Bozeman Burn Injury Lawyer
Burn injuries are significant events that can forever alter the lives of victims and their loved ones. These injuries can cause excruciating pain, leave scars, and cause mental turmoil that makes simple daily tasks a challenge to carry out.
If you have been injured in a burn injury due to the actions of someone else, talking to a lawyer can help to determine what your course of action is to financially support you and your family in the future. Medical bills and lost wages can add up. Finding a personal injury lawyer who understands the difficulty of your situation can be crucial to making a challenging situation better.
Our Bozeman burn injury attorneys at Beck, Amsden & Staples are determined to fight for you. As trusted attorneys in the Bozeman area, we have successfully fought for our clients in numerous burn injury cases. Call Beck, Amsden & Staples today for your free consultation. Our Bozeman burn injury attorneys will get you the justice you deserve.
What are Burn Injuries and How are They Classified?
Burn injuries are wounds that damage body tissues. Burn injuries can be caused by physical factors such as heat, friction, and radiation, as well as chemical mixtures like strong acids and bases. Burns are categorized according to the extent of damage to the body.
- First-degree Burns – In first-degree burns, the epidermis (the outermost layer of the skin is damaged). Wounds appear red with slight pain and discomfort to the victim.
- Second-degree Burns – In second-degree burns, both the first and second layers of the skin – epidermis, and dermis – are damaged. Second-degree burns result in skin damage that is swollen, red, white, or patchy and typically forms blisters. If the burn is deep enough, a victim might end up having a scar left. Pain is more intense than the first-degree burn.
- Third-degree Burns – This type of burn can be life-threatening. The damage reaches the fat underneath the first two layers of skin. The affected area may have a leathery texture and is black, white, or red in appearance. Third-degree burns damage the nerves resulting in numbness of the affected area.
- Fourth-degree burns – Fourth-degree burns frequently result in death because the damage extends deeper into the skin, affecting structures like bones, muscles, or tendons.
Common Causes of Burn Injuries
To bring a claim against a party for your burn injuries, there has to be a fault on behalf of the person causing the injury. Most often, these cases are brought on a theory that the opposing party was negligent which caused the victim to incur burn injuries. Some of the common causes of burn injuries that are brought on a claim of negligence include:
- Car Accidents
- Building Fires
- Defective Products
- Chemical Burns in an Industrial Setting
- Explosions
Identifying and proving the cause of your burn injuries will influence the potential amount you will be able to recover.
Recoverable Damages from a Burn Injury
Victims of burn injuries can sue for economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are damages where the victim directly incurs monetary losses. Typical economic damages include medical expenses, loss of wages, and future lost earnings.
Non-economic damages are compensation a victim can claim for losses that are not immediately quantifiable. These types of damages in burn injuries include pain and suffering, emotional damage, and diminished quality of life.
One point to note is that states have different liability rules and damage caps in personal injury lawsuits. In Montana, non-economic damages are limited to $250,000.
In Montana, the statute of limitations for a personal injury lawsuit is three years. What this translates into is that a claim must be filed within three years from the date of injury. If the suit against the Montana government, it must be filed within 20 days of the injury.
Contact a Bozeman Burn Injuries Lawyer Today
There is no one law that specifically addresses burn injury lawsuits. Instead, there can be many laws that are applicable to a case. Every burn injury case must be assessed uniquely. In order to help you make an informed choice about what to do next, our attorneys at Beck, Amsden & Staples will analyze your injury case and walk you through your legal options. Our competent Bozeman burn injury lawyers will make sure you get the justice you deserve. Contact us today for your free consultation.