A serious burn injury can often leave victims and their families with a lifetime of physical and mental pain and suffering, lost wages from missing work, hefty medical expenses, and property damage. Depending on what caused your burn injury, negligent parties who fail to keep burn injury victims safe could be held legally liable for monetary compensation to pay for these damages. Having a qualified attorney on your side to help with your burn injury claim could be a critical step for you to pursue the full amount of compensation you legally deserve.
The reputable attorneys at Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers are standing by to discuss your burn injury claim during a free initial consultation. Our firm has over 40 years of combined legal experience while amassing more than $200 million in successful verdicts and settlements for our past clients. We have handled thousands of cases involving serious injury, including burn injury claims. Our knowledgeable attorneys know how to apply state and local laws to help you seek compensation from negligent parties that are responsible for the damages they created.
If your case is viable, we can properly guide you through the necessary steps to take throughout the legal process so that you can recover from your injuries. Read on to learn some of these crucial steps and why they are so important to the outcome of your burn injury claim.
What to Do After Sustaining a Burn Injury
If you or someone you care for was burned in an accident, we recommend taking the following steps for your safety and to protect the value of your injury claim:
Step 1. Call for Help
The first thing you should do after sustaining a burn injury is get to a safe place and call for help. If your burn injury was the result of negligence, call 9-1-1 to report the accident to the police and seek immediate medical attention to ensure your safety. Seeing a doctor right away could help prevent your burn injury from worsening and your medical documents are valuable pieces of evidence needed to prove your claim. If you cannot be examined by a medical professional immediately, sometimes first or second-degree burns can be treated at home with some common first-aid care. Obtaining a copy of the police accident report adds another layer of credibility, which may be necessary when negotiating compensation amounts with insurance companies.
Step 2. Take Pictures/Video
As a burn injury victim, it is up to you, with the help of your attorney, to prove your damages were the result of negligence by another party. This means you need solid evidence that shows the severity of your burn injury and how it occurred. Taking pictures of your injuries and the accident site can be submitted as valuable pieces of evidence to prove your burn injury claim. For example, if the burn injury was the result of a car crash, you should take photos of the scene of the accident, including your vehicle and any other vehicles involved, if possible. If the burn injury occurred at work, take photos of the equipment that caused the injury. Recording a video of the accident scene can also be helpful to further bolster your claim.
Step 3. Record Witness Information
Sometimes witnesses can play a significant role in a burn injury case. If someone saw the burn injury accident as it occurred, we recommend recording their contact information, including first and last name, phone number, and address. You can also ask permission to record a witness statement with your phone, which may be submitted as valuable evidence. Your lawyer can also contact the witness at a later date and ask them to provide a statement or testify in court, if necessary.
Step 4. Attend All Medical Appointments
After sustaining any serious injury such as a severe burn, it is critical that you attend all follow-up appointments prescribed by your doctor. Failure to attend follow-up treatment can not only slow your recovery, but it can also hurt the value of your personal injury claim. Missing medical appointments may cause insurers to deny your claim, saying that your injuries could have improved if you had attended the recommended treatments and/or evaluations.
Step 5. Keep a Medical Journal
It may be beneficial to keep a personal medical journal to record any progress or setbacks during the recovery process. This could be used as evidence to prove the physical and mental pain and suffering you endured as a result of the burn injury. If you choose not to keep a journal, you may forget important details about your experiences. You want to make sure your suffering is well documented so you can seek the full amount of compensation you may deserve.
Step 6. Speak to a Licensed Attorney
Speaking to a licensed attorney who has experience handling burn injury cases is highly recommended before you decide to settle your claim with an insurance company. Insurers are known for offering far less compensation than what you may deserve. A skilled attorney will know how to accurately calculate your damages for past, present, and future financial needs related to your injury. If you decide to hire an attorney, he or she can negotiate with insurance adjusters and the defendant’s lawyers to fight for the compensation you may legally deserve.
Hire an Attorney You Can Count On
While there are no guarantees in personal injury law, people who hire an attorney from a reputable law firm usually have more success with their claims. Burn injury victims with an attorney usually garner settlement amounts that are much fairer to cover their sustained damages, compared to those who decide to represent themselves on their own. It is important to do your research and find an attorney who has a proven track record and good reputation with past clients.
At the law firm of Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers, we have obtained over $200,000,000 in combined verdicts and settlements for our past clients. Our accomplished attorneys have handled more than 6,000 cases combined, while receiving more than 600+ five-star reviews and testimonials.
You can have your questions answered in a complimentary initial consultation by calling our firm any time, 24/7. Our team of legal professionals is standing by to guide you through the difficulties of the legal process. If your burn injury was caused by another’s negligence, you may be eligible for compensation to cover your damages.
Our compassionate lawyers aim to protect the rights of serious injury victims in West Palm Beach and throughout the state of Florida (by appointment only). If you cannot make it to our office, we can also come to you.
Call Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers today at (561) 800-8000 or chat with one of our online representatives.