A serious burn is one of the most painful injuries a person can experience. Burn victims may face severe scarring and other physical repercussions for years after the accident. If you or a loved one suffered this type of harm because someone else acted carelessly, you deserve justice.
A Reading burn injury lawyer at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers will fight for the compensation you deserve from those responsible for hurting you. Our winning attorneys can file a lawsuit for damages to pay for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain, and other losses. We recently obtained $1.2 million for a client who suffered severe burn injuries from an electrical shock on the job. We know how to provide our clients with the representation and support they need.
Finding the Parties Responsible for Burn Injuries
Various accidents can cause severe burns, but it’s not always easy to tell who is at fault. Our skilled lawyers can investigate a burn accident in Reading to determine the responsible parties.
For example, suppose a person suffered a burn in an apartment building fire. A tenant in the unit below who left a pot unattended on the stove might be at fault. However, the manufacturer, installer, building manager, and owner might be liable if the sprinkler system did not work properly. If supposedly inflammable building materials ignited, the manufacturers and the contractors who used the materials could have partial responsibility. If the fire inspectors ignored violations, the city might also be liable.
In many cases, a combination of factors leads to a burn injury. Our Reading attorneys can identify as many responsible parties as possible to increase a burn victim’s chances of getting the payments they need.
Damages in Burn Injury Cases
Anyone who caused or contributed to a burn could be liable for the victim’s “damages.” This refers to compensation for every effect of the injury on the victim’s life, including financial expenses and non-economic losses. The responsible party must pay for the victim’s medical costs, lost income, property damage, and other incidental costs. They must also compensate for the victim’s pain and suffering.
Although it is impossible to put a number value on pain, our Reading attorneys could present testimony from the burn victim and their family, letters from doctors, pharmacy records, and other proof of a victim’s suffering. People recovering from severe burns may also experience depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)—the responsible parties must also pay for these losses.
Partial Liability for a Burn Injury in Reading
Most accidents occur through a combination of factors. Sometimes, an injured person is partially responsible for the incident that caused their burns.
42 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes §7102 allows an injured person with partial responsibility for an incident to collect damages from other responsible parties. However, the injured person cannot collect any damages if the accident was primarily their fault.
When the injured person is partially responsible, they can collect the percentage of the damages other people caused. For example, if a burn victim is 20% at fault and they have $100,000 in damages, they can collect $80,000. Insurance companies will try to shift blame to the injured person to avoid paying fair compensation. Burn victims need experienced representation from our local attorneys to assert their rights.
Contact a Reading Attorney for Help with a Burn Injury Claim
When you suffer a burn in an accident caused by someone else, you deserve to get paid for your losses. A Reading burn injury lawyer at our firm will find out who caused the accident and hold them responsible.
Don’t try to manage a burn claim without professional help. Speak with a well-known lawyer at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers about your situation. Call today to set up a free consultation.
