Baltimore Burn Injuries Attorney - Pinder Plotkin

burn injuries

our experienced and knowledgeable lawyers at Pinder Plotkin will fight to ensure that you receive all of the compensation that you deserve.

Baltimore Burn Injuries Attorney - Pinder Plotkin

If you are the victim of a devastating burn injury that was caused by someone else's negligence, and you live in Baltimore, it is imperative that you retain an experienced Baltimore burn injury lawyer. It is common knowledge that insurance companies will try to downplay, delay or even outright deny claims made by burn injury victims.

If you are the victim of a devastating burn injury that was caused by someone else's negligence, and you live in Baltimore, it is imperative that you retain an experienced Baltimore burn injury lawyer. It is common knowledge that insurance companies will try to downplay, delay or even outright deny claims made by burn injury victims.

There are not many physical injuries that induce the intense pain and suffering that burn injuries do. Sadly, burn victims do not only have to endure a long journey while recovering, but many of these victims also have to deal with other physical issues if the burns are severe. These physical issues can include: disfigurement, scarring, mobility impairment.

Although most people automatically think of fire when they hear about burn injuries, these types of injuries can also result from other types of incidents that result from chemicals, vapor/steam or extremely hot water. When these types of injuries are the result of negligence by someone else, the party who sustained the injuries may potentially be able to receive damages.

For a no-fee consultation, contact our Baltimore personal injury lawyers online or call Pinder Plotkin today at (410) 525-5337.

Should I Hire A Burn Injury Attorney?

The main reason behind hiring legal counsel is that you want to ensure that you will be able to receive the compensation that is rightfully yours. It is highly likely that the insurance company representing the negligent party/person(s) will contact you shortly after the accident. Whatever you do, it is important that you do not speak with the insurance company or discuss settlements or compensation with the representative alone.

Many of these insurance representatives will even go as far as to pretend that they are on your side, they understand how you feel and will act as though they really want to help you. Instead, the representative is only looking for a reason to later question your injuries and even blame you for the accident.

There are other insurance company representatives that will try to take advantage of your financial situation by offering you a settlement. These settlements are always low-ball offers that they are hoping you will accept so the claim can vanish.

There are some victims who will accept these low offers because they do not think they can get more compensation. Sadly, the amount of money that insurance companies offer is hardly ever enough to take care of the further treatments, medications, therapies and even surgeries that burn injury victims may need in the future. This means that burn injury victims who agree to these low settlements more than likely have to pay for future medical treatments on their own.

We at Pinder Plotkin will begin an investigation of the accident immediately after we receive your case. This investigation will be independent of all others conducted and the information and evidence obtained during the investigation will be used to prove your claim. This evidence and information will also be preserved and used to identify all persons and entities that are liable for your injuries. Our experienced attorneys will then work hard to ensure that you get all of the financial compensation that is rightfully and legally yours.

Our Law Firm Has Handled A Variety Of Burn Injury Claims

The most common type of burn is the thermal burn. These types of burns result when the skin comes into contact with fire, steam, hot objects, or hot liquid. However, these are not the only types of burns that victims can suffer.

If a person comes into contact with electricity, they can receive burns. Chemical burns can result from the skin coming into contact with acidic materials.

In addition, there are burns that are not as serious as the ones mentioned above, but they can also cause significant burn injuries. Radiation burns can occur when the skin is exposed to UV rays, ionizing radiation, and thermal radiation. A person can also receive friction burns when the skin is forcefully rubbed against a rough surface.

Most people recognize that burns can be categorized into different degrees or stages. These stages are:

first degree burns

Sunburns fall under this category. A first-degree burn causes the top layer of the skin (epidermis) to become painful and can turn red in color after exposure to the UV rays, hot water, etc. This type of burn typically heals in a few days.

second degree burns

These burns affect the first two layers of skin (epidermis and dermis). Blistering usually occurs as a result of these burns, and in some cases, it can lead to scarring and grafts. These types of burns typically heal within a few months.

third degree burns

These types of burns are extensive because they can affect nerves, sweat glands, and deep tissues. These burns are treated by skin grafting, and some victims may also need to have surgery to repair the damage.

fourth to sixth degree burns

There are three other categories and degrees of burns, but victims rarely survive these types of burns. In addition, they do not occur as often as the first three mentioned above.

Fourth-degree burns go beyond the first three degrees and affect a person’s body fat. Fifth-degree burns go into the muscles of the body and sixth-degree burns affect the entire body, including the bones.

As a burn injury victim, you do not want to wait too long to get legal representation if your burns are the result of a person's negligence that caused the accident, and the accident led to your injuries.

 After the accident, it is essential that evidence is collected and preserved in order to have the proof that is needed to prove someone else was responsible for your burn injuries. If you wait too long to hire a knowledgeable burn injury lawyer in Baltimore, and you have been burned due to the negligence of someone else, important evidence can be lost and that could make it harder for your lawyer to prove that someone else’s negligence caused your burn injuries.

What Are Some Of The Most Typical Causes Of These Types Of Injuries?

There are several reasons why burn injuries occur, and there are the types of injuries that commonly end up in settlements out of court or personal injury lawsuits. These causes/reasons are:

  • Motor vehicle collisions
  • Structure fires
  • Manufacturer defects (example: A/C units)
  • Combustible liquids
  • Skilled nursing facilities
  • Matches
  • Lighters
  • Extreme radiation exposure
  • Electrical problems

There is one aspect of burn injuries that are frequently forgotten about and that is the breathing in of dangerous fumes that enter into the air during a fire. Burn victims often ingest dangerous substances when they are exposed to fire, substances, and other flammable materials.

Carbon monoxide poisoning is also common with burn victims. Unfortunately, it is not easily detectable. By the time medical professionals realize that a patient has carbon monoxide poisoning, there is not much that can be done to save the person’s life.

How Can You Prove Negligence In These Types Of Cases?

Burn injuries are defined as when the skin or other body tissues are in direct contact with electricity, radiation, chemicals, sunlight or heat. These injuries are caused by structure fires, combustible gases, and liquids, extremely hot liquids, hot vapor/steam. These injuries can also occur when a person inhales a lot of smoke.

Burn injuries also occur when a person comes into contact with a defective product. This type of injury is categorized in one of three degrees depending on how severe the burn is.

First degree burns affect the outermost layer of skin, and second-degree burns affect the first two layers of skin. Third-degree burns are considered the worse types of burns because they can permanently damage the tissues underneath the skin.

If you are looking to receive financial compensation for your injuries and you want to show that the injuries are the result of someone’s negligence, you will have to prove that the person(s) were failed to use reasonable care, and it was this failure that caused the accident and your injuries.

In these types of lawsuits, it must be established whether or not the defendant used ordinary care and skill that was appropriate for the situation. If it is found that the defendant breached this care, it must then be proven that the breach caused the victim’s injuries. In simpler terms, the victim (plaintiff) will have to prove that he/she would not have the injuries if the defendant did not breach their duty of care towards the plaintiff.

What Types Of Compensation Are Baltimore Burn Injury Victims Entitled To?

As mentioned, it is up to the plaintiff to prove the injuries occurred because of the breach of the defendant. In these types of cases, it is common for victims to have burn wounds that require them to be treated or admitted into the hospital.

In some cases, these wounds leave a victim permanently disfigured and/or scarred. Even with plastic surgery, some victims are not able to totally get rid of the physical signs of the accident and the pain that they have suffered. This leads to long-lasting injuries that burn victims should be compensated for. Other types of damages in which burn victims can receive compensation in Baltimore, Maryland, include:

  • Lost wages
  • Continuing medical care (example: future surgeries)
  • Physical therapy
  • Loss of ability to earn a living

In some burn injury cases, family members may also be able to receive damages for the loss of consortium. This means that the family member has lost their loved one’s companionship, love, or support due to the accident and injury.

statistics

It has been reported by the Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal that in 2017, over 25 victims of fire fatalities died due to thermal burns and smoke inhalation. In the same year, there were three people who lost their lives due to injuries from burns. In 2016, there were 11 people who lost their lives due to burning injuries and 31 who lost their lives because of thermal burns and smoke inhalation.

In the 2016-17 Yearly Report by the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services, it was published that the Burn Center at Johns Hopkins had 826 burn cases between the summer of 2014 until the spring of 2015, 735 cases between the summer of 2015 and spring 2016 and 740 cases from summer 2015 to spring 2016. These were all categorized as adult cases.

The places where people over the age of 15 were injured and treated at the Burn Center included:

  • 109 places unspecified
  • 452 private homes
  • 7 schools
  • 12 residences (institutional)
  • 5 athletic and sports buildings
  • 36 construction and industrial zones
  • 3 farms
  • 29 miscellaneous places
  • 41 roads and streets

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) released statistics for 2000 that showed there was someone who lost their lives in a fire every 120 minutes, and a someone was injured every 23 minutes because of fire. In fact, almost 10,000 people die every year due to infections caused by burn-related injuries.

In 2016, there were close to a half of million burn injuries in the United States alone that needed medical treatment. This statistic was published by the ABA (American Burn Association). Thirty thousand of the 40,000 people hospitalized for these injuries were treated in hospital-based burn centers.

The ABA also reported that burn injuries account for 60 percent of the short term hospitalizations that are seen in the 128 burn centers across the country. These centers had an average of 200 admissions every year. This is in comparison to less than three admissions for burn injuries annually by the other acute care medical facilities in the country.

The NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) published a report in 2010 that stated children younger than five are almost twice as likely to die in a fire in the home when compared to other age groups. These children were almost ten times as likely to die from a fire while in contact with a fire source.

Get Help From Our Baltimore Burn Injury Lawyers

If you or someone you loved has sustained burn injuries due to an accident that was not your fault, you may be able to get financial compensation. The knowledgeable and experienced personal injury lawyers at Pinder Plotkin Law Firm have helped burn injury victims across the entire state of Maryland.

Our lawyers are prepared to help you fight for your rights. Our consultations are completely free and we do not charge you any fees unless we are able to get a judgment or settlement for you. So, do not hesitate to contact us at (410) 525-5337. You can also use our user-friendly contact form to discuss your claim with us today.

-If you are the victim of a devastating burn injury that was caused by someone else’s negligence, and you live in Baltimore, it is imperative that you retain an experienced Baltimore burn injury lawyer. It is common knowledge that insurance companies will try to downplay, delay or even outright deny claims made by burn injury victims. However, our experienced and knowledgeable lawyers at Pinder Plotkin will fight to ensure that you receive all of the compensation that you deserve.

There are not many physical injuries that induce the intense pain and suffering that burn injuries do. Sadly, burn victims do not only have to endure a long journey while recovering, but many of these victims also have to deal with other physical issues if the burns are severe. These physical issues can include:

  • Disfigurement
  • Scarring
  • Mobility impairment

Although most people automatically think of fire when they hear about burn injuries, these types of injuries can also result from other types of incidents that result from chemicals, vapor/steam or extremely hot water. When these types of injuries are the result of negligence by someone else, the party who sustained the injuries may potentially be able to receive damages.

For a no-fee consultation, contact our Baltimore personal injury lawyers online or call Pinder Plotkin today at (410) 525-5337.

Table of Contents

Should I Hire A Burn Injury Attorney?

The main reason behind hiring legal counsel is that you want to ensure that you will be able to receive the compensation that is rightfully yours. It is highly likely that the insurance company representing the negligent party/person(s) will contact you shortly after the accident. Whatever you do, it is important that you do not speak with the insurance company or discuss settlements or compensation with the representative alone.

Many of these insurance representatives will even go as far as to pretend that they are on your side, they understand how you feel and will act as though they really want to help you. Instead, the representative is only looking for a reason to later question your injuries and even blame you for the accident.

There are other insurance company representatives that will try to take advantage of your financial situation by offering you a settlement. These settlements are always low-ball offers that they are hoping you will accept so the claim can vanish.

There are some victims who will accept these low offers because they do not think they can get more compensation. Sadly, the amount of money that insurance companies offer is hardly ever enough to take care of the further treatments, medications, therapies and even surgeries that burn injury victims may need in the future. This means that burn injury victims who agree to these low settlements more than likely have to pay for future medical treatments on their own.

We at Pinder Plotkin will begin an investigation of the accident immediately after we receive your case. This investigation will be independent of all others conducted and the information and evidence obtained during the investigation will be used to prove your claim. This evidence and information will also be preserved and used to identify all persons and entities that are liable for your injuries. Our experienced attorneys will then work hard to ensure that you get all of the financial compensation that is rightfully and legally yours.

A nurse wrapping a burn injury patients' hand in Maryland.
If you need a burn injury lawyer, contact Pinder Plotkin today!

Our Law Firm Has Handled A Variety Of Burn Injury Claims

The most common type of burn is the thermal burn. These types of burns result when the skin comes into contact with fire, steam, hot objects, or hot liquid. However, these are not the only types of burns that victims can suffer.

If a person comes into contact with electricity, they can receive burns. Chemical burns can result from the skin coming into contact with acidic materials.

In addition, there are burns that are not as serious as the ones mentioned above, but they can also cause significant burn injuries. Radiation burns can occur when the skin is exposed to UV rays, ionizing radiation, and thermal radiation. A person can also receive friction burns when the skin is forcefully rubbed against a rough surface.

Most people recognize that burns can be categorized into different degrees or stages. These stages are:

First-Degree Burns

Sunburns fall under this category. A first-degree burn causes the top layer of the skin (epidermis) to become painful and can turn red in color after exposure to the UV rays, hot water, etc. This type of burn typically heals in a few days.

Second-Degree Burns

These burns affect the first two layers of skin (epidermis and dermis). Blistering usually occurs as a result of these burns, and in some cases, it can lead to scarring and grafts. These types of burns typically heal within a few months.

Third-Degree Burns

These types of burns are extensive because they can affect nerves, sweat glands, and deep tissues. These burns are treated by skin grafting, and some victims may also need to have surgery to repair the damage.

There are three categories and degrees of burns, but victims rarely survive these types of burns. In addition, they do not occur as often as the first three mentioned above.

Fourth-degree burns go beyond the first three degrees and affect a person’s body fat. Fifth-degree burns go into the muscles of the body and sixth-degree burns affect the entire body, including the bones.

As a burn injury victim, you do not want to wait too long to get legal representation if your burns are the result of a person’s negligence that caused the accident, and the accident led to your injuries. After the accident, it is essential that evidence is collected and preserved in order to have the proof that is needed to prove someone else was responsible for your burn injuries.

If you wait too long to hire a knowledgeable burn injury lawyer in Baltimore, and you have been burned due to the negligence of someone else, important evidence can be lost and that could make it harder for your lawyer to prove that someone else’s negligence caused your burn injuries.

What Are Some Of The Most Typical Causes Of These Types Of Injuries?

There are several reasons why burn injuries occur, and there are the types of injuries that commonly end up in settlements out of court or personal injury lawsuits. These causes/reasons are:

  • Motor vehicle collisions
  • Structure fires
  • Manufacturer defects (example: A/C units)
  • Combustible liquids
  • Skilled nursing facilities
  • Matches
  • Lighters
  • Extreme radiation exposure
  • Electrical problems

There is one aspect of burn injuries that are frequently forgotten about and that is the breathing in of dangerous fumes that enter into the air during a fire. Burn victims often ingest dangerous substances when they are exposed to fire, substances, and other flammable materials.

Carbon monoxide poisoning is also common with burn victims. Unfortunately, it is not easily detectable. By the time medical professionals realize that a patient has carbon monoxide poisoning, there is not much that can be done to save the person’s life.

How Can You Prove Negligence In These Types Of Cases?

Burn injuries are defined as when the skin or other body tissues are in direct contact with electricity, radiation, chemicals, sunlight or heat. These injuries are caused by structure fires, combustible gases, and liquids, extremely hot liquids, hot vapor/steam. These injuries can also occur when a person inhales a lot of smoke.

Burn injuries also occur when a person comes into contact with a defective product. This type of injury is categorized in one of three degrees depending on how severe the burn is.

First degree burns affect the outermost layer of skin, and second-degree burns affect the first two layers of skin. Third-degree burns are considered the worse types of burns because they can permanently damage the tissues underneath the skin.

If you are looking to receive financial compensation for your injuries and you want to show that the injuries are the result of someone’s negligence, you will have to prove that the person(s) were failed to use reasonable care, and it was this failure that caused the accident and your injuries.

In these types of lawsuits, it must be established whether or not the defendant used ordinary care and skill that was appropriate for the situation. If it is found that the defendant breached this care, it must then be proven that the breach caused the victim’s injuries. In simpler terms, the victim (plaintiff) will have to prove that he/she would not have the injuries if the defendant did not breach their duty of care towards the plaintiff.

What Types Of Compensation Are Baltimore Burn Injury Victims Entitled To?

As mentioned, it is up to the plaintiff to prove the injuries occurred because of the breach of the defendant. In these types of cases, it is common for victims to have burn wounds that require them to be treated or admitted into the hospital.

In some cases, these wounds leave a victim permanently disfigured and/or scarred. Even with plastic surgery, some victims are not able to totally get rid of the physical signs of the accident and the pain that they have suffered. This leads to long-lasting injuries that burn victims should be compensated for. Other types of damages in which burn victims can receive compensation in Baltimore, Maryland, include:

  • Lost wages
  • Continuing medical care (example: future surgeries)
  • Physical therapy
  • Loss of ability to earn a living

In some burn injury cases, family members may also be able to receive damages for the loss of consortium. This means that the family member has lost their loved one’s companionship, love, or support due to the accident and injury.

Schedule a free consultation with a Baltimore burn injury lawyer today.

Statistics

It has been reported by the Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal that in 2017, over 25 victims of fire fatalities died due to thermal burns and smoke inhalation. In the same year, there were three people who lost their lives due to injuries from burns. In 2016, there were 11 people who lost their lives due to burning injuries and 31 who lost their lives because of thermal burns and smoke inhalation.

In the 2016-17 Yearly Report by the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services, it was published that the Burn Center at Johns Hopkins had 826 burn cases between the summer of 2014 until the spring of 2015, 735 cases between the summer of 2015 and spring 2016 and 740 cases from summer 2015 to spring 2016. These were all categorized as adult cases.

The places where people over the age of 15 were injured and treated at the Burn Center included:

  • 109 places unspecified
  • 452 private homes
  • 7 schools
  • 12 residences (institutional)
  • 5 athletic and sports buildings
  • 36 construction and industrial zones
  • 3 farms
  • 29 miscellaneous places
  • 41 roads and streets

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) released statistics for 2000 that showed there was someone who lost their lives in a fire every 120 minutes, and a someone was injured every 23 minutes because of fire. In fact, almost 10,000 people die every year due to infections caused by burn-related injuries.

In 2016, there were close to a half of million burn injuries in the United States alone that needed medical treatment. This statistic was published by the ABA (American Burn Association). Thirty thousand of the 40,000 people hospitalized for these injuries were treated in hospital-based burn centers.

The ABA also reported that burn injuries account for 60 percent of the short term hospitalizations that are seen in the 128 burn centers across the country. These centers had an average of 200 admissions every year. This is in comparison to less than three admissions for burn injuries annually by the other acute care medical facilities in the country.

The NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) published a report in 2010 that stated children younger than five are almost twice as likely to die in a fire in the home when compared to other age groups. These children were almost ten times as likely to die from a fire while in contact with a fire source.

Get Help From Our Baltimore Burn Injury Lawyers

If you or someone you loved has sustained burn injuries due to an accident that was not your fault, you may be able to get financial compensation. The knowledgeable and experienced personal injury lawyers at Pinder Plotkin Law Firm have helped burn injury victims across the entire state of Maryland.

Our lawyers are prepared to help you fight for your rights. Our consultations are completely free and we do not charge you any fees unless we are able to get a judgment or settlement for you. So, do not hesitate to contact us at (410) 525-5337. You can also use our user-friendly contact form to discuss your claim with us today.

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