Fort Lauderdale burn injury lawyer

If you suffered a burn injury in an incident that wasn’t your fault, you shouldn’t have to bear the burden of paying for treatment and other accident-related expenses.

A Fort Lauderdale burn injury lawyer with Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath can work to help you get the compensation you deserve. Our firm has decades of experience winning cases similar to yours, and we’re ready to put our knowledge to work for you.

Schedule a free consultation by contacting us online or giving us a call at (561) 665-1990.

Steps to take after being burned

Following these steps will not only help keep you safe but will help build the strongest possible case for you to obtain compensation.

1. Call 911

If you are able, dial 911 and ask for an ambulance. Tell the dispatcher as much as you can about the incident so emergency personnel will know the type of treatment to administer as soon as they arrive.

2. Treat the burn as you wait for paramedics to arrive

If you’re in pain, your first instinct may be to apply ice to the burn. However, this could damage your skin even worse and possibly put you into shock. Run cool water over the area for about 20 minutes instead. Don’t try to remove any jewelry or clothing that’s stuck to the wound.

3. Record the names of all caregivers during your hospitalization who can testify on your behalf

Writing down the full names of everyone providing your care could prove to be very important to your case. The insurance company will likely try to downplay the severity of your injuries. If members of your medical team are willing to testify, that will show how seriously you’ve been hurt, improving your chances of obtaining full compensation.

4. Keep a detailed record of your injuries

Write about all the pain you’re going through, as well as the emotional trauma. This will create a record of your non-economic damages, which we’ll cover shortly.

5. Speak with an attorney

The most important thing you can do – other than getting prompt medical help, of course – will be to speak with an attorney. Time will be of the essence – footage gets erased and memories fade. Your lawyer needs to begin gathering evidence to show you deserve full and fair compensation.

Types of burns

The “burn stages” classification system ranks burns by severity. First-degree burns are minor (sunburn is considered a first-degree burn), while third-degree burns are the most severe, usually requiring skin grafts and other procedures.

Below are the most common causes, or sources of first-, second-, and third-degree burns.

Thermal burns

A thermal burn is caused by an external heat source that, when made contact with the skin, raises the temperature of the skin and tissues. Hot metals, scalding liquids, steam, and flames can all cause thermal burns.

Radiation burns

A radiation burn can occur in skin that has seen prolonged exposure to UV rays from the sun or other sources of radiation such as X-rays or radiation therapy to treat cancer.

Chemical burns

Thousands of products contain strong or noxious acids, detergents, or solvents that can cause chemical burns to the skin and eyes.

Electrical burns

When electricity comes in contact with the body, energy can travel throughout the body and cause severe damage to tissues and organs.

Don’t miss the deadline to file your claim

In Florida, you have two years from the date that you discovered the injury to file a personal injury claim. This deadline is known as the statute of limitations. If you let this deadline pass, you forfeit any compensation you deserve.

Please note:

On March 24, 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis signed a set of legal reforms into law. One of the changes brought about by the bill cuts the statute of limitations for negligence-based claims in half, from four years to two.

Possible damages you can claim

Whenever someone suffers an injury in an accident caused by another, their financial losses are known as damages. The two most commonly awarded damages are presented below.

Economic damages

Economic damages are tangible and can be proven with paperwork. Economic damages include things like:

Visits to the emergency room
Follow-up doctor’s appointments
Skin grafts and other procedures
Medication
Lost wages from missing work

To receive full compensation, you should hang on to all of your medical bills, invoices, and receipts.

Non-economic damages

Non-economic damages are more difficult to calculate because they don’t necessarily come with a bill or receipt. They’re the intangible losses that you suffered as a result of the burn injury and include things like:

Pain and suffering
Emotional trauma
Scarring and disfigurement

Not every Fort Lauderdale burn injury lawyer knows how to prove non-economic damages, but the attorneys with Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath have decades of experience doing just that.

How to find the right lawyer for your needs

Please don’t base your choice of Fort Lauderdale burn injury lawyer on a commercial. Take your time and make the best possible decision. Check online reviews or get a recommendation from people you trust.

We’ll fight the insurance company to get you the maximum compensation

The attorneys with Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath have more than 30 years of experience taking on cases like yours. No matter how large the insurance company may be, you’ll never have to worry about our law firm being intimidated in the least.

Parties who may be liable for your burn injury

One of the reasons you should hire an attorney is that personal injury cases can be complex. For example, there could very well be more than one party that contributed to the accident that led to your injury. It will take the experience of a skilled lawyer to make sure all of them are held accountable.

How our attorneys prove liability

The investigation mentioned earlier will be critical to your chances of obtaining the compensation you deserve. Your lawyer will interview witnesses, get a copy of the police report, go to the accident scene, and take many other steps.

The investigation will not only determine why the accident occurred but also determine all the parties that played a role in causing it.

Burn injury lawsuit process

Here’s a brief look at some of the steps involved in a burn injury lawsuit.

1. Legal consultation

This is where you speak to an attorney to determine if you want them to represent you. You’ll give them the details of the accident and they’ll tell you whether or not you have a case.

2. Accident investigation

If the attorney believes your case is strong, and you choose to hire that lawyer, they’ll launch an investigation.

3. File demand for compensation

Once your attorney identifies all the liable parties, they’ll send them demand letters. These letters will spell out how much each party owes you.

4. Negotiation

The at-fault parties will then negotiate with your attorney until all sides reach an equitable settlement. No one wants to go to court, so the vast majority of cases settle.

5. Take the case to trial

Some insurance companies will refuse to make a fair settlement offer. The case will go to trial when this happens. But you won’t have to worry when you have a Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer with Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath working on your behalf. We’ll make a compelling argument in court, one backed with solid proof.

Why it’s important to visit the doctor

We can’t overemphasize the importance of getting medical help as soon as possible. If you don’t, the insurance company could claim you’re not badly injured.

Cost of hiring a burn injury lawyer

We won’t receive any money unless we win your case. You won’t have to pay a dime, so you won’t have to worry about anything but getting better as quickly as possible.