Burn injury is tragically common in the United States. Some of these are minor, requiring little more than a cold compress and a few days to heal. However, more than 450,000 individuals in the U.S. suffer burns severe enough to require medical treatment yearly. The American Burn Association reports that, of these burns, approximately 3,400 are fatal – and 2,550 of those are a result of residential fire alone.
Fires are the leading cause of burn injuries. And, while most fires are residential, vehicle fires account for about 300 deaths each year. Vehicle accidents are a likely cause of non-fatal burn injury as well, though exposure to flame is not the only burn injury risk.
In addition to fires, leading causes of burn injury include:
- Scalds
- Contact with a hot object
- Electrocution
- Chemical exposure
Not all burn injuries result from human error or negligence, but many do. Unfortunately, determining which is the case for specific injuries can be daunting, and establishing liability is often beyond the scope of victims. Discussing your accident and injury with a qualified and experienced burn injury attorney is often the best way to determine if your case demands legal action.
The burn injury lawyers at Kline & Specter, PC understand the legal and medical side of these complicated injuries. Five of our attorneys are also medical doctors, the most of any firm in the nation. This provides an advantage that allows our team to truly understand the extent of damages – physical, emotional, and financial – each burn injury may have caused, and enabling us to build compelling cases that seek maximum compensation for victims.
Our Experience with Burn-Related Injuries
The attorneys at Kline & Specter have decades of experience and a history of securing significant verdicts and settlements for victims of serious injury. Some of our notable cases involving burns include:
- $109 million for the family of a woman killed by a fallen electrical line.
- $40.5 million for victims of an explosion caused by a gas leak.
- $36.4 million for the family of an oil refinery worker killed in an explosion.
- $35 millionfor businesses and individuals who suffered losses in the Continental Business Center fire.
If you have been injured or a burn injury has killed a loved one, we encourage you to use the contact form on this page or call us at 215-772-1000 to get a free evaluation of your case. We have offices in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and New York, and work with firms outside these jurisdictions to assist victims of serious injury nationwide.