No one deserves to suffer a burn injury, especially one that’s caused by another’s negligence. Severe burn injuries can leave victims in Greeley Colorado with permanent scarring and disfigurement that will affect them for the rest of their life—physically, emotionally, and financially. Sadly, over 40,000 people are hospitalized due to burn injuries every year.
If someone else was at fault for your injuries, they should pay for the damage they’ve done. A Greeley burn injury lawyer can help you fight to recover the compensation you rightfully deserve. Our team at Carabin Shaw can review the circumstances of your case and build a course of action tailored to your needs.
How Is Negligence Defined?In Colorado, someone can be found negligent if they fail to act as another reasonably careful person would have in a similar situation. In personal injury cases in Colorado, the plaintiff, in addition to other defendants, can be found partially at fault because the state follows a modified comparative fault standard for negligence.
Under modified comparative fault in Colorado, plaintiffs can recover damages as long as they are less than 50% at fault for their accident, but their compensation will be reduced according to their percentage of fault. Talk to a Greeley burn injury lawyer if you have questions about how modified comparative fault may affect your case.
What Does It Take to Prove Negligence in a Severe Burn Injury Case?Winning a personal injury lawsuit always rests on whether or not you and your lawyer can prove the defendant was negligent in their actions and that those actions directly resulted in your injuries and damages. Proving negligence in burn injury cases requires that you illustrate the following four key elements:
In a civil suit, the burden of proof is less than that of a criminal case. Civil cases only need to prove the defendant was guilty “by a preponderance of the evidence,” which essentially means that they were more likely than not to have exhibited negligence in their actions. To learn more about the burden of proof in a civil case, ask burn accident lawyers serving Greeley CO.
Factors that Determine the Severity of a BurnWhen victims suffer burn injuries, medical professionals will assess a variety of variables to determine the severity of the injury, including the following:
Total Body Surface Area (TBSA) CoveredThe extent of the damage due to a burn injury will play a major role in the overall severity of the burn. Doctors often use the rule of nines—assigning different body parts different percentages that are all multiples of nines—to calculate the TBSA quickly.
Victim’s AgeBurns impact every age group, but children and the elderly are generally more seriously impacted by burn injuries than others.
Underlying Medical ConditionsPeople who have underlying medical conditions like cancer, leukemia, or diabetes, for instance, can face a more difficult road to recovery in the wake of a burn injury.
Type of BurnThe type of burn a victim suffers will play an important role in understanding the seriousness of a burn injury.
Degree of BurnWhether the injury is a first-, second-, or third-degree burn will be essential in evaluating the burn injury’s severity.
An attorney can help you understand your options after you’ve suffered a severe burn injury.
We Always Promise to Fight for Justice | Free ConsultationBurn injuries are one of the worst injuries someone can suffer. If someone else was at fault for your accident, they should compensate you for the damages they’ve caused. The Colorado injury attorneys at Carabin Shaw can help you through this difficult time. We can fight on your behalf to get you the justice you truly deserve.
For a free case review, call 800-862-1260. Our lines are open 24/7, and we have both English and Spanish-speaking staff available to assist you.