When is a burn injury severe enough to warrant a personal injury claim?

Burns can be caused by many sources. They can be chemical burns, radiation burns, electrical burns, or thermal burns. They are most commonly caused by scalds, which are when a hot liquid comes in contact with the body, or by fire.

Burn severity is divided into three degrees.

• First degree burns affect only the outer layer of the skin
• Second degree burns damage the outer and inner layers of the skin
• Third degree burns involve damage or complete destruction of the skin and damage to underlying tissue.

It is not only the severity of burns that determines whether a personal injury claim is warranted. Instead, the effects of the burn must be considered, and whether those effects included recoverable damages. Lost wages, pain and suffering, and the need for reconstructive surgery, all mean potentially recoverable damages, and are governed by:

• The extent of the burn
• The location of the burn
• The degree of the burn

And, of course, a personal injury claim is only warranted when the burn is due to the negligence of another individual.

If you are considering a burn injury lawsuit, please contact the Findlay Law Offices in Hamilton and Brantford for a free case evaluation.