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A burn injury could be minor and momentarily painful, or it could result in severe damage with permanent disfigurement. The treatment for a severe burn injury is often intensive, and requires months or even years of care and surgeries. The costs associated with medical care for burn injuries could be significant and the pain could prevent you from working in the future. Our skilled catastrophic injury attorneys are here to help.
If another party’s negligence caused you to sustain significant burn injuries, state law could provide a path for you to recover compensation for your damages. A Cook County burn injury lawyer could help guide you through the complexities of a claim and fight by your side for fair compensation.
Burn injuries typically range in severity based on how the burn affects the layers of skin on an injured individual’s body. Additionally, the severity of a burn typically dictates the amount of compensation that could be available in a case. To fully understand the severity, it is critical to understand the different degrees of burns, which are commonly categorized as follows:
A burn injury is defined by the degree to which the burn damages the surface of a person’s skin. First-degree burns typically affect the outermost layer of an injured person’s skin and usually do not require legal intervention. Second- and third-degree burns are more painful and could lead to permanent damages. Fourth-degree burns commonly affect the deepest parts of the skin, even reaching an injured individual’s muscle or bone, often causing death. A Cook County burn injury attorney understands the seriousness of the situation and could fight to hold the at-fault parties responsible for their negligence.
In most cases, burns resulting from fires in buildings or other structures could be preventable. Additionally, combustions from motor vehicle accidents often result from the negligent actions of another person. As such, many losses could be attributed to the negligent or wrongful actions of another party, including the following:
Determining the cause of an accident and the parties responsible for it could be a difficult task for anyone. In some cases, an investigation could take several months to figure out the responsible parties, especially if a large company is involved in the case. A burn accident lawyer in Cook County could investigate a case to ensure that all of the responsible parties are included.
The damages from a burn injury could be extensive, given the potential time it could take an injured individual to recover. Several of the damages sustained might be recoverable in a claim under state law. In some cases, an injured individual could be found partially at fault for the negligence.
Illinois law follows the modified comparative negligence rule for cases involving negligence on the part of an injured individual. This rule permits injured parties to recover compensation for their damages if they are found to be less than 50 percent at fault for the cause of their injuries by the judge or jury, according to 735 Illinois Compiled Statutes § 5/2-1116. A well-versed attorney could evaluate a case to determine whether an injured party was responsible for an accident.
When you endure a painful accident, your focus should be on medical treatment and recovering from your injuries. Unfortunately, injured individuals sometimes fail to consult a legal professional before submitting a claim with an insurance company or filing a case in state or federal court, which could result in unfavorable results. A Cook County burn injury lawyer could evaluate your case to help determine the potential options for securing fair compensation. Contact an attorney today to discuss your options.