At Stark & Stark, we understand how a burn injury can be immensely devastating to a person. Burns and other fire-related injuries can cause considerable physical and emotional suffering. It is not uncommon for victims to require specialized hospital and long-term medical care. This can include skin grafting, extensive physical therapy, and more.
If another party caused the fire that injured you or a loved one, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact Stark & Stark’s Bucks County office for a free legal consultation to learn more.
With more than four decades of representing injured Pennsylvanians, Stark & Stark has the skills and resources to help you recover compensation for your losses.
Click here to contact a lawyer
Types of Burn Injuries
A key factor in determining your potential recovery for your burn injuries will be the severity of your burns. Burns fall into three types of categories:
First-Degree Burns
First-degree burns are mild burns that do not require medical treatment. You may feel discomfort and see reddening on the outer layer of the skin, but this can typically be treated with topical burn creams to soothe the pain. It will most likely heal in a few days.
Second-Degree Burns
A second-degree burn will include red skin, blistering, and pain. The affected area might also look glossy and leak fluid. This type of burn may require medical treatment to prevent or address infection.
Third-Degree Burns
Third-degree burns are the most severe type of burn. This burn penetrates the skin and destroys tissue. Your skin will become dry and leathery, or possibly appear white, brown, or black. If you are suffering from a third-degree burn, seek immediate medical attention. Medical treatment for this type of injury may include skin grafting which essentially involves moving a piece of unburned skin to help cover the burned area.
Common Causes of Bucks County Fire and Burn Injuries
There are several ways one can suffer from a burn. Some of the most common causes include:
- Motor vehicle accidents: Problems with a vehicle’s fuel system or electrical wiring may cause a fire upon impact
- Gas explosions: In January 2020, a home in Buckingham Township was completely destroyed after a propane leak caused an explosion
- Scalding/Hot water: In addition to injuries that occur while cooking, unsecured hot beverages may cause severe burns if spilled onto exposed skin
- Electrical accidents: May result in fires as well as electrocutions
- Industrial accidents: Workers who are injured in an industrial fire may be able to recover workers’ compensation benefits
- Residential fires: May be caused by a lack of working smoke detectors, defective space heaters, electrical issues, and more
- Dangerous products: Defective fireworks, electronic devices, instant pots, space heaters, and more may catch fire unexpectedly
Do I Qualify for Burn Injury Compensation?
You may qualify for compensation if another person or company caused the fire or accident that resulted in your burn injuries.
You can only pursue compensation if a negligent party caused your accident and resulting injuries. Someone may be considered negligent if:
- They owed you a duty of care.
- They breached that duty.
- The breach directly caused your injuries.
- As a result of your injuries, you suffered financial and/or non-financial losses.
A “duty of care” is the obligation to avoid causing harm to another person, either by action or inaction. A duty can exist between two people who don’t know each other. For example, a driver has a duty of care with respect to any other person who shares the road—other drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Likewise, a manufacturer has a duty of care to make sure that the products it makes and sells will not injure someone when used in a foreseeable way.
Sometimes it may be unclear if a negligent party caused your injuries. Stark & Stark can send out investigators to examine the fire or accident scene to help identify who or what may have been the cause.
In addition to inspecting and photographing the site, our Bucks County burn injury team will retain any experts who may be needed to determine the origin of the fire or accident. These experts can include electrical experts, chemists, engineers, and more. To further support your case, our burn injury attorneys can also help identify and interview witnesses.
Click here to contact a lawyer
Workers’ Compensation and Burn Injuries
If you suffered a burn injury while you were working, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Workers’ compensation is designed to compensate injured Pennsylvania workers for their medical expenses and lost wages while they recover from a work-related injury or illness.
You may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits regardless of whether or not anyone was at fault. As long as you can prove the burn was a work-related accident and you suffered financial losses as a result, you are most likely eligible for workers’ compensation benefits.
Click here to contact a lawyer
How Stark & Stark’s Bucks County Burn Injury Attorneys Can Help You
If you have decided to seek compensation for your burn injuries, your next step is to contact Stark & Stark. Stark & Stark’s burn injury practice has more than 40 years of experience successfully representing clients who were seriously injured due to someone else’s negligence.
Our burn injury attorneys will fight tirelessly to recover the compensation you deserve. This may include compensation for your past and future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning potential, pain and suffering, and more.
Stark & Stark is not afraid to go to trial on your behalf in order to secure a verdict that we feel covers the full extent of your losses. However, there have been many instances where our lawyers are able to obtain favorable settlements outside the courtroom, making the entire experience less stressful for our clients.
Our Bucks County office is fully supported by the firm’s practice area attorneys, paralegals, and staff. This means that you will have the help and guidance you need every step of the litigation process. To learn more about how Stark & Stark may help you with your burn injury case, schedule your free legal consultation today.
