How Can a Personal Injury Claim Help Me After Suffering a Serious Burn Injury?

 Posted on July 15,2020 in Personal Injury Lawsuits

Whether it is from staying out in the sun too long, accidentally touching a hot pan, or picking up a smoldering sparkler, most people have experienced at least one minor burn injury. Mild to moderate burn injuries can still be painful, but they do not compare to the extreme pain and dangerous medical complications caused by a severe burn injury. If you or a loved one have suffered a severe burn, you may be wondering what your legal options are. In many cases, a personal injury claim can help a burn injury victim recover compensation while simultaneously holding the party responsible for the burn injury accountable for its negligence.

Consequences of a Severe Burn Injury

Perhaps the most famous personal injury case involving burns is the case involving a spilled cup of McDonald’s coffee. Although the media portrayed the case as an example of a “frivolous lawsuit,” the reality of the situation was quite the opposite. The coffee was outrageously hot – hot enough to cause full-thickness burns to a person’s skin in two to seven seconds. The elderly woman who accidentally spilled the scalding coffee on herself received third-degree burns that required skin grafting and caused extensive disfiguration and horrific pain. Even worse, McDonald’s had received more than 700 other complaints of burn injuries caused by their overly hot coffee before this particular claim. Because the court found McDonald’s actions to be especially egregious, the woman was awarded punitive damages. Punitive damages are extra compensation designed to punish the wrongdoer.

Damages in a Burn Injury Case

If another party’s negligent or wrongful actions led to your burn injury, you may be entitled to compensation as well. Damages in a burn injury case typically include compensation for medical bills resulting from emergency room treatment, prescription medication, hospital stays, surgery, and ongoing medical care. Compensation for your physical pain and suffering and mental anguish may also be available. If your burn injury caused you to miss work, you could receive compensation for your lost income. If the injury was so severe that it reduced your ability to work in the future, you could also be compensated for your reduced future earning capacity.

Contact a Waukegan Burn Injury Lawyer

If you are unsure of whether or not your burn injury was caused by negligence or you want to learn more about personal injury claims, contact Salvi & Maher, L.L.C. Call our office today at 847-662-3303 and schedule a cost-free, no-obligation consultation with one of our experienced Lake County personal injury attorneys.

Source:

https://www.rd.com/article/hot-coffee-lawsuit/