With its dense suburban feel, a wide variety of shops and restaurants, and a high homeownership rate, Creve Coeur is often regarded as one of the most desirable places to live in St. Louis County. Unfortunately, even desirable locations feature hazards that can cause severe injury or death. One type of serious injury that can be experienced in Creve Coeur is a burn injury. Burns can be caused in many ways, including as a result of someone else’s negligence.
Suppose you suffered a burn injury due to the careless or reckless actions of another party. In that case, you can seek compensation for the costs and quality of life impacts you experienced as a result of the injury through Missouri’s personal injury claims process.
Those who have lost a loved one as a result of a fire can also seek compensation for the expenses and impacts of their loss through the wrongful death claims process. These processes involve filing a claim against a relevant liability insurance policy held by the at-fault party. If the insurance provider fails to compensate you, the process can also include filing a lawsuit and letting a judge or jury decide the compensation you deserve.
If you find yourself in this situation, contact a Creve Coeur burn injury Attorney from The Bruning Law Firm as soon as possible. Our experienced legal team is ready to take on this complex claim and get you the compensation you deserve.
Why Choose The Bruning Law Firm to Help You With Your Burn Injury Claim?
The personal injury claims process is a lifeline to those who have suffered serious injuries or have lost a loved one due to another’s negligence. However, having a Creve Coeur burn injury lawyer from The Bruning Law Firm assist you throughout the process is critical to obtaining the compensation you need.
The Bruning Law Firm is a family firm with over 35 years of experience assisting the injured throughout the region.
We have built a reputation for providing superior legal representation for our clients, and we are pleased with our results, which include:
- A $15.5 million settlement when seven people were injured in a flash fire due to a defendant’s failure to follow safety protocols.
- A $4.75 million settlement after a landlord put bars on the windows and doors that prevented occupants of the building from escaping during a fire, resulting in two deaths and other serious injuries.
- A $2.9 million settlement after a defective computer power cord started a housefire, resulting in the deaths of two people.
While no result can be guaranteed, The Bruning Law Firm is here to help. The Bruning Law Firm is pleased to provide the Creve Coeur community not only with quality personal injury and wrongful death representation but also to provide these services locally.
The Bruning Law Firm’s Creve Coeur office is located near the downtown Creve Coeur financial district. Call or visit us for a free case evaluation at our office. Our legal team looks forward to speaking with you about your case.
What Kind of Compensation Is Available After a Burn Injury?
Burn injuries are among the most serious types of injuries a person can experience due to the high risk of complications such as infections and significant scarring. Not only are burn injuries often serious, but they are also expensive to treat. Many patients suffering from severe burns will need specialized care at a burn center.
According to Paradigm, even low-intensity treatments for moderate burns with complications can result in hundreds of thousands of dollars of medical expenses. Catastrophic burns without complications can cost more than a million dollars to treat, and that price tag is often ten-fold for severe burns with complications.
Beyond the high cost of medically treating a burn injury, patients also often suffer additional expenses related to wage loss while recovering from the injury, as well as lost earning capacity resulting from permanent disabilities arising from the injury.
The psychological impacts of burn injuries are also commonly severe, with the injured party often experiencing physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, and losing the ability to enjoy activities that were important to them before the injury occurred.
How Do Burn Injuries Happen in Creve Coeur?
Burns can result from flames, heat, steam, exposure to certain chemicals, or even friction between the skin and a rough surface.
The Creve Coeur Fire District covers 26.2 square miles of West St. Louis County. The district responds to about 6,000 calls a year, most of which are for emergency services. Paid paramedics and firefighters staff two engine houses with a 107-foot ladder truck, a pumper, and three staffed ambulances.
Here is a look at some of the most common ways burn injuries happen in Creve Coeur.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, St. Louis County sees thousands of motor vehicle accidents yearly, resulting in more than 75 deaths and more than 600 serious injuries. I-270 is a major source of motor vehicle accidents in Creve Coeur, as are the intersections along Highway 340.
Because of the highly flammable and caustic fluids used to make motor vehicles run, motor vehicle accidents are one of the most common ways for a person to suffer a burn injury. This type of injury is particularly common for motorcyclists, who sit close to a gas tank and, without the protective frame found on other motor vehicle types, are at risk of rupturing, covering the rider in gasoline and subjecting them to resulting sparks or flames.
Train accidents can also result in burn injuries, and many passenger and cargo trains pass through the area, including the trolley in the University City Delmar Loop area, metro commuter trains, Amtrak, and freight trains that rumble through the site.
Negligent Landlords and Business Owners
Those who own or manage residential, commercial, or public properties have the legal responsibility of regularly inspecting the premises in search of hazards that can cause injuries to guests. When such hazards are found, the property owner or manager must promptly mitigate them.
If the owner cannot immediately mitigate the hazard, they must place a prominent warning sign in the area, so visitors know to stay away. Owners or managers must also take reasonable actions to protect guests or tenants safe.
The reasonable actions that property owners or managers can take to prevent guests or tenants from suffering burn injuries include the provision of smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, as well as ample exits from the building through windows or doors. Landlords can also protect their tenants by ensuring that the building’s electrical system is properly running and up-to-date and that any appliances provided for use with the property are safe and in good working order.
Defective Products
Manufacturers of products purchased and used by consumers in the home, workplace, or on the road are also leading causes of burn injuries. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), home heating systems account for one out of every six house fires, with space heaters most often the culprit. In addition to defective space heaters, other product defects that can lead to fires include faulty electronics or electrical systems and defective auto parts.
Workplace Accidents
As noted by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), more than 5,000 people suffer burn injuries in the workplace each year in the U.S., and eight percent of all burn injuries occur on the job.
OSHA encourages employers and employees to take measures to decrease the risk of workplace burn injuries, such as:
- Keeping the workspace clean and free of debris
- Making sure workplace fire extinguishers and smoke detectors are working properly
- Wearing proper personal protective equipment
- Having a comprehensive emergency plan in place
- Following lock-out/tag-out procedures when dealing with electricity
Most workplace injuries are not compensated through the personal injury or wrongful death claims process but through Missouri’s workers’ compensation program. Workers’ comp is a type of insurance policy that most employers in the state are required to provide for their workers. If your burn injury was incurred at the workplace, the experienced legal team at The Bruning Law Firm can help you with the workers’ comp claims process.
Fighting the Insurance Company for the Compensation You Deserve
Many people who have suffered burn injuries as a result of someone else’s negligence hesitate to hire an experienced burn injury lawyer to assist them with their claim because they do not believe they can afford to pay for the lawyer’s services.
However, having a lawyer on your side is a crucial ingredient to having a successful outcome to your burn injury claim, as they have a deep understanding of the laws that were put in place to protect you, as well as the tactics that insurance companies use to avoid paying out on claims filed by those who were injured as a result of their insured’s negligence.
Some of these tactics include:
- Telling claimants that no compensation is available for the non-economic (pain and suffering) damages they incurred.
- Attempting to lay the blame for the claimant’s injuries on the claimant, not the negligent defendant.
- Disputing the costs of treating the injury or attempting to create doubt as to how the injury occurred.
- Convincing the claimant to authorize the release of their entire medical history to the claims adjuster, who will then scour the information for proof of pre-existing conditions that can be blamed for the claimant’s current condition.
- Convincing the claimant to accept a quick settlement offer that doesn’t provide enough compensation to fully cover the costs and impacts of the injury.
- Delaying evaluation of the claim in order to push the claim past the statute of limitations.
The statute of limitations refers to the amount of time a claimant has to file a lawsuit in court. In Missouri, the statute of limitations is typically five years from the accident. Those wishing to file a wrongful death claim after losing a loved one to burn injuries have three years to file their claim in court. Burn injury claimants in nearby Illinois have two years to file a lawsuit, whether seeking compensation for injuries or the wrongful death of a loved one.
Paying for your lawyer is not a concern, as The Bruning Law Firm’s legal team has a no-fee guarantee that you will not pay any fees for our services until compensation has been received for your claim.
What to Do if You Suffered a Burn Injury Due to Someone Else’s Negligence?
If you have suffered a burn injury in Creve Coeur that was the result of someone else’s carelessness or recklessness, hiring an attorney to begin working on your claim as soon as possible is important.
To protect your claim:
- Follow your physician’s treatment plan, take all prescribed medications, and attend all scheduled appointments.
- Gather documentation showing the expenses of your injury, such as medical bills, vehicle repair bills, and statements of the wages you earn and the amount of time you missed from work due to your injury.
- Gather documentation to show liability, such as a police or fire department’s report, contact information for witnesses who saw the accident or injury take place, and photos of visible injuries or the scene where the burn injury occurred.
- Journal about the daily impacts of your injury, such as frequent medical visits, your pain level, and other quality-of-life impacts.
Burn Injury in Creve Coeur? The Bruning Law Firm Can Help
Burn injuries can take a long time to heal and result in several expensive complications and psychological impacts.
If you have suffered burn injuries in Creve Coeur or have lost a loved one due to an accident that caused fatal burn injuries, the legal team at The Bruning Law Firm is eager to talk with you about your accident and explain your legal options for obtaining compensation. We can also tell you more about how we can assist you with your claim.
To receive a free case evaluation from an experienced Creve Coeur burn injury lawyer, contact The Bruning Law Firm online or call our local office at (314) 786-2615.
Call The Bruning Law Firm Today for Your Free Consultation
Call our personal injury lawyer in Creve Coeur at The Bruning Law Firm will work to resolve your case as quickly as possible. Our team is available 24/7 to complete your consultation at (314) 266-6950 or you can contact us online.
Call The Bruning Law Firm today for your free consultation.
Client Testimonial
"When other law firms failed me. Bruning Law Firm came through for me. They did a great job and were able to get me more compensation than I expected. Couldn't be more pleased. Truly glad these folks were there for me. Took care of everything. Truly pleased. Thank you, Ryan and Alice." - Joseph F.
Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
February 2020
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