Illinois Frequently Encountered Burn Injury Complaints
Burn mishaps can wreak havoc on your well-being, inflicting excruciating pain, disfigurement, psychological distress, and wallet-draining medical bills. The Windy City sees a multitude of burn injury cases stemming from motor vehicle accidents, compromised consumer products, work accidents, and shoddy residential or commercial settings.
Navigating a burn injury lawsuit in the bustling city of Chicago calls for understanding the specifics of your predicament.
Understanding Burn Injury Claims in the Windy City
Suppose another party's neglect is responsible for your burn injury. In that case, you have the right to file a claim against the liable party seeking fair compensation for the burn injury. The damages you might recover include:
- Medical expenses from the past and expected future
- Lost wages and dwindling career prospects
- Property damage
- Physical pain and emotional torment
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Diminished quality of life
If you experienced the tragic loss of a loved one due to a burn injury, you might be entitled to wrongful death damages, such as funeral and burial bills, lost income due to the decedent's passing, and the loss of emotional support and companionship.
Most Frequent Burn Injury Claims in Chicago
Here's a rundown of common burn injury lawsuit types in Illinois and the typical cases handled by Chicago's diligent burn injury attorneys:
Motor Vehicle Accident Claim
Auto collisions, involving cars, trucks, and motorbikes, are among the top causes of personal injury accidents. Burns often crop up in motor accidents as a result of reaching scalding liquids, hot surfaces, or skin friction. Also, vehicles have an abundance of flammable materials that ignite or explode during crashes, causing burns.
To establish the other party's negligence in your burn injury claim and secure compensation, you'll need to confirm if the responsible party owed you a duty of care, breached it by being careless or reckless, your burn injury was due to the breach of duty, and measurable losses such as medical costs, lost income, and emotional distress resulted.
Product Liability Claims
Faulty goods, such as smartphones, e-cigarettes, airbags, hoverboards, and many others, are a frequent cause of burns. If a defective product led to your burn injury, you could request compensation via a product liability claim. In recent times, certain smartphones, e-cigarettes, airbags, and hoverboards have been identified as the culprits. Burns may also stem from defective space heaters, damaged electrical devices, and other consumer goods and auto components.
Product liability lawsuits can be filed against manufacturers, engineers, distributors, or retailers of the faulty product that caused the burn injury.Typically, one of three types of defects is to blame for the faulty product:
- Design flaws
- Manufacturing defects
- Failure to provide proper safety instructions or warnings
Winning these lawsuits typically requires establishing the product's defect, confirming you were using the product reasonably, and demonstrating the defective item caused your burn injury.
Premises Liability Claim
If you sustain burn injuries on someone else's property due to substandard conditions, you can institute a premises liability claim. In the state of Illinois, property owners are required to ensure their properties are safe for visitors, dwellers, and customers. If the property owner or manager's negligent behavior leads to burn injuries, they could be held accountable.
Examples of negligence include inadequate electrical wiring maintenance, lack of smoke alarms, hazardous chemical substances on the property, burning-promoting hot foods or beverages, and fire code violations. To secure a successful outcome in your claim, demonstrate the property owner's duty of care, their breach of duty, a direct link between the breach and your burn injury, and prove measurable damages.
Workers' Compensation Claim
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that burns are among the leading causes of occupational injuries in the United States. Employees in Illinois who endure burns while on the job have the right to file a workers' compensation claim. In Illinois, companies must carry workers' compensation insurance to cover employees’ injuries sustained on the job.
The Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission (IWCC) reports that about 91% of Illinois workers are covered under the state's Workers' Compensation Act. Workers' compensation entitles you to benefits regardless of culpability as long as there's a clear link between your work and the burn injury. Workers' compensation benefits compensate medical expenses, a portion of lost wages, and vocational rehabilitation.
You might also have a strong personal injury claim against a third party if the third party's negligence contributed to your injuries. For instance, a subcontractor working on your job site could bear liability for your workplace burns. You could potentially file a claim against the equipment manufacturer if you were burned by defective equipment. A reckless motorist crashing into your employer's vehicle you were driving could be held responsible. An Illinois personal injury lawyer can review your case to ascertain whether a third party's negligence played a part in your injuries.
Types of Burn Injuries Covered Under Illinois Law
Illinois personal injury law covers a variety of burn injuries, ranging from first-degree burns to fourth-degree burns. These burns differ in severity, with first-degree burns being the least severe and fourth-degree burns causing serious tissue damage:
Thermal Burns
Thermal burns usually result from excessive heat contact, like flames, hot surfaces, boiling liquids, hot oils, or steam. Misused fireworks can also cause thermal burns. Fireworks accident statistics reveal that these burns have increased in recent years, accounting for approximately 86% of burns.
Chemical Burns
Chemical burns happen when corrosive substances such as strong acids, bases, or solvents come into contact with your skin. They can result in damage to both internal tissues and external skin. The effects of chemical burns may not be immediately apparent, as the effects of chemical absorption may take hours or days.
Electrical Burns
Electrical burns are caused by contact with an electrical current. Electricity may travel through your body, impacting both your skin and internal organs. An electrical burn can cause severe complications like nerve damage, muscle damage, and heart problems.
Radiation Burns
Radiation burns usually result from long-term exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays or other radiation sources, such as X-rays, radiation therapy, and other cancer treatments. For example, workers forced to work outside in extreme sunlight may experience these burns. Radiation burns can lead to mild irritation, redness, swelling, blisters, and tissue damage.
Friction Burns
Also known as roof burns, friction burns occur when a hard or rough surface rubs against your skin. They're common in bike and motorcycle accidents where the cyclist skids on the road.
The Role of an Illinois Burn Injury Lawyer in Your Case
In the event you or a loved one sustains a burn injury, an Illinois burn injury lawyer can offer valuable assistance, including:
- Thorough claim analysis: An Illinois burn injury attorney will meticulously evaluate your claim to establish its validity, offering guidance on the best type of claim based on your specific circumstances.
- Evidence collection: Your burn injury attorney will compile and organize evidence demonstrating the culpability of the other party, such as medical records, witness accounts, safety logs, police reports, and photos and surveillance footage of the incident.
- Expert assistance: Experienced burn injury attorneys have access to experts like medical professionals, safety consultants, and burn specialists to analyze your case details and provide testimony on your behalf to substantiate your claim.
- Navigate complex procedures: Your lawyer will be familiar with the relevant state laws and procedures, ensuring a smooth claim process that follows all required deadlines.
- Negotiate with insurance companies: A lawyer will accurately calculate the extent of your losses and negotiate a fair settlement with the liable party on your behalf.
- Trial representation: If a fair settlement can't be reached, a burn injury attorney will represent you in court, helping you receive the maximum compensation possible.
In Illinois, there are deadlines for filing burn injury claims, so securing the representation of a burn injury lawyer as soon as possible is essential. The experienced burn injury attorneys at Ankin Law bring over three decades of expertise to your case. For more information, contact us to schedule a free consultation today.
To better navigate a burn injury claim in the Windy City, it's essential to understand the various types of claims based on different causes. For instance, if your burn injury was caused by another party's negligence, you could file a personal injury claim seeking fair compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and emotional distress.
Moreover, if you suffer from medical-conditions related to burn injuries, health-and-wellness ought to be a priority in your pursuit of fair compensation. Burn injury attorneys in Chicago can help navigate complex procedures, gather evidence, and negotiate with insurance companies to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. Ankin Law, with their decades of experience, stands ready to provide valuable assistance in your burn injury claim. Contact us for a free consultation today.
