What Compensation is Available for a Burn Injury Claim in Pasadena?

Pasadena is a crucial part of the greater Houston area. It contributes to the oil and energy sector, international trade, aerospace exploration, healthcare, and more. This vibrant community represents the best of Texas, but, like anywhere, residents face certain risks. If you are wondering what compensation is available for a burn injury claim in Pasadena, a lawyer can help you better understand your rights.

Car accidents, defective products, structural fires, restaurant fires, and more can cause burns. Contact Pasadena burn injury attorneys to discuss your case.

Understanding Burn Degrees

When assessing injuries and developing treatment plans, doctors group burns into four different types. Texas personal injury attorneys at Carabin Shaw also use this information to guide how they seek damages for you. These burn types include:

• First-degree burns, which are mild (e.g., a sunburn).
• Second-degree burns, which are more severe. These burns affect both the top and lower layers of the skin, also known as the epidermis and dermis. Second-degree burns can cause pain, blistering, and swelling. They are prone to infection and require a doctor’s care when they cover 10% of the body or are located on sensitive areas, like the joints, groin, feet, hands, and face.
• Third-degree burns, which affect the epidermis, dermis, fat, and muscles. These burns destroy hair follicles, nerve endings, and sweat glands. They require costly medical treatments, such as skin grafts, compression garments, physical therapy, and more.
• Fourth-degree burns, which damage the bone and often require amputation.

If you have questions about what your burn injury claim is worth, our accident lawyers in Pasadena Texas can offer you guidance.

Determining Compensation

Typically, the higher the burn degree, the larger the settlement. This guiding principle reflects the medical expenses your injuries require and the considerable economic impact they have on your life.

Texas personal injury attorneys at Carabin Shaw know that are two major types of damages a court can award:

• Compensatory Damages: Compensatory damages are the primary way to repay an injury victim for their accident losses.
• Punitive Damages: Punitive damages extend beyond measurable damages, like medical expenses, to include extreme hurt. In these instances, the defendant's behavior is so dishonorable that the court orders them to pay more money as punishment. Pasadena burn injury attorneys might seek punitive damages if a reckless driver or negligent coworker caused your burn injuries.

To reach a settlement amount, your attorney will consider the following:

• Economic damages, including loss of income, medical expenses, and disability costs
• Mental anguish
• Pain and suffering

More severe injuries tend to merit more significant compensation. For example, if a court awarded damages for first-degree burns, the monetary amount would likely be low since sunburn losses are also low. However, if a court granted damages for third-or-fourth-degree, the payout would probably be higher. Why? Because these extreme burns require long-term care and the mental, physical, and practical costs to victims are more significant.

How Workplace Burn Injuries Are Different

Many workplace burns are protected by workers’ compensation, which covers medical expenses and a percentage of lost wages. However, workers’ compensation does not cover pain and suffering. Texas law prohibits people from settling the medical portion of their workers’ compensation claim. This rule means that your settlement options will be limited if your company has workers’ compensation.

That said, even if you have workers’ compensation, you can still bring a case if your injuries resulted from a defective product or a coworker’s negligence. In other words, it’s worth reaching out to an attorney to learn more about your options.

Speak with a Pasadena Lawyer Today | Free Case Review

At Carabin Shaw, we offer a free initial consultation and case review. This meeting gives us time to listen to your story, look over your materials, and answer any questions you might have for us.

To get in touch, fill out our online contact form or call us at 1-800-862-1260. Our accident lawyers in Pasadena Texas are waiting to hear from you.

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