If you are suffering a burn injury due to someone else’s negligence in Tampa, FL, you deserve to be fully compensated for your financial, emotional, and physical losses. Our Tampa burn injury lawyers at Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers will aggressively fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact us now at (813) 223-6200.
Our skilled legal team have nearly 120 years of combined experience helping victims after devastating accidents throughout Florida.
We’ve won millions of dollars for our clients since we opened our doors in 2001 – and we’re prepared to secure the compensation you need after suffering a burn injury or any other personal injury matter, including electric scooter accidents, Tampa brain injuries, motorcyle accidents, child injuries in Tampa, FL, and more.
Give us a call us to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced Tampa personal injury lawyers. We offer a free initial consultation with no strings attached, so contact our law firm today.
How Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Help You With a Burn Injury Claim in Tampa, FL?
If you’ve been burned severely, you will likely need ongoing wound care and medical treatment that can be costly, time-consuming, and overwhelming. You’ll probably have to miss work to address your health concerns, which can add additional stress.
If someone else is responsible for your burns, they should be held financially accountable for all losses you’ve suffered. That’s where Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers comes in.
When you retain our Tampa personal injury attorneys for help with your burn injury case, we’ll:
- Thoroughly investigate the cause of your burn accident and who is responsible
- Locate all potential avenues for compensation, including insurance and personal injury claims
- Ensure you receive the medical attention you need and communicate with your healthcare team regarding your prognosis
- Calculate your losses and value your claim
- Negotiate with insurance companies and opposing parties for a fair settlement
- Represent you in Hillsborough County court if necessary
Let us handle the legal matters so that you can focus on your recovery and healing. Call our Tampa, FL personal injury law office for a free consultation. If you decide to hire us, you won’t owe any upfront costs due to our contingency fee structure.
Overview of Burn Injuries – Sources and Types
Burns involve tissue damage caused by various sources, such as heat, chemicals, friction, electricity, radiation, and more.
Depending on the severity, a burn may affect the skin and underlying tissues, including muscles and bones.
Types of burns include:
- Thermal burns caused by heat, such as hot liquids, steam, hot objects, or fire
- Chemical burns from exposure to harsh chemicals, such as acids, cleaners, or bleach
- Electrical burns from contact with electrical currents, such as touching a live wire
- Flash burns caused by intense explosions or flashes of heat, flames, light, or electric current
- Radiation burns from prolonged exposure to UV rays, cancer treatment, or X-rays
- Cold burns or ice burns (frostbite)
The skin – the body’s largest organ – is the body’s first line of protection against external substances like bacteria. It also cushions underlying tissues, regulates body temperature, and helps you feel sensations. Accordingly, when the skin is burned, it can have wide-ranging effects.
What Are the Classifications and Symptoms of a Burn Injury?
A burn can range from mild (like a minor sunburn) to severe.
The severity of burns is judged based upon:
- What caused the burn (e.g., electricity, fire, or radiation)
- The depth of the burn and the tissues affected
- The area of the body that is burned
The symptoms and necessary treatment will depend on the degree of severity, ranging from first-degree burns (mildest) to fourth-degree burns (most severe). We explain each below.
First-Degree Burns
A first-degree burn only affects the outer skin layer (epidermis). Symptoms include redness and pain but usually no blisters. A mild sunburn is a common example.
These burns can typically be treated at home with cool water, aloe, antibiotic cream, and/or over-the-counter pain medications.
Second-Degree Burns
A second-degree burn (also known as a partial thickness burn) affects the epidermis and the second layer of skin – the dermis. Symptoms include swelling, splotchy skin, pain, blisters, and some scarring.
These burns may require medical attention, as you may need a prescription antibiotic cream.
Third-Degree Burns
Third-degree burns (also known as full thickness burns) destroy the epidermis, dermis, and the fat layer beneath. They can also damage nerve endings, sweat glands, and hair follicles. The area may look charred or leathery. Because the nerves can be destroyed, you may not have feeling at the burn site.
These burns often require skin grafts to replace damaged skin tissue and the administration of fluids to prevent shock and dehydration.
Fourth-Degree Burns
A fourth-degree burn is severe and life-threatening. It affects all skin layers and nerve endings and can reach down into and destroy the bones, muscles, and tendons.
These require similar treatment to third-degree burns. However, in the most severe cases, the victim may require amputation of the affected body part or die from their injuries. Treatment may also be necessary to address damaged muscles, joints, and other structures.
What Are the Long-Term Consequences of Burn Injuries?
A severe burn can have devastating long-term effects. A victim may require extensive medical treatment from specialists in a burn center and ongoing follow-up care.
Some potential consequences and complications resulting from burns include:
- Damage to tissues, joints, muscles, and bones
- Organ failure
- Permanent scars and disfigurement
- Infections that can lead to sepsis
- Amputation
- Nerve damage
- Smoke-inhalation issues, like damage to the respiratory tract
- Dehydration
- Chronic pain
- Hypovolemic shock
- Skin discoloration
- Loss of mobility
- PTSD
- Depression
- Wrongful death
If you pursue legal action against the party who caused your burn, it’s essential to take these and other lifelong consequences into account. You want to pursue damages for future needs so that you’re fully compensated for your losses.
What Can Lead To a Burn Injury?
Various types of accidents and incidents can lead to exposure to heat, hot objects, radiation, electricity, and chemicals. Sometimes, the victim causes their own burn, such as accidentally touching a hot pot while cooking, burning themselves with a cigarette, or getting sunburned.
However, many people are burned in accidents caused by other negligent parties.
Some common causes of burn injuries include:
- Motor vehicle accidents, including car accidents and truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Explosions
- Workplace accidents
- Construction accidents
- Welding accidents
- Boating accidents
- Defective products, such as stoves, heaters, or furnaces (product liability)
- House fires
- Aviation accidents
- Electrocution
- Child accidents
Regardless of how you were hurt, our Tampa burn injury attorneys at Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers are here to help you build your case.
How Much Is My Tampa Burn Injury Case Worth?
The value of your Tampa burn injury claim will depend on several factors, including:
- The severity of your burn injuries and the medical treatment you need to fully recover from them
- Your medical expenses and other out-of-pocket costs
- Whether you will have permanent scars, disfigurement, or disability
- Your emotional trauma, pain, suffering, and personal losses
- Whether you missed time from work and the value of your lost wages
- Whether you can return to work in the same capacity as before your burn accident
- All the ways the burns affect your quality of life
- Whether you are partially at fault for the incident that caused your burns
- The insurance and parties involved
Severe burns will require more time-consuming and extensive treatment. This will generally result in a higher case value than minor burns. However, we will examine every way your burn injuries have impacted your life and seek the full amount of damages.
What Compensation Can I Recover for My Burn Injuries in Tampa, Florida?
Tampa burn injury victims can seek compensation for their economic and non-economic losses.
Economic damages are financial in nature and may include:
- Past medical bills, such as emergency room services, hospital stay, skin grafting surgery, and ongoing medical treatment
- Future medical costs, such as physical therapy and plastic surgery
- Lost income and employment benefits
- Diminished earning capacity
- Out-of-pocket expenses like travel to medical appointments and nursing care
Non-economic damages are subjective to the burn injury victim and may include:
- The development of psychological disorders
- Pain and suffering
- Mental trauma
- Inconvenience
- Reduced enjoyment of life
We’ll gather evidence and pursue the full extent of your damages, which may also include punitive damages to punish the defendant for intentional or grossly negligent acts.
How Long Do I Have To File a Burn Injury Lawsuit in Florida?
Florida’s statute of limitations provides a limited time to file a personal injury lawsuit. You’ll typically have two years from your burn injury date to file a claim based on negligence.
However, there may be exceptions. For instance, Florida’s statutory deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit used to be four years until the law changed on March 24, 2023. Thus, if your burn occurred prior to that date, you may have four years to take legal action.
You should consult an experienced personal injury attorney in Tampa to ensure that you meet the applicable deadline. Call our law firm today to preserve your legal rights.
Schedule a Free Case Assessment With Our Tampa Burn Injury Lawyers
If you’ve suffered a burn injury in an accident in Tampa, FL, you deserve full compensation for your healthcare requirements and suffering. Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers can help you achieve your goals and get the outcome you deserve.
Contact our Tampa burn injury lawyers today for a free case evaluation to discuss your options and our legal services.
Visit Our Law Office in Tampa, FL
Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyer – Tampa
601 W Swann Ave
Tampa, FL 33606, USA
Phone: (813) 223-6200
Hours: Open 24 Hours Daily
