ST. LOUIS BURN INJURY LAWYER
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Terry Crouppen who has more than 40 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney. Our last modified date shows when this page was last reviewed.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Terry Crouppen who has more than 40 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney. Our last modified date shows when this page was last reviewed.
- Last Modified:
- March 14, 2024
A burn injury can have lifelong consequences. Compensation can make the road to recovery a little bit easier. Our St. Louis burn injury lawyers will help you fight to hold negligent parties accountable and maximize your financial recovery.
- How Can A St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyer Help If I Have Suffered A Burn Injury?
- What Is A Burn Injury?
- Types Of Burn Injuries
- What Are The Most Common Causes Of Burn Injuries In St. Louis, Missouri?
- How Much Is My St. Louis Burn Injury Case Worth?
- What Damages Can I Get If I Have Suffered A Burn Injury In St. Louis?
- How Do I Prove My Burn Injury Case?
- How Long Do I Have To File A Burn Injury Claim In Missouri?
- Trusted St. Louis Burn Injury Lawyers Ready To Fight For Maximum Compensation
Did you recently suffer burns in an accident in St. Louis, Missouri? If someone else is to blame, you should be compensated for your medical expenses, loss of income, and suffering. The St. Louis burn injury lawyers at Brown & Crouppen can help you pursue maximum compensation for your catastrophic injuries.
For more than 40 years, our top-rated Missouri trial attorneys have been dedicated advocates for injury victims and devastated families in St. Louis. We strive to make a meaningful difference in every client’s life, and our ability to achieve top results for the cases we handle is unparalleled.
We have won over $1 billion in life-changing benefits, settlements, and jury awards. Now it is your turn to benefit from all that our St. Louis personal injury law firm has to offer. Your first consultation is free, so reach out to our St. Louis, Missouri, law office for help today.
HOW CAN A ST. LOUIS PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER HELP IF I HAVE SUFFERED A BURN INJURY?
Even if someone else is responsible for your burn injury, it can be a challenge to successfully recover the compensation you deserve. At-fault parties won’t be quick to admit responsibility. Insurance companies and large corporations will use considerable resources to fight you at every turn.
Put yourself in the best position to win your case (and maximize your financial award) by enlisting the help of a qualified and respected St. Louis personal injury lawyer.
At Brown & Crouppen, we are top-rated, award-winning litigators for a reason. We are committed to making a difference in every client’s life, and our ability to achieve top results attests to that.
When faced with a lengthy road to recovery, trust us to handle every aspect of your burn injury case while you concentrate on getting better.
We will:
- Investigate the incident that caused your burn injury
- Gather useful evidence to lay a foundation for your claim, identify liability, and assess what your burn injury case is worth
- Consult with burn injury experts and medical specialists
- Defend you against allegations of shared fault and responsibility
- Handle conversations and negotiations with the insurance company and other parties on your behalf
- File a personal injury lawsuit and bring your case to a St. Louis jury if you don’t receive a fair settlement offer
Now is the time to take action and fight for compensation for your burn injuries. Brown & Crouppen is ready to help you achieve the best results. Call our St. Louis law office today to get started with an initial case evaluation at no cost.
WHAT IS A BURN INJURY?
A burn is tissue damage caused by direct or indirect contact with heat, electric current, a chemical agent, or radiation. Burn injuries can range from minor to severe, requiring at-home treatment or hospitalization.
As stated in Healthline, burns are categorized as follows:
- First-degree
- Superficial
- Dry red skin without blisters
- Healing time of seven to 10 days
- Second-degree
- Superficial partial thickness
- Red with wet blisters and severe pain
- A three-week healing period
- Deep partial thickness
- Appears yellow or white
- Dry
- Minimal pain
- A three- to eight-week healing period
- Superficial partial thickness
- Third-degree
- Full thickness, involving the skin and subcutaneous structures
- Leathery, dry skin
- Minimal to no pain
- Heals by contractures and requires skin grafting
- Healing time is greater than eight weeks
- Fourth-degree: charred skin with possible exposed bone
- Fifth-degree: charred white skin with exposed bone
- Sixth-degree: loss of skin with exposed bone
Small burns that are third-degree or higher can still result in serious complications, as can widespread first-degree burns.
TYPES OF BURN INJURIES
Burns can occur through a variety of mechanisms, which are significant determinants of treatment protocols.
THERMAL BURNS
A thermal burn occurs after contact with a heat source, such as:
- Hot metals
- Scalding liquids
- Steam
- Fire
CHEMICAL BURNS
According to the Cleveland Clinic, chemical burns occur when substances such as battery acid, cleaning supplies, and industrial products come into contact with the skin. Chemical burns can impact the skin, airways, and eyes. Children are at risk if they come into contact with household cleaners.
The long-term effects of chemical burns can be serious and include:
- Cancer of the skin, stomach, or esophagus
- Narrowing of the esophagus, sometimes due to scarring
- Perforations in the stomach, esophagus, or corneas of the eyes
- Scarring
- Vision impairment
INHALATION BURNS
Inhalation burns occur when smoke or chemicals are inhaled and internal structures such as the lungs and esophagus are impacted. Inhalation burns can lead to an inflammatory response that constricts breathing, increases fluid retention in the lungs, damages lung structures, and increases the risk of bacterial infections, such as pneumonia.
These burns often occur when smoke is inhaled during a fire and when patients experience burns to the face.
ELECTRICAL BURNS
An electrical burn occurs when electricity comes into contact with the body. The Electronic Library of Construction Occupational Safety & Health states that electrical burns are serious due to the secondary complications and injuries that often accompany them. For example, the electrical current can pass through the individual’s body, causing burn injuries in grounded areas of the body and impacting heart rhythm, according to Clinical Research in Cardiology.
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF BURN INJURIES IN ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI?
Every year, more than 486,000 people receive treatment for burn injuries at hospitals across the country. It’s estimated that worldwide, 300,000 people die because of burn-related injuries annually.
These burn injuries can occur at home, at work, and during travel. Many of these injuries happen accidentally and are preventable. In many cases, however, the individual who is injured cannot prevent the injury because they are the victim of someone else’s negligence.
AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS
Motor vehicles contain flammable and combustible liquids such as gasoline and oil, and the friction between the asphalt and the metal of motor vehicles can create sparks and flames. Automobiles also contain several hot components. According to cars.com, the average engine temperature is between 195 and 220 degrees Fahrenheit.
Additionally, multiple liquids run through the engine. Injured Care states that engine coolant can reach temperatures near boiling, and it is not unusual for car accident victims to be sprayed with engine coolant or other hot liquids during a crash. In addition, the following mechanisms can cause severe burn injuries in a car accident.
- Prolonged exposure to hot surfaces, such as from the engine or exhaust system.
- Gasoline igniting.
- Hot debris hitting you.
- The airbag causing chemical burns.
- Live electrical wires becoming exposed and electrocuting you directly or causing a fire.
In cases of truck accidents, your odds of experiencing burn injuries increase dramatically, as these accidents tend to be more severe due to the larger size of commercial vehicles.
Motorcyclists face many of the same risks as passenger vehicle occupants, plus the following:
- Road rash: This is a friction burn, which occurs when the skin slides against asphalt.
- Exhaust pipe burns: These are common in motorcycle accidents. If the motorcyclist is pinned by the motorcycle while awaiting assistance, contact could be prolonged, resulting in a deeper burn.
WORKPLACE ACCIDENTS
According to the Cleveland Clinic, workers in the following occupations face the highest risks of chemical burn injuries:
- Construction workers
- Factory workers
- Farmers
- Lab techs
- Mechanics
- Military members
- Plumbers
T&D World reports that electrical burns are especially common in construction, utility, and manufacturing industries due to the following:
- Exposed electrical wires and components
- Overhead power lines
- Damaged insulation
- Improper use of equipment and cords
- Wet conditions where electrical equipment and wiring are used
- Ungrounded power supplies
HOT WATER
Hot water burns are a type of thermal burn known as scalding. Plumbing & Mechanical states tap water that is hotter than 120 degrees Fahrenheit can cause severe burns. Children, disabled individuals, and the elderly are at the highest risk due to their inability to move away from danger quickly.
HOUSE FIRES
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) identifies the following among the top causes of house fires:
- Appliances and equipment
- Candles
- Holiday decorations
- Smoking
- Lightning
At Brown & Crouppen, our St. Louis burn injury attorneys represent clients who have sustained catastrophic burns as a result of:
- Defective products
- Explosions
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home abuse or neglect
- Toxic exposure
- Boating accidents
- Other acts of negligence
- Assaults or abuse
Contact our law office, conveniently located in St. Louis, Missouri, to discuss your legal options if you have sustained a burn injury. We can help you understand your rights and build a strategy to secure maximum compensation from responsible parties.
HOW MUCH IS MY ST. LOUIS BURN INJURY CASE WORTH?
Research suggests that treatment for burn injuries can cost anywhere between $200,000 and as much as $10 million. That’s a wide range—and it only really accounts for the medical expense of skin grafts, surgery, complications from infection, and therapy for psychological complications.
Ultimately, many factors are important when assessing the value of your burn injury claim:
- What degree of burns have you suffered?
- What type of medical treatment is necessary?
- How long will it take for you to make a full physical recovery?
- Will you live with disfigurement, scarring, disability, or permanent impairment?
- How has the trauma of your accident and resulting burn injury affected you?
- Do you share responsibility for your burn injury?
- How old are you?
- How has your earning capacity been affected by your burn injury?
The more severe your burns and the more complications you experience, the more your personal injury case will likely be worth.
Don’t underestimate the impact of hiring an experienced personal injury attorney near you to handle your claim. Make your choice of attorney count by trusting the team at Brown & Crouppen. We have won over $1 billion for clients who sustained catastrophic injuries like burns, and we are ready to help you achieve the best possible results in your case.
WHAT DAMAGES CAN I GET IF I HAVE SUFFERED A BURN INJURY IN ST. LOUIS?
In a personal injury claim, you can generally seek compensatory damages for your burn injury. Compensatory awards cover the financial costs of your burn injury and account for the pain and suffering endured. These are known as economic and non-economic damages, respectively.
Our St. Louis burn injury attorneys will help you seek compensation for:
- Present and future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation and therapy
- Disability
- Reduced earning capacity
- Lost wages
- Lost job opportunities
- Lost job benefits
- Property damage
- Nursing assistance
- Chronic physical pain
- Disfigurement
- Mental anguish
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Depression and anxiety
- Reduced quality of life
- Loss of consortium
- Embarrassment
If you were injured because of another person’s intentionally harmful conduct or if they displayed a conscious disregard for your health and safety, a jury might also decide that punitive damages are appropriate.
HOW DO I PROVE MY BURN INJURY CASE?
If you were injured because of another person’s negligence, you must establish four distinct elements to prove your case.
- Duty of care: The defendant owed you a duty of care.
- Breach of duty: The defendant failed to act reasonably and, in turn, breached the duty of care owed to you.
- Causation: The defendant’s actions (or failure to act) were the direct and proximate cause of your burn injury.
- Damages: You have identifiable damages.
Not all burn injury cases are based on negligence. For instance, if you were hurt because of a defective product, your claim could be based on strict liability.
In a strict liability matter, companies can be held financially responsible if a product is defective or unreasonably dangerous, no matter how careful they were in its design, manufacture, or marketing. You simply have to identify the defect and prove that it caused your burn injury.
If you suffer a burn injury on the job in Missouri, you may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. In these situations, negligence won’t be a factor. Instead, you will simply have to show that you are a qualifying employee who sustained a burn injury while performing job-related tasks or responsibilities.
You don’t have to establish the grounds for your burn injury claim or pursue compensation on your own. Call Brown & Crouppen and let our top-rated personal injury attorneys in St. Louis lead the way.
Get started with a free consultation with one of our skilled Personal Injury Lawyers today.
HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO FILE A BURN INJURY CLAIM IN MISSOURI?
Under Missouri state law, you’ll typically have five years — until the fifth anniversary of the accident that caused your burns — to file a personal injury lawsuit.
If someone you love died because of a burn injury they suffered through little to no fault of their own in St. Louis, you have three years from their death to file a wrongful death action.
Don’t let too much time go by before you assert your rights. Once the statute of limitations expires, you lose the opportunity to demand the compensation you deserve.
TRUSTED ST. LOUIS BURN INJURY LAWYERS READY TO FIGHT FOR MAXIMUM COMPENSATION
Since 1958, Brown & Crouppen has provided top-tier legal representation to victims of catastrophic burn injuries in Missouri. Our award-winning St. Louis trial attorneys have led thousands of clients to life-changing financial victories. We have won over $1 billion in settlements and verdicts.
Level the playing field by putting our St. Louis burn injury attorneys in your corner. We have the resources and experience you need to make the most of your burn injury claim and the passion and dedication you deserve during this trying time.
We offer a free consultation and work on contingency, which means no up-front cost to hire our personal injury law firm to seek compensation in your burn injury case. Call our St. Louis law office to get started with a free case evaluation today.
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