Washington State Burn Injury Attorneys

Burns are among the most harmful and damaging kinds of injuries a person can suffer. With the potential to result in disfigurement and lifelong disability, burn injuries not only cause intense physical pain but also affect a person’s sense of self-worth and psychological well-being. Burns can also be costly to treat and require expensive specialized care, grafts, reconstructive surgery, and long-term therapy.

If you’ve suffered a burn injury due to the negligence of another, you may be entitled to recover damages. Call (253) 383-4500 to speak with the Washington State burn injury attorneys at Freeman Law, Inc. for a free case review

Primary Types of Burn Injuries

Burns are classified by their cause. Here are the main kinds of burn injuries:

• Thermal burns are caused by exposure to flame or direct contact with intense heat from objects or boiling liquids.
• Chemical burns can happen when the skin is exposed to corrosive substances, including acids, fertilizers, or harsh cleaners.
• Electrical burns result from high-voltage electricity and occur at the point where a person touches the electrical source.
• Inhalation burns occur when someone inhales smoke or toxic gases, causing damage to the inside of the lungs.
• Radiation burns happen when the skin is exposed to large amounts of ultraviolet light, X-rays, or medical radiation.

Our burn injury attorneys adjust their strategy to the burn’s cause. For example: Thermal burns call for fire-scene analysis and photographs; chemical burns require product labels and safety records; electrical burns rely on utility logs and code checks; inhalation injuries depend on smoke exposure data; radiation cases use treatment records and dose history. Case development links the cause of injury to medical proof and future costs so recovery reflects the full impact of your losses.

Burn Injury Severity

Burn injuries can range from mild damage that heals in a few days to lasting wounds that are permanently disfiguring and debilitating. A burn is classified into three categories based on the depth and extent of tissue damage:

• First-degree burns occur on the outer surface of the skin and leave only red marks.
• Second-degree burns penetrate to the layer underneath and may cause blistering.
• Third-degree burns destroy the outer and inner layers of skin and may harm the tendons, muscles, and bones.

Burn severity also guides case planning. Deeper burns need targeted medical documentation and expert opinions to show care needs, scarring, and lasting limits, and our burn injury lawyers align evidence with the degree of burn so that damages cover immediate and long-term needs.

Treating Severe Burns

Deep-tissue burns require specialized treatment. Fortunately, many burn patients fully recover thanks to the extraordinary medical techniques practiced at modern burn centers. With advanced technology, burn specialists can improve function, manage pain, and even minimize the cosmetic effects of scarring.

Medical Treatments

• Topical ointments
• Whirlpool baths
• Pain and anxiety medications
• Specialty wound dressings

Surgeries

• Skin graft
• Trimming the burn scab, or eschar
• Plastic surgery
• Repairing damaged tendons, bones, and muscles

Physical Therapy

• Exercise
• Stretching
• Occupational rehabilitation

The Washington state personal injury attorneys at Freeman Law Firm, Inc. build your claim with medical records and expert input, showing the cost of hospital stays, surgeries, grafts, medications, wound care, therapy, and rehab equipment. We push insurers and responsible parties for full compensation that pays for current treatment and future care.

Liability in Burn Injury Cases

Here are some various burn injury scenarios and who may be liable in each case:

• Fires in rental housing: If a fire occurred in a house or apartment you rented, your landlord may be responsible if they failed to provide working smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. The lack of clearly marked exit paths or design flaws that accelerated the spread of the fire might also expose property owners to liability.
• Workplace accidents: Explosions, hot liquid or chemical spills, electrocutions, and industrial fires can all cause burn injuries on the job. In Washington, all claims involving employers go through the Department of Labor & Industries, but you may be able to sue a third party, including general contractors and equipment manufacturers.
• Car accidents: Many people are badly burned when their vehicle catches fire after a crash. The other driver and their insurer may be liable for your burn injuries if they are at fault. If a defect in the vehicle’s design caused the fire or trapped you in a burning car, you may also pursue litigation against the manufacturer.
• Defective products: Products may cause burns if they suddenly combust or become dangerously hot. Under the Washington Product Liability Act, manufacturers are liable for design flaws, manufacturing defects, or failing to warn customers that a product is potentially combustible.
• Burn injury connected to public employees or property: When a downed powerline causes an electrical burn or a fire breaks out on a government-owned property, you can file a suit against the state, county or municipal government. State law requires you to file a claim with the local government entity first and wait at least 60 days before bringing the suit.

Factors that Affect How Much Your Claim is Worth

Litigation is a long and difficult process, and the outcome is virtually impossible to predict. The final recovery will be based on the facts of the case established through discovery. Several elements are used to calculate a settlement, including economic and non-economic damages as well as the distribution of fault.

Medical Costs

Medical treatment for burns can be expensive and total medical bills can add up to several million in extreme cases. Costs can include:

• Hospital stays
• Surgeries
• Physical therapy
• Medications
• Specialized equipment and dressings
• Out-of-pocket insurance costs
• Long-term in-home care

Other Economic Damages

Aside from medical bills, other financial losses are factored in:

• Lost wages during injury and recovery
• Loss of future earning power
• Property damage
• Cost of modifications to your home

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages include all harms that can’t be easily transformed into a dollar amount based on bills, receipts, and pay stubs:

• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment in hobbies, sports, and other activities
• Diminished self-esteem caused by scarring or unemployment
• Anxiety and depression
• Nightmares and PTSD

Our burn injuries make sure that your case reflects all losses now and down the road.

Punitive Damages

Washington State does not allow punitive damages except in cases where punitive damages are explicitly authorized by statute. Federal civil rights cases are one of the the only contexts in which punitive damages might be awarded in Washington. For example, if a police officer ignites gasoline while recklessly firing a Taser and causes burns, a court may award exemplary damages. Otherwise, awards are limited to actual damages, but there is no cap on compensation in personal injury cases.

Comparative Fault

Juries will assign blame among the parties in a legal action as a percentage and adjust the final award based on that. Washington uses “pure comparative fault,” meaning you could still get some compensation even if you were mostly at fault. Let’s say a jury found that you were 90 percent responsible for the accident that caused your burn, you would be awarded 10 percent of the damages.

Building the Strongest Case

Our Washington burn injury attorneys will help you build your case from the ground up and push for the maximum award under the law, step by step.

Collecting evidence

• Obtain police and fire reports
• Interview witnesses
• Hire outside investigators and experts
• Photograph injuries and accident sites
• Write preservation letters so that nothing is destroyed

Proving Liability

• Independently investigate the origins of fires, spills, and other accidents
• Audit companies, landlords, and other actors for compliance with laws and codes
• Identify all parties that may have contributed to your injuries
• Research case law, regulations, and statutes to find ways to hold parties accountable

Establishing Damages

• Gather medical bills, pay stubs, and other evidence to establish actual damages
• Document noneconomic damages with pain diaries and testimony from caregivers or therapists
• Use economic experts to estimate future medical expenses and wages lost

Protect Your Recovery After a Burn Injury in Washington

If you or a loved one has been seriously burned in Washington State, our burn injury attorneys will fight to get you compensated for your lost wages, medical care, and all losses. Our team, including experienced lawyers, negotiators, paralegals, and investigators, is dedicated to your cause, advocating for your rights and striving for the best possible outcome from beginning to end. We’ll map out a trial-ready case and get you the maximum settlement allowed by law. We work on contingency, so we don’t get paid until you do. Call Freeman Law, Inc. today at (253) 383-4500 for a free consultation.