How Is Compensation for a Baton Rouge Burn Injury Settlement Calculated?

Every year, there are thousands injured in burn accidents across Louisiana. These burn injuries can cost victims and their families hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical treatments and surgeries. Baton Rouge, a major urban hub, makes up a significant portion of state burn injury statistics every year. If you are suffering a burn injury in Baton Rouge, you may be eligible to seek a financial settlement for your losses with the help of a burn injury lawyer.

You may be asking: how is compensation for a Baton Rouge burn injury settlement calculated? Using our decades of experience in personal injury law, the Louisiana lawyers at Carabin Shaw ask the following questions to calculate an estimated settlement amount.

Burn injuries are categorized by degrees of severity. The amount of your financial settlement is usually directly related to the severity of your burns. However, this does not mean that you should not seek fair compensation for superficial burns caused by the negligence of others.

A first-degree burn is the least severe type of burn injury and is characterized by:

• Damage not reaching beyond the first layer of skin (epidermis)
• Redness and irritation
• Typically can be treated at home

Second-degree burns, however, begin to look far more serious. Second-degree burns are characterized by:

• Damage of both layers of skin (epidermis and dermis)
• Blistering of the affected area
• Swollen and painful skin

Third-degree burns are the most severe by far and will more likely than not require hospitalization. Third-degree burns are characterized by:

• Damage to the epidermis, dermis, and layers of fat and muscle beneath
• Extensive scarring
• Damaged nerves and joints
• Loss of consciousness
• Hyperthermia

Second- and third-degree burn victims often require extensive, costly procedures to treat their injuries. For example, skin-grafting, a procedure in which healthy tissue from one part of the body is grafted onto damaged tissues surrounding the burn, can cost an average of $18,000.

It is important to keep careful documentation of all of your medical treatments and procedures so that your Baton Rouge personal injury lawyer can claim the full extent of your damages in your burn injury lawsuit.

Were you forced to pay out-of-pocket costs as a direct result of your burn injury not listed above? It is important to consult with a qualified burn injury attorney in Baton Rouge to see if these costs can legally be included in your burn injury claim.

The reality is that the longest lasting damages after a severe burn accident are the emotional pain and suffering faced by victims and their families. Victims may face disfiguring injuries that affect their quality of life. Complications resulting from severe burns may permanently impact mobility. Families may grieve for their loved ones lost in house fires or workplace explosions. An experienced burn injury attorney will fight for their client’s right to compensation for their emotional trauma.

Legally, gross negligence is considered a reckless disregard for safety and an enormous breach of responsibility. A defendant can be considered to be acting with ill-intent if they purposefully cause harm. If your burn injuries were caused by the defendant’s gross negligence or ill-intent, you may be able to claim punitive damages in addition to the above physical, financial, and emotional damages.

If you or a loved one have suffered a severe burn injury in Baton Rouge, the Baton Rouge personal injury lawyers at Carabin Shaw can help you seek fair compensation for your losses.

To schedule your no-cost, no-obligation consultation with the experienced Carabin Shaw burn injury attorneys in Baton Rouge, call our office toll-free at 800-862-1260 or fill out our online contact form.