through their body.
• Friction Burns – These are caused by the skin rubbing across an abrasive surface. One of the most common kinds of friction burns is “road rash,” caused when a person slides across the pavement.
• Radiation Burns – These result from excessive exposure to radiation, such as ultraviolet radiation, X-rays, and gamma rays. Common causes of radiation burns include excessive, unprotected sun exposure or exposure to highly radioactive materials.

In addition to these types, doctors also group burn injuries in ascending degree based on the extent of the damage:

• First-degree burns are limited to the first layer of skin, known as the epidermis. The injured area usually appears red and may feel painful.
• Second-degree burns reach the second layer of skin, called the dermis. The injury may cause the skin to become red or white and blister. More severe injuries can cause permanent scarring.
• Third-degree burns extend through the skin to the fat layer beneath. Burned areas can look black, brown, or white, though they are not painful due to the destruction of nerve cells.

Some people also refer to higher degrees of burns for injuries that reach below the fat later to damage soft tissues, tendons, muscles, internal organs, or bones.

What Are the Medical Costs for Burn Victims?

The medical costs of treating a burn injury depend on its cause and severity. Most first-degree burns simply require first-aid and home remedies to heal. However, most second- and all third-degree burns will require some level of medical attention. More severe burns usually require treatment at specialized burn centers.

Treatment for a second-degree burn might entail:

• Regularly changed wound dressings
• Ointments and creams that prevent infections, moisturize the skin, and promote healing
• Pain relievers
• Antibiotics if the wound does become infected

Treatment for third-degree burns usually involves much more intensive hospital-based care, including:

• Powerful pain medications
• Water-based treatments like debridement or ultrasound mist therapy
• IV fluids to prevent dehydration
• Skin grafts to replace destroyed or scarred tissues
• Physical or occupational therapy to help restore flexibility or range of motion to joints covered by scar tissue
• Plastic surgery to increase the flexibility of the skin or improve the appearance of scars
• Other surgical procedures, such as inserting breathing or feeding tubes, cutting burn scars to restore blood flow if they restrict circulation, or removing necrotic tissue or limbs

Who Is Liable for a Burn Injury in Florida?

The person who is liable for your burn injuries depends on the underlying circumstances. For example, if you’ve suffered a burn injury in a motor vehicle accident, you can hold the driver or drivers at fault for the crash liable for your injuries. If the accident occurred during the at-fault driver’s work, you may also pursue liability against the driver’s employer.

Alternatively, suppose a dangerous property or worksite condition leads to a burn injury. In that case, you may have the right to hold the property’s owner or occupier responsible for maintaining the safety of the premises liable for your injury. In addition, if you suffer a burn injury due to a defective or unreasonably dangerous product, you may have a legal claim against the manufacturer or retailer.

If you hire a burn injury lawyer in Orlando, one of their first tasks will be to investigate the incident to uncover evidence pointing toward the liable party. This evidence might include:

Can I Get Compensation for My Burn Injury?

If someone else caused your burn injury, they might also owe you compensation for the effects it’s had on your life. This could include money for:

• Costs of medical care and rehabilitation, including hospitalization, surgeries, specialized wound care, prescriptions, and physical/occupational therapy
• Costs of care and support, such as home health services or personal assistance, if you suffer long-term or permanent disabilities
• Ongoing and future losses of income if you need to take time off work to recover from your injury, transfer to a lower-paying position, or become permanently disabled from work
• Physical pain and anguish from your injury and subsequent treatment (such as surgery or debridement)
• Emotional trauma and distress
• Loss of enjoyment or quality of life caused by physical disabilities or permanent scarring and disfigurement that interfere with your daily living

How Long Do I Have to File a Burn Injury Lawsuit in Florida?

Under Florida’s statute of limitations, you typically have two years to file a burn injury lawsuit after an accident in Orlando. While that might seem like a lot of time to pursue a claim, the sooner you get started, the better.

If you file your lawsuit after this limitations period expires, you risk having your case tossed out by the court and losing your right to compensation. That’s why it’s crucial to contact an Orlando burn injury lawyer from Paul Knopf Bigger as soon as possible after an accident. This way, we can get started on your case immediately and ensure everything is filed on time.

What an Orlando Burn Injury Attorney Can Do for Your Case

Depending on the severity of your burn injury, you may be faced with weeks or months of medical treatment and rehabilitation. Even after you’ve recovered, your burn injuries may leave you with permanent disabilities, and the costs of your treatment and lost wages can be debilitating.

You deserve financial compensation for what you’ve suffered, and the attorneys at Paul Knopf Bigger can help you pursue it. Let us handle all the aspects of preparing and pursuing your legal claims, including:

• Thoroughly investigating the incident and obtaining evidence for your case, such as accident reports, surveillance footage, or witness statements
• Determining what legal options you may have for financial recovery, including applicable insurance coverage
• Documenting your injuries and losses and working with medical, financial, and vocational experts as necessary to understand the full extent of the compensation you deserve
• Keeping you updated on the progress of your claims, answering any questions you may have, and preparing you for what to expect at each stage
• Filing your insurance or legal claims and communicating with adjusters and defense attorneys for you so you can focus on your treatment and recovery
• Pursuing full compensation for you through a negotiated settlement, if possible
• Taking your case to court and trial if litigation becomes necessary to demand the financial relief and accountability you deserve

Contact a Burn Injury Attorney in Orlando Today

Were you burned in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence or fault? Then you need the attorneys at Paul Knopf Bigger to help demand and recover financial compensation for your injuries and losses. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your legal options.