New York Burn Victim Lawyer

The Centers for Disease Control reports that there are over 1.1 million burn injuries each year that require medical attention. Of that number, approximately 4,500 people with burn injuries die, and thousands are left permanently disfigured. Burn victims often have a particularly difficult time coping with their injuries and recovering from them as the pain is often severe, making it a challenge to perform routine activities. Burn injuries can occur anywhere. While they sometimes happen at home, they also occur as a result of a construction accident. There are also cases where victims are severely burned in an auto accident where the impact of the collision causes the vehicle to burst into flames. The vast majority of such accidents are avoidable as they were caused by negligence. If your burn injury or the burn injury of a loved one was the result of the negligence of another person, contact an experienced New York burn victim lawyer at Stephen Bilkis & Associates who will review the facts of your case and explain your options for pursuing a personal injury claim.

Common causes of burns are:

• Fires in a residence: This type of file usually leads to contact burns where fire or a very hot object comes in direct contact with the skin. Oftentimes victims are injured in house fires in homes or apartments that are not equipped with working smoke detectors.
• Inhalation of caustic chemicals: Inhalation burns can occur at construction sites, manufacturing plants or scientific laboratories where noxious chemicals are often found. However, inhalation burns also occur in house and commercial building fires where victims suffer burns to the throat that are often so severe that the victim does not survive.
• Exposure to industrial chemicals. When the bare skin of workers comes in contact with dangerous chemicals at a construction site, factory, or scientific laboratory, serious burns can occur. Such burns usually occur because appropriate OSHA safety rules were not followed.
• Live wire: Electrical burns can occur at a construction site where there are often live wires. This means that there is an electrical current running through the wire. If someone touches it without taking proper safety precautions, that person may be electrocuted which means that suffer an electrical burn. According federal estimates about 100 people are electrocuted each year a work.

A burn victim may experience severe nerve damage, which causes a severe disruption in the body’s fluid balance. Dehydration is usually a serious problem. The victim may have a difficult time regulating body temperature as well. This serious nerve damage can include a serious head injury or in some cases a spinal injury. Permanent disfigurement can often lead to emotional problems as well.

Under New York law if you are seriously injured in an accident that was another person’s fault you have the right to demand that the negligent person pay you damages for the losses you suffered. In the case of a contact burn, chemical burn, or some other type of burn, the compensable losses are your medical expenses, your lost income, and your pain and suffering.

• Medical expenses: All past and future expenses related to treating your burns including the emergency room, hospital, skin grafts, plastic surgery and other treatment, laboratory tests, pain medication, physical therapy and occupational therapy.
• Lost wages: This includes income and benefits that you lost or were unable to accrue because you were not able to work such as the regular paychecks you did not receive because your were not able to work; vacation days, sick days, and comp time that you had to use while recovering; missed bonuses or promotions; other benefits you lost; lost of future earning potential because you are not able to earn as much money due to your injuries.
• Pain and suffering. There is a considerable amount of pain associated with serious burns. Victims also suffer permanent damage such as scarring, deep wounds, disfigurement. It is not unusual for burn victims to experience depression, embarrassment, hopelessness and other psychological suffering because of the burns.

If you were severely burned in a workplace accident you may be entitled to compensation through your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. Compensation includes medical care, lost wages and vocational training. If your injury is so severe that you will not be able to return to work for a long time you may be entitled to Social Security disability benefits.

If you suffered a serious burn injury it is important to take prompt action. Personal injury cases are bound by strict time deadlines, called the statute of limitations. Failure to meet these filing deadlines prohibits you from filing a case against the negligent party. Contact Stephen Bilkis & Associates to discuss the details of your case. Our staff is experienced in handling personal injury cases against both individuals and businesses whose negligence caused accidents that resulted in burn injuries. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case. We serve clients in the following locations: Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan, Westchester County, Suffolk County, Staten Island, Nassau County, and Queens.