Lake Charles Burn Injury Lawyer
40+ Years
of Combined Experience
5.0 Google Rating
with over 400 Reviews
Over $125M
Won for Clients That Have Become Family
Burn injuries can result in serious long-term physical impairment and emotional distress, and people who were burned due to someone else’s negligence deserve excellent legal representation on the road toward compensation. A Lake Charles burn injury lawyer at Shamieh Law will help you collect evidence, answer your questions, support you throughout your case, and fight for you in settlement negotiations and court.
A Lake Charles burn injury lawyer at Shamieh Law can focus on handling the legal aftermath of your accident while you focus on getting better. We have what it takes to handle your case from start to finish. Because we offer free consultations, there is no downside to having your case reviewed by one of our attorneys.
What Causes Burn Injuries in Lake Charles?
Common causes of burn injuries in Louisiana include:
- Industrial accidents, such as oil rig explosions or fires
- Collisions involving cars, motorcycles, trucks, and other vehicles
- Defective products, including water heaters, appliances, or devices with batteries
- Poorly maintained properties in violation of fire safety codes, lacking properly marked exits, or lacking appropriate fire safety equipment
- Workplace accidents caused by failure to follow OSHA safety standards and other regulations
When you experience a burn injury at little to no fault of your own, you deserve a chance to collect compensation from the responsible party. Our Lake Charles burn injury attorneys can help you identify all sources of compensation and pursue them vigorously on your behalf.
What Are The High-Risk Jobs For Burn Injuries?
Some trades and industries are considered “high risk” for workers. Often, these workers suffer serious burn injuries. If a workplace isn’t correctly maintained, or if safety protocols are ignored, it can create a potentially toxic environment. Not only is burn a possibility but damage from toxic smoke inhalation and other chemicals. In some cases, the damages from these types of accidents take years to show up.
The industries and trades with the highest risk of burn accidents and injuries include:
- Electrical workers
- Electricians
- Carpenters
- Electrical engineers
- Maintenance workers
- Welders
- Frame cutters
- Structural metal workers
- Sheet metal workers
- Painters
- Construction workers
- Ironworkers
- Boilermakers
- Steamfitters
- Mechanics
- Furnace repairmen
- Heavy equipment operators
- Technicians
- Plumbers
- Cable linemen
- Roofers
- Shipyard workers
- Industrial plant workers
- Oil refinery workers
- Industrial engineers
- Drill press operators
Why Work With Our Lake Charles Burn Injury Lawyers?
We take pride in securing excellent results and providing high-quality service for clients. Injury victims and their families deserve an attorney on their side who treats them with the respect and dignity they deserve.
That’s why we focus on “Winning With Awareness,” which means we treat our clients like family while developing positive professional relationships with everyone involved in their case. Over the years, this approach has helped us build a robust professional network that leaves us well-positioned to secure optimal results for our clients.
Our case results show that you can take a holistic approach to the law and still fight hard for justice when folks are injured through little or no fault of their own. We are proud of the client testimonials we receive praising our work ethic, communication skills, and commitment to excellence.
As a further testament to the high quality of our services, our award-winning Lake Charles personal injury attorneys have been recognized by numerous professional publications and organizations, including:
- Super Lawyers
- Texas Lawyer Magazine
- The National Trial Lawyers 40 under 40
- D Magazine
- Top 10 Attorneys by Attorney and Practice Magazine
At Shamieh Law, we are firmly committed to helping injury victims throughout Louisiana and beyond in their hour of need. We have the legal experience and skills to handle even the most complex personal injury cases. Let us put them to work for you.
Damages in a Lake Charles Burn Injury Lawsuit
You can recover economic and non-economic damages through a Lake Charles burn injury lawsuit. Economic damages compensate for things like medical expenses, long-term care, lost wages, and lowered future earnings.
By contrast, non-economic damages cover things like physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. Because of their more subjective nature, you need an experienced, persuasive legal advocate to secure meaningful compensation for your non-economic damages.
In some situations, you can also collect exemplary damages through a burn injury lawsuit. Also known as punitive damages in some jurisdictions, exemplary damages are reserved for the most egregious cases of misconduct on the part of defendants. In Louisiana, you can pursue these damages in auto accident cases where a motorist showed a wanton or reckless disregard for others by driving while intoxicated.
What if Your Injuries Were Partly Your Fault?
If the accident that led to your burn injuries was partly your fault, you can still collect compensation. In fact, unlike many states, Louisiana allows you to pursue damages even if you were primarily responsible for your injuries. This is because Louisiana follows the doctrine of “pure comparative negligence” in personal injury claims, which means you can sue for compensation even if you were 99 percent responsible for an accident.
It also means your compensable damages will be reduced in proportion to your degree of responsibility for the accident. For example, if you sustain $1 million in damages from a burn injury but were 20 percent at fault for the underlying accident, you could collect $800,000.
How Long Do You Have to File a Burn Injury Lawsuit?
The Louisiana statute of limitations for personal injury cases is normally two years from the date of injury. If you fail to file within two years, a judge will likely throw out your case regardless of its merits.
There are some narrow exceptions to the statute of limitations. However, it is wise to consult with an experienced lawyer before relying on them in case they do not apply to your case.
Your Lake Charles burn injury attorney at Shamieh Law will negotiate with the other party’s insurer to secure a full and fair settlement. If a meaningful settlement cannot be secured through negotiation, we have what it takes to argue your case before a judge and jury.
How Are Burn Injuries Classified?
We normally associate burns with open flames. In reality, there are many kinds of burn injuries. They include:
- Thermal burns – Thermal burns happen when the skin is exposed to extreme heat, and the damage can be extensive. The degree of burn damage depends on how long the person was in contact with the heat and how high the temperature was.
- Electrical burns – When your body comes into contact with an electrical current, such as from a faulty extension cord, you could experience substantial damage to the sub-dermal layers of the skin. Some people exposed to electrical currents also suffer from organ damage and even heart attacks.
- Friction burns – You could sustain a friction burn in a bicycle or motorcycle accident when your skin drags against the pavement or other abrasive surfaces.
- Chemical burns – Skin contact with strong chemicals, such as ammonia, battery acid, bleach, drain cleaners, and gasoline, can cause burns.
- Steam burns – Water vapor can cause painful steam burns. Working in restaurants and near boilers increases the risk of suffering a steam burn.
- Radiation burns – Though fairly rare, radiation burns are caused by exposure to high-frequency emissions of energy through things like X-rays. Interestingly, sunburns are also classified as a type of radiation burn.
Burn Injury Classifications
Burns are classified based on how deeply they penetrate the flesh. Doctors normally grade them into four categories:
- First-degree burns – This is the least severe type of burn, which affects only the outer layer of your skin, the epidermis. These burns result in redness, but there is rarely long-term damage.
- Second-degree burns – These affect the epidermis and the second layer of skin, the dermis. They can cause blisters and red, swollen skin that is sensitive to touch.
- Third-degree burns – Third-degree burns destroy all layers of the skin, leaving it black, white, yellow, or brown. Victims may not experience pain due to damaged nerve endings.
- Fourth-degree burns – These burns destroy all layers of the skin, reaching the muscles, tendons, and bones. They are particularly life-threatening and require immediate attention.
The Physical and Psychological Effects of Burn Injuries
Depending on their extent and severity, burn injuries range from minor to life-threatening. Long-term consequences may include:
- Muscle or tissue damage
- Scarring
- Recurrent infections
- Skin grafts
- Disfigurement
- Loss of mobility
- Loss of limbs
- Persistent pain
People also experience significant psychological distress after burn injuries, such as depression, nightmares, sleeplessness, feelings of hopelessness, and difficulty concentrating. This can significantly affect the emotional well-being of burn victims and their families. Victims are often plagued with worry over things like appearance, long-term physical impairment, disruptions in their daily lives, and difficulty returning to school or work.
When you or a loved one suffers a burn injury in Lake Charles through little or no fault of your own, you deserve compensation that reflects not only your monetary losses but also the challenges you face at home and work due to the effects of your injuries.
Our accomplished Lake Charles burn injury lawyers will answer your questions and serve as a constant source of support while we navigate your case through settlement negotiations and court. We are here to help.
How Can a Burn Injury Lawyer Help Your Case?
Our burn injury attorneys understand the financial and emotional toll burn injuries can take. As personal injury lawyers, our job is to reduce these burdens as much as possible and shepherd your case through the legal system. Among other things, we will:
- Help you find medical care
- Make sure you know your full legal rights and options
- Collect evidence, such as workplace incident reports, police reports, medical records, and footage of the area where your burn occurred
- Collect testimony from witnesses and experts
- Negotiate with insurance companies
- Prepare you for depositions and in-court testimony
- Represent you before a judge and jury
We take enormous pride in helping our clients when they need us most. Our Lake Charles burn injury attorneys will stand by your side through every step of the legal claims process.
Contact the Lake Charles Burn Injury Lawyers at Shamieh Law
You and your family don’t have to face the legal aftermath of a burn injury alone. Partner with Shamieh Law and put our legal knowledge, resources, and expertise to work for you. Our commitment to our clients and community shines through in every case we handle.
Contact our Lake Charles office by calling (337) 477-7222 or completing our online contact form. We offer free, no-obligation consultations, and you pay nothing unless we win your case.
