Compassionate Representation For Burn Injury Victims

Our Sandy Springs personal injury attorneys at Ashenden & Associates, P.C., understand the difficulties that may arise after a burn injury. These injuries may cause significant physical and psychological scarring as well as financial problems for victims and their families.

If you or someone you love has suffered burn injuries following an accident or injury, you may be entitled to just compensation. Continue reading to learn more about burn accidents and how our team at Ashenden & Associates, P.C., in Sandy Springs can help.

Different Burn Degrees

Burns can be classified as first-, second-, third- and fourth-degree burns. Second-, third- and fourth-degree burns will almost always require medical attention. Details regarding these burn classifications include the following:

• First-degree burns only affect the outer layer of skin (epidermis). While first-degree burns shouldn’t exhibit blistering, your skin may be dry, painful and red.
• Second-degree burns involve the epidermis and a portion of the underlying skin (dermis). The burn site of a second-degree burn may appear blistered and red. The area may also be swollen and painful.
• Third-degree burns destroy the dermis and the epidermis. These types of injuries can also damage tendons, muscles and bones. Due to the destruction of the hair follicles and epidermis, new skin will not grow on the site of third-degree burns. Even after extensive medical attention, third-degree burns typically heal poorly and slowly.
• Fourth-degree burns result in the deepest layer of skin (hypodermis) being burned away. These types of burns may appear charred or black. With fourth-degree burns, the affected area will not heal. These types of burns often result in excision or amputation and may even cause death.

Common causes of serious burns include traffic accidents, work accidents, construction accidents, chemical exposure and defective products.

Compensation For Burn Injuries

While first-degree burns may cause pain and superficial scarring, second-, third- and fourth-degree burns can be devastating.

If you or someone you love has suffered a burn or fire injury, an experienced Sandy Springs personal injury attorney may be able to help you recover financial compensation for your losses or injuries.

A few of the most common types of damages with financial compensation for burn injuries include the following, below.

Economic Damages

A burn victim may be able to receive full compensation for all medical expenses incurred because of the burn accident. This type of compensation includes all current and future medical bills as well as expenses incurred for rehabilitation. You may also be able to receive compensation for any lost wages for the time you may have missed from work. If the burn injury is so severe that you are unable to complete the essential functions of your job, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your diminished earning capacity.

For example, our attorneys at Ashenden & Associates, P.C., helped a Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) employee achieve a settlement well into the six figures after she suffered first-, second-, third- and fourth-degree burns as well as post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) when the radiator she was working on exploded.

Non-economic Damages

Many victims of burn injuries are awarded noneconomic damages for mental anguish and physical pain caused by the incident. If the burn caused any type of physical scarring or permanent disfigurement, you may be entitled to financial compensation for those injuries as well.

Punitive Damages

Georgia’s courts may award burn victims punitive damages in cases of reckless conduct or gross negligence on the part of the wrongdoer. Punitive damages are designed to deter or discourage others from participating in like behavior and to punish the negligent party.

Types Of Burn Injury Lawsuits

Our attorneys at Ashenden & Associates, P.C., offer free consultations with respect to a wide array of burn injury cases, including:

• Chemical spills
• Automobile accidents
• Structural fires (offices, apartment buildings and house fires)
• Electrical fires
• Defective or negligently installed smoke detectors and fire alarms
• Arson
• Construction accidents
• Thermal burns
• Scalding and burns from hot liquids
• Wrongful death cases

Contact Ashenden & Associates, P.C.

With more than 50 combined years of personal injury experience, our Sandy Springs burn accident injury attorneys at Ashenden & Associates, P.C., have successfully handled cases throughout Georgia. Contact us for a free consultation.