Westminster CO Burn Injury Attorneys
Skin is the largest human organ, and it weathers damage every day. Sun, wind, cold, cosmetics, fire, and more can cause burns or irritation. Some of these concerns can be mild, but others are life-threatening. With few exceptions, Colorado law gives people the right to sue the parties responsible for their injuries. So, if someone else’s negligence caused your Westminster CO burns, you might have grounds for a lawsuit. The Colorado lawyers at Carabin Shaw could help you move forward with a claim.
Your attorney will look into these points to get a sense of what your case is worth:
- The severity of your injury
- The responsible party’s intent
- How much the responsible party can pay
- State-sanctioned damage caps
Since burn injuries tend to be extreme, settlements are usually high. However, these cases tend to be complex. To schedule a free case review / initial consultation with an expert, call 1-800-862-1260. English and Spanish-speaking staff are available to speak with you 24/7.
Understanding Negligence CasesIf a Westminster CO burn accident lawyer files a claim on your behalf, they are likely pursuing a negligence case. To be successful, they must prove:
- The defendant had a legal duty of care to the plaintiff
- The defendant breached this duty
- This breach caused your injuries and is associated with damages (costs)
For example, drivers have a duty of care to others on the road. When they operate their cars, they know they are expected to follow the law. Let’s say that a reckless driver ignores these rules: they speed, tailgate, change lanes without signaling, or drive drunk. If this driver causes an accident, they breached their duty of care. When there is clear causation between the crash and a victim’s injuries, the at-fault driver will need to pay. Since these injuries cost money to treat, they are associated with damages.
Negligence cases like these can be complicated, and it’s challenging to determine and document the relevant parts of your experience. Burn injury attorneys serving Colorado can walk you through these steps and give you a better sense of where you stand in
Unpacking Burn Injury DataIn a 2018 fact sheet for National Burn Awareness Week, the American Burn Association (ABA) compiled data on the who, what, where, and why of burn injuries. They report that:
- Who: Men are more likely than women to sustain burns; 24% of burn injuries occur in children under age 15.
- What: There are numerous burn injury causes, including fire, chemicals, defective products, electrical issues, radiation, scalding, and more.
- Where: 73% of burn injuries occur in the home, while 8% occur at work; 5% of these injuries happen on the street or highway; 5% happen in a recreational setting. 9% of burn injury locations are classified as “other.”
- Why: Fires cause 43% of severe burns; 4% are related to scalding; 9% come from contact with a hot object; 4% are electrical; 3% are chemical; 7% have unclassified causes.
Westminster CO burn injury attorneys will look at how your case fits with this information. They will also consider the severity and location of your burns. Injuries that are harder to rehab or leave you disfigured tend to yield higher settlements.
Burn Injury CompensationIf a lawyer proves that a negligent party harmed you, compensation comes into play. You can receive redress for:
- Past, present, and future lost wages related to your injury
- Medical bills for your burn care
- Pain and suffering
In Colorado, the pain and suffering damages cap is $250,000 for most cases. If, however, you’ve suffered permanent damages, there are exceptions where the cap raises to $500,000. An attorney can advise you on what to expect in your case.
Connecting With a LawyerIf a burn accident has impacted you, a Westminster CO burn accident lawyer can help you move forward with a case. For a free consultation, call 800-862-1260.