Los Angeles Burn Injury Lawyers
Aggressive representation for burn injury victims in California
The effects of a serious burn injury can be both physically and emotionally devastating due to the disfiguring of the skin. Even with today’s medical advances in wound treatment, therapy, and plastic surgery, a burn victim is often left with permanent physical and emotional scarring. Although it can be a traumatic experience to survive a residential fire, chemical explosion, gas leak, electrical burn, or natural fire, there is help available to assist you in the recovery process.
The Los Angeles burn injury lawyers of McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP offer support, legal assistance, and professionalism for you and your family. We work aggressively to determine how your burn injuries happened and who is responsible. We work with your doctors and our network of burn doctors when necessary to understand the severity of your burns, the physical and emotional help you need, and all the ways your burn injuries are making your life difficult.
Quick Questions
- What are the degrees of burn injuries by severity?
- What are the signs and symptoms of burn injuries?
- How do burn injuries happen?
- What complications can burn injuries cause?
- How do your attorneys fight for Los Angeles burn injury victims?
- Who is liable for burn injuries in Los Angeles?
- Why choose our burn injury attorneys for your case?
- Resources for burn injury victims and caregivers in California
- Burn centers
- Foundations and support services
- Do you have a burn injury lawyer near me?
What are the degrees of burn injuries by severity?
There are three primary classifications, or degrees, of burns:
- First-degree burns. These are often the least serious, as they only damage the very top layer of skin. First-degree burns can usually be treated at home.
- Second-degree burns. Second-degree burns damage both the top layer of skin and the layer underneath. They are more serious and may require medical attention. Second-degree burns often present with blisters and can leave scars.
- Third-degree burns. These are the most serious, as they damage the deepest layers of skin and tissue. Third-degree burns can lead to nerve damage and may require skin grafts.
Third-degree burns are the most serious burns, but that does not mean first- and second-degree burns do not require immediate attention. You should always seek medical attention in an effort to avoid long-lasting negative impacts.
Burns injuries are usually due to one of the following:
- Thermal sources
- Electrical sources
- Chemical exposure
- Radiation or ultraviolet (UV) light
What are the signs and symptoms of burn injuries?
Signs and symptoms of a burn injury vary based on the degree of the burn. The most common signs of a burn injury include swelling, blistering, and scarring. In the worst cases, death can result. Burn injuries also commonly lead to infections because of the damage done to the top protective layers of skin.
Just as signs and symptoms vary based on the degree of the burn, so too, do treatment options for varying types of burns. For mild burns, over-the-counter creams can be used to treat any pain, swelling, and potential infections. For more severe burns, cleaning, surgery, and skin grafting may be required. Victims may also need plastic surgery. These can be lengthy, painful, and expensive processes.
- House fires
- Electrical fires
- Fires from car, truck, and motorcycle accidents
- Chemical exposure at construction sites and other locations
- Radiation exposure
- Defective products
- Grills and barbeques
- Space heaters
- Fireworks
- Worksite accidents
- Scalding drinks/high-temperature foods
What complications can burn injuries cause?
Burns are considered catastrophic injuries because they can lead to serious, life-altering conditions and disfigurement. People who suffer burn injuries to the face and neck may struggle with finding work or even going out in public. Severe scarring of any kind can also lead to loss of confidence, depression, and anxiety. Many burn injury victims need psychological help from trained professionals and support copes to cope with any scarring or disfigurement.
There are also physical effects of serious burns that could lead to lifelong problems:
- Infections. Burn sites can easily become infected because they are open wounds. That infection can travel through the bloodstream and cause a life-threatening inflammatory reaction called sepsis.
- Respiratory issues. Inhaling hot ash and smoke can cause burns to the mouth, tongue, throat, larynx, and esophagus. It can also cause damage to the lungs.
- Contractures. Scar tissue can tighten up over time, leading to tightness in the muscles or tendons. These contractures can make movement painful. They can also cause breathing difficulties if the scar tissue tightens over the chest.
- Compromised immune systems. Certain types of organ damage and infections can have permanent effects on your immune system. This can leave you prone to infections in the future and affect your body’s effectiveness at fighting them.
How do your attorneys fight for Los Angeles burn injury victims?
Your recovery plan will depend on the severity of your burn injury. We demand compensation for your personal trauma, pain and suffering, medical bills, lost wages, future medical bills, permanent scarring, disfigurement, ongoing therapy, and future surgeries.
The amount of compensation and length of the process will depend on many factors, such as the burn location and severity, and the facts leading to the injury. The California statute of limitations varies depending on the cause of the burn injury. It’s important to get help right away from a Los Angeles burn injury lawyer who can help you navigate your way through the process, and secure whatever documents you may need to support your case.
Who is liable for burn injuries in Los Angeles?
Liability depends on how you were injured. For example, if you were injured from a chemical burn at work, you may have a case against the maker of the chemical or the device the chemical was stored in. This would be separate and apart from the workers’ compensation system. As another example, if you were burned as a result of the use of a defective product (like a hot water heater or an electrical device), you may have a product liability claim, depending on the facts.
Some of the other possible liable parties include:
- Car, truck, and motorcycle drivers
- Construction companies
- Property owners
- Other defendants
The Los Angeles burn injury lawyers at McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP understand how traumatic the pain and disfigurement of burns can be, and how expensive treatment is. We want to help you get the treatment you need and the compensation you deserve for your burn injury case.
Why choose our burn injury attorneys for your case?
Since 1993, we have been handling complex and catastrophic cases related to serious injuries in California, resulting in multimillion-dollar results for our clients against large private and public organizations. We have the resources to ensure your needs are met in a timely and efficient manner.
Large settlements and verdicts can help an injured person put his or her life back together, and can also make an impact on holding companies and industries accountable to create, improve and implement better products and services.
Resources for burn injury victims and caregivers in California
Emergency Services: 9-1-1
Burn centers:
The Grossman Burn Center
7325 Medical Center Dr
Suite 200
West Hills, CA 91307
(818) 981-2050
LAC+USC Regional Burn Center
2051 Marengo St
Los Angeles, CA 90033
(323) 409-1000
Shriners for Children Medical Center
909 S. Fair Oaks Ave
Pasadena, CA 91105
626-389-9300
Foundations and support services:
Children's Burn Foundation
5000 Van Nuys Blvd
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
(818) 907-2822
Alisa Anne Ruch Burn Foundation
50 N. Hill Ave
Suite 305
Pasadena, CA 91106
(818) 848-0223
These resources are provided as an aid to help identify and locate other resources that may be of interest, and are not intended to state or imply that we sponsor, or are affiliated or associated with, any of the organizations.
Do you have a burn injury lawyer near me?
We meet burn injury victims at our Los Angeles office located at 10866 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1400. We also speak with clients at their homes, hospitals, burn centers, and other medical facilities if your injuries prevent you from coming to our Los Angeles office.
Our lawyers will answer all your questions. We’ll fight for every dollar you deserve to restore your life.
Call the Los Angeles burn injury lawyers of McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP today
Contact the compassionate and experienced personal injury attorneys at McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP today for a free, no-obligation consultation. Our Los Angeles lawyers want to help you protect your family and your future. Call our Westwood office or fill out our contact form. We proudly serve clients throughout California.