Burns suffered in car accidents can be among the most devastating types of injuries. If you are coping with burns from a car crash, you know firsthand how agonizingly painful, difficult to treat, and terribly limiting these injuries are. You may feel frustrated, angry, worried, depressed – or all of these things at once.
At The Bruning Law Firm, our St. Louis car accident injury lawyers have been successfully representing car accident victims for decades, fighting aggressively to secure maximum compensation for burn injury survivors throughout Missouri and Illinois. Our success in recovering millions of dollars in compensation for our injured clients has earned us a place on the Top 100 Trial Lawyers list and in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. This success is matched only by our dedication to top-notch customer service for all of those we represent.
If you have been hurt in an auto accident and need a compassionate but aggressive St. Louis burn injury lawyer, turn to the professionals at The Bruning Law Firm. Our legal team has the experience and the dedication to fight for full and fair compensation for you.
Call or fill out our online form to schedule a free consultation.
We Fight for Maximum Burn Injury Compensation After a MO Car Accident
In our years of helping burn injury victims recover full and fair compensation, we have developed an in-depth knowledge of this particular type of injury and the resources that are needed to treat it.
We have built a network of medical experts, financial planners, and accident reconstructionists who will help us develop an accurate estimate of the burn injury compensation we will demand for you. This may include:
- Payment for past and future medical bills, including surgeries, follow-up doctors’ visits, medications, and assisted mobility devices
- Lost wages and decreased earning potential for the future
- Compensation for your incredible pain and suffering
- Payment for damages to your vehicle
- Punitive damages, which are meant to punish the at-fault party in extreme circumstances
If you are struggling to heal from burn injuries after a car accident and need a strong advocate on your side, contact The Bruning Law Firm now.
What Causes Burn Injuries in Car Accidents?
There are three major types of burn injuries, all of which can result from a car accident or a hidden defect in the vehicle.
- Thermal burns are caused by heat sources, such as fire or overheated metal. In a car accident, a fire or explosion that results from a crash rupturing a gas tank can easily cause severe or even fatal thermal burns. Overheated metal components from an electrical or other defect may also cause these types of burns or start a fire in the car’s passenger compartment that causes thermal burns.
- Electrical burns result from a person coming into contact with an electrical current. During a crash, wiring may be exposed or torn loose, causing electrical burns or electrocution if it comes into contact with the driver or a passenger. Even if there is no collision, an electrical defect may also cause electrical burns to drivers or passengers.
- Chemical burns are caused by touching or inhaling caustic substances. Although these types of burns are less common in auto accidents than thermal or electrical burns, they can occur if a fire releases toxic fumes from car components.
Unfortunately, burn injuries in auto accidents also cause a number of serious and life-threatening complications for those who suffer them. For example, an auto accident victim with severe burns and broken bones is at increased risk of infection, may have difficulty undergoing operations, and can experience significant limitations on mobility.
These types of complications make burn injuries more difficult ─ and thus more expensive ─ to treat, leading to longer hospital stays and recuperation times.
What to Do If You Suffer Burn Injuries in a MO Auto Accident
When you’ve been hurt in a crash, it’s important to take steps to protect both your health and your legal rights.
- Get medical attention immediately.
Any burn that breaks or damages the skin, no matter how small, should be treated by an experienced medical professional. More severe burns, as well as other types of severe injuries, should be addressed by calling emergency medical services. Because burns greatly increase the risk of severe infection, prompt medical treatment can sterilize the burn, stabilize the patient, and help manage this risk.
- Gather all the information you can from the scene of the accident.
Accident reports from law enforcement can help establish what happened, as can photographs, diagrams, and the contact information of people involved and any witnesses to the accident. An experienced St. Louis burn injury lawyer can start tracking down this information if you do not already have it. Your lawyer can contact the local police, take photos of your injuries and the damage to your vehicle, and talk to witnesses.
- Keep all doctor’s appointments.
Keep follow-up appointments, go to all testing or therapy sessions, and follow the directions on medications and medical devices carefully. When an injured person must spend time in a burn unit, these tasks are typically handled by the medical staff – but you can advocate for yourself as a patient or advocate for an injured loved one by asking questions, making sure you understand the answers, and calling a nurse or doctor immediately if symptoms change or get worse.
- Keep paperwork in a single, secure location.
Gather all the paperwork related to the accident, including police reports, medical bills and receipts, any paperwork from your job, repair bills, letters from insurance companies, and other information. Keep this paperwork together in a safe place. It will form the basis of the claims you make for compensation.
- Don’t admit fault.
Even if you or your loved one believe the accident was your fault, don’t say so – to anyone. Instead, stick to the facts of the accident: where it happened, who was involved, and the date and time of the crash. Burn injuries are often caused by a complex chain of events during the crash. For instance, in some cases, a hidden defect in the vehicle results in more serious injuries. Wait for the investigation to reveal all the facts.
- Talk to a skilled burn injury lawyer as soon as possible.
You need an experienced attorney on your side during this process. Insurance companies work hard to avoid paying claims, and auto manufacturers do not like to admit that a problem in a vehicle may have resulted in a fire. Your attorney can help you gather information, file claims, and fight aggressively to secure the full and fair compensation you need.
Don’t Wait to Get Started on Your MO Car Accident Case
At The Bruning Law Firm, we are driven by compassion for our clients. We know you need help immediately, and we work quickly and efficiently to build a strong case for maximum compensation.
Contact us now to discuss how our St. Louis car accident burn injury lawyers will fight for justice for you. We serve clients throughout Missouri and Southern Illinois, and our attorneys are willing to meet you wherever it’s most convenient.
