Burn Injuries

Burn injuries are among the most painful and disfiguring types of trauma an accident victim can endure.

Work injuries and auto accidents are among the leading causes of burn accidents. Two-thirds of victims are males, who are often a family’s leading wage earner. Recovery can be a long and complicated process and the prognosis is often dependent upon access to expensive, specialized treatment in an advanced burn unit.

Extreme pain and disfigurement makes these types of injuries extremely emotional for victims and families. At Brandt & Sherman, our burn injury lawyers encourage you to seek professional legal advice as soon as possible after injury occurs. Working with an experienced Lafayette law firm can be determinative when it comes to being fairly treated by insurance companies, and receiving the advanced care critical to successful treatment in a timely manner.

We believe everyone dealing with a burn injury deserves immediate access to experienced legal help. Our burn injury attorneys in Lafayette are available to victims and families for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your concerns.. Our law firm accepts clients on a contingency fee basis, which means we are paid based on a portion of the compensation we are successful in obtaining on your behalf. There are no upfront costs or fees.

The seriousness of a burn injury is determined by degrees:

• First-degree burns: Affect only the epidermis, or outer layer of skin. The burn site is red, painful, dry, and with no blisters.
• Second-degree -(partial thickness) burns: Extend to the epidermis and part of the dermis layer of skin.
• Third-degree (full thickness) burns: Destroy the epidermis and dermis. Third-degree burns may also damage the underlying bones, muscles, and tendons. These are the most serious type of burn injuries and may be life-threatening. Infection and permanent scarring and disfigurement commonly result.

Burn Injury Lawsuits

Like other types of personal injury and wrongful death litigation, burn injury lawsuits pursue compensation from one or more negligent parties. A burn injury victim must prove a liable party owed a duty of care, that duty was breached, and that the breach resulted in compensable damages to victims and their families.

Your Lafayette burn injury lawyers must:

• Investigate your case: Determining all of the facts and circumstances is key to building a successful case. At-fault insurance companies are always looking for ways to avoid responsibility. Blaming the victim for causing or contributing to injuries is a common tactic. However, it’s important to note that Louisiana's pure comparative fault law allows victims to recover damages from at-fault parties even if a victim is at majority fault for an accident or injury.
• Determine liability: Determining all sources of compensation is key to securing a just damage award. For example, in cases of a work accident, a workers’ compensation insurer will be a primary party responsible for paying damages. In most cases, those covered by workers’ compensation are prohibited from suing an employer for additional damages. However, that does not mean a third-party, such as a maintenance contractor or machine manufacturer, may not be pursued for additional damages. When such third-party liability can be established, a victim may recover significant additional damages.
• Damages: A victim and family may recover both economic damages, for things like medical bills, rehabilitation and lost wages, and non-economic damages, meant to compensate for pain and suffering, scarring and disfigurement. Building a comprehensive damage claim is essential when it comes to recovering all of the compensation to which a victim and family are entitled.

The experienced burn injury lawyers and wrongful death attorneys at Brandt & Sherman represent clients and families throughout the Acadiana region, including the parishes of Lafayette, Saint Martin, Acadia, Iberia, St. Landry, St Mary and Vermilion, and the communities of Abbeville, Carencro, New Iberia, Crowley, Opelousas, Eunice, Jennings, Baton Rouge, Baker, Merrydale, Zachary, Scott, Broussard, Milton, Morgan City, Shenandoah, Denham Springs, Lake Charles, Youngsville and Thibodaux.

Contact the Lafayette burn injury lawyers at Brandt & Sherman today for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights. Call (337) 800-4000.