If someone’s careless or negligent actions caused your burn injury, you might be entitled to compensation. The Oklahoma City injury lawyers of Abel Law Firm can represent you and provide the legal services you need to hold the at-fault party liable for their misconduct.
According to the World Health Organization, approximately 180,000 people die from a burn injury every year. Dangerous working conditions, fires, car accidents, and many other incidents can lead to burns. A burn’s severity can range from minor to life-threatening. Some can lead to ongoing pain, disfigurement, or physical disability.
Someone suffering from a burn injury might require surgery to repair the damage to their skin, nerves, and other structures. Many people need to attend physical therapy or rehabilitation treatment to regain mobility in the affected limb. Others end up with severe psychological trauma and require counseling or prescription medications.
An incident causing burns can upend your whole life. That kind of accident not only causes physical damage but can also ruin your self-confidence if you’re left with scars. The accident and your resulting injuries could lead to anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder. The medical treatment you need to recover can put you in severe debt. If you can’t afford to see a doctor or get treatment, you won’t get the chance to heal.
At Abel Law Firm, our Oklahoma City burn injury attorneys know the burden you’re facing. You can depend on us to fight for the justice you deserve and seek the maximum compensation you need to cover your total losses. Find out more about how we can help by calling us at (405) 239-7046 right now for a free consultation.
Burns are common injuries that damage skin and kill skin cells. Many people recover without the need for hospitalization and don’t suffer long-term health problems. However, some require emergency medical care to prevent life-threatening complications.
Three main degrees of burns indicate the severity of the injury and how much damage occurred:
It’s also possible to suffer fourth-degree burns. Symptoms are similar to third-degree burns, but the damage can extend below the skin to the bones, nerves, and tendons.
Some burn injuries happen at home with an open flame from the stove or fireplace. Others can occur at a construction site while someone handles toxic chemicals. Some burns can result from an electrical current.
The most common types of burns that can occur are:
If you suffer a burn injury, it’s crucial that you seek medical treatment immediately. If you don’t have a healthcare professional evaluate your condition, you could end up with severe complications that lead to infection, cardiac arrest, or death.
If you sustain a first-degree burn, you might heal completely. However, more severe burns could cause medical problems, especially if a doctor doesn’t treat them properly and promptly.
Whether your injury occurred in a car accident, at work, or when you were on vacation, you should go to the hospital to begin an appropriate treatment plan to prevent further damage.
The most common complications burns can cause are:
At Abel Law Firm, our Oklahoma City burn injury attorneys know how much you’ve suffered because of another person’s negligence. Someone else was responsible for the accident that caused your burns, and now you’re forced to face a long road to recovery. It can be overwhelming and cause significant stress. You won’t be alone during this fight for justice. We will remain by your side until the very end to hold the at-fault party accountable.
Handling your case on your own could end up being a big mistake. You’ll likely encounter obstacles that only an experienced lawyer knows how to overcome. After seeking initial medical treatment for your burn injury, you should call Abel Law Firm. Personal injury cases can be challenging to prove. Insurance companies rarely play fair, and defense attorneys take advantage of unrepresented plaintiffs.
When you hire one of our Oklahoma City burn injury attorneys, we can take on the responsibility for your entire case, so you don’t have to worry about it. Your only job will be to attend your doctor’s appointments. We will be your advocate and protect your rights while we’re working on your case.
We can launch a thorough investigation into the accident or incident that caused your burns and begin collecting evidence to prove you deserve compensation. The evidence we obtain could include:
Once we complete our investigation, we can submit everything we found to the insurance company and give them our settlement demand. Whether we’re able to settle your case will depend on various factors. Some clients receive the maximum possible settlement, while others end up with a denied insurance claim. If the insurance company offers a low amount and refuses to negotiate for something higher, we could file a lawsuit and take them to court.
Injured victims must file a lawsuit within the specified timeframe required by state law. Oklahoma has a two-year statute of limitations. That means you have two years from the date you suffered burn injuries to sue the at-fault party. After the statutory deadline has passed, you won’t have the opportunity to hold them liable in court for what they’ve done.
Whether you choose to file an insurance claim or lawsuit, you can seek compensation for the different losses you suffered from the accident and your injury. The most common losses you may pursue are:
If you pursue a lawsuit, you might also have the option of recovering punitive damages. An award of punitive damages doesn’t compensate you for your losses. Instead, it’s a punishment issued against the defendant for their misconduct. However, attempting to win this financial award can be a complicated process. A jury will only find punitive damages should be awarded if there’s clear and convincing evidence that the at-fault party displayed a reckless disregard for another person’s rights.
You could file a lawsuit against the negligent party for causing your loved one’s death. Oklahoma law defines wrongful death as a death that results from the wrongful act or omission of another person.
A wrongful death case is allowed only if the victim could have filed a personal injury lawsuit had they survived the accident. The personal representative of their estate is the only person authorized to pursue this type of case in court. They must represent the interests of the victim and their heirs or beneficiaries.
A surviving spouse, child, parent, or sibling is typically named as the estate’s representative. If the deceased didn’t specify a representative or the chosen individual can’t or won’t serve their duties, the court will determine who should represent the family.
Compensation sought in a wrongful death lawsuit should adequately compensate for the victim’s losses and any losses suffered by relatives due to their loved one’s death. These could include:
The statute of limitations for wrongful death lawsuits in Oklahoma is two years. The timeframe would begin on the date of your loved one’s death. You must sue the at-fault party within those two years, or you could lose your right to compensation.
Abel Law Firm has been representing those injured by others’ wrongdoing since 1976. We have over 130 years of combined legal experience in personal injury cases. Following are the answers to questions many clients ask when they’re preparing to pursue compensation from another party. Contact us at (405) 239-7046 if you want to discuss your case with us.
We take accident victims’ cases on contingency. That means there are no upfront fees or costs. We don’t expect payment from you unless we recover an insurance settlement or secure a favorable jury verdict. We take just as much risk as you do, and if we lose your case, you won’t owe us any money.
Modified comparative negligence could reduce your final compensation amount if a jury determines you share fault for your injuries. If you incurred $100,000 in expenses, but a jury found you were 20% to blame for the incident that caused your burn injury, you could only pursue up to $80,000 to compensate for your losses.
The person you seek compensation from will depend on the circumstances of your case. If you were in a car accident with a reckless driver, you could file an insurance claim with their auto insurance company. If a negligent doctor caused your burn injury during a medical procedure, you could sue them or the facility they work in. A lawyer can review the details of the incident and determine the party that should take responsibility for the harm you suffered.
Oklahomans across the state have recognized the Abel Law Firm's unique heritage as a statewide institution. Founded by Ed Abel, and today led by his son, Luke Abel, our personal injury law firm has become synonymous with empathy, compassion, and the highest professional performance serving our neighbors. Our family has sought to leave a profound impact upon the State of Oklahoma. We appreciate that former Governor Mary Fallin recognized that dedication when she declared May 1st "Ed Abel Day."
To be named Oklahoma's Best Personal Injury Law Firm is humbling. We are grateful to have won this prestigious honor. We work every day to earn the trust of those we serve: Oklahoma families who are facing some of the most difficulty days of their lives due to the negligence of others. It is our intention and resolve to continue to be deserving of the faith Oklahomans have placed in our family's law firm. Thank you!
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