Texas Burn Liability Laws

The National Fire Protection Association reports that local fire departments responded to 1.3 million fires in 2019 alone. Approximately 16,600 American citizens were injured in these fires; another 3,700 tragically lost their lives. Citizens of Garland are not immune to the dangers of household and workplace fires. Every year, hundreds of local victims are seriously injured or killed in fires or explosions.

If you or a loved one are among those included in this harrowing data, you should be aware of your legal options. Many burn accident victims are eligible to file personal injury lawsuits to reclaim their damages. In order to do so, however, you must prove that a third party was responsible for your injuries; an experienced accident lawyer can help you sufficiently establish liability in your burn injury claim.

Because personal injury law can be complex, hiring an experienced burn injury attorney serving Garland is in your best interests. An extensive knowledge of Texas burn liability laws will determine how successfully your attorney can establish the parties responsible for your burn injuries.

According to Texas law, a defendant can be found liable for burn injuries if:

• The defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care
• The defendant breached this duty of care
• The defendant’s negligence and/or wrongful act resulted in the plaintiff’s burn injuries

For example, a landlord owes their tenants a duty of care (providing safe living spaces that meet state and local fire safety requirements). If a landlord fails to provide tenants with functioning smoke alarms, they have breached this duty of care. If their failure to provide functioning smoke alarms results in their tenant’s becoming injured in a fire, they can and should be found financially liable for these injuries.

This is just one example; there are a multitude of parties who can be found financially liable for burn injuries. It is important to consult with a Garland personal injury lawyer to determine who can be held liable for your specific burn accident injuries.

Once you have established liability for your burn injuries, Texas law allows victims to claim the following damages:

• Loss of wages (present or future)
• Medical bills (present or future)
• Any other out-of-pocket costs related to treating your burn injury
• Pain and suffering
• Punitive damages in cases where burn injuries were caused by the gross negligence or malice of the defendant
• If you have lost a loved one as a result of severe burn injuries, Texas law allows the spouse, children, or parents of burn victims to file a wrongful death claim against the parties responsible for their loved one’s injuries. However, these parties must do so within ninety days of their loved one’s death.
• Any other losses directly related to your burn injuries

Whatever you have lost as a result of your burn injuries, a qualified burn injury attorney serving Garland can help you identify and hold financially accountable any liable parties. Texas law requires that burn victims file a personal injury lawsuit within two years of their accident or forfeit their right to seek compensation, so it is important to contact an attorney as soon as possible.

If you or a loved one are seeking legal counsel after a severe burn injury, contact the Garland personal injury lawyers at Carabin Shaw to evaluate your burn injury claim. Our accident attorneys specialize in personal injury law and have helped burn accident victims receive fair compensation for their injuries for nearly thirty years. We are proud to represent Garland burn victims and their families.

If you would like to schedule a no-cost, no-obligation initial consultation with the experienced Texas accident attorneys at Carabin Shaw, call our office toll-free today at 800-862-1260 or fill out our online form.