Hundreds of thousands of people experience severe burn injuries yearly, and many will die from their injuries. A burn victim will suffer with extreme pain, likely endure corrective surgeries, and will suffer emotional trauma as a result. Burns are not only caused by extreme heat, but also extreme cold. In addition, some victims suffer severe burns in the workplace such as in a construction accident as some chemicals such as helium and nitrogen can cause a burn, as can dry ice. While some burns can be minor, others can be severe, affecting all layers of skin and leading to serious, life-threatening complications such as infections. If you have a serious burn caused in an accident, it is important that you immediately contact an experienced Suffolk County burn victim lawyer who will review the facts of your case and explain your options for pursuing a personal injury claim or a wrongful death claim. You should do so quickly, as there are deadlines for filing personal injury claims.
Pursuing compensation for a burn injuryThere are many types of burns that can occur in accidents in a variety of settings. Contact burns occur when the skin comes in contact with flames or a heat source. This is the type of burn that is associated with residential fires. Inhalation burns occur when the victim breathes in fumes. Victims of residential fire are injured more often by smoke inhalation than by the actual fire. In the construction and manufacturing industries, chemical burns are more common due to the presence of noxious chemicals. In some cases the burns are contact and in other cases they are inhalation. Taking preventative measure such as following federal and state workplace safety rules prevents the incidence of chemical burns in the workplace. Electrical buns occur when the victim comes in contact with a live wire and is referred to as "electrocution."
Hotels, retailers and apartment managers are liable for burn injuries or deaths that occur due to building code violations. Lack of working smoke detectors, locked or unmarked fire exits, or faulty sprinkler systems can create additional liability. Under New York law owners of premises who do not maintain their property properly and as a result put others in danger, can be held liable a theory of premises liability.
The medical expenses associated with treatment and rehabilitation are generally substantial. Treatment for severe burns may involve plastic surgery, multiple skin grafts, skin replacement and physical therapy. Through a personal injury lawsuit, you can require the responsible party to compensate you for the medical expenses associated with your burn injury. Because you are likely to miss a significant amount of time from your job you will also suffer from a loss of income. In addition burn victims are often left with scarring and other types of permanent disfigurement. Because of this the responsible party will likely be required to pay you damages for pain and suffering.
As a burn victim attorney in Suffolk County will explain, if your burn injury happened in a work-related accident, you may be entitled to workers' compensation benefits. New York's workers' compensation laws state that injured parties are entitled to compensation if they sustain a work-related injury. Compensation often comes in the form of medical expenses, lost income and benefits, loss of ability to earn, and more. However, it is important to note that worker's compensation benefits are limited. Just because the accident occurred at work does not necessarily mean that you are limited to the benefit available through workers' compensation.
Contact the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & AssociatesIf 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. The burn victim attorneys serving Suffolk County at the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates can help. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case. We represent clients in the following locations: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan, Nassau County, Queens, Staten Island, Suffolk County and Westchester County.