Severe burn injuries are among the most devastating personal injuries physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially. Serious burn injury victims face long and painful recoveries, and many never fully heal from their physical wounds.
Burn injuries range in severity and are classified into degrees. The degree of a personal injury victim’s burns and other factors impact their total settlement value.
Read the following for a discussion of the value of a burn injury settlement. For specific case information, contact an experienced Denver burn injury attorney.
Burn Injury Degrees and Settlement Value
There are four degrees of burn injuries:
- First-degree burns are the least severe and affect only the outer layer of the skin or epidermis. These typically heal within a few days and are treated with over-the-counter medication. Few law firms will accept first-degree burn cases. Their value is generally less than $10,000;
- Second-degree burns impact the top layer of skin, the epidermis, and the layer beneath, the dermis. Most second-degree burns are shallow. A more serious second-degree burn may cause scarring or skin discoloration. There are no settlement statistics for second-degree burns; however, there is potential for a settlement of $25,000 to $75,000;
- Third-degree burns are “full-thickness burns.” They affect the epidermis, dermis, and destroy nerve endings. The skin may turn black or brown. Third-degree burns need immediate medical attention. A third-degree burn settlement may be into the millions of dollars; and
- Fourth-degree burns are the most severe and leave the skin black and charred. These burns are life-threatening and generally require amputation of the damaged area. A fourth-degree burn settlement may be multi-million dollars.
Sometimes the severity of a burn is determined by the amount of the body or area of the body it occupies. Therefore, a first-degree burn covering the majority of the body or in a delicate region such as the genitals is more serious than a typical first-degree burn.
Other Factors Influencing Burn Injury Settlement Value
Burn injury settlement value is highly dependent on burn degree, but several other factors influence a claim’s total damages.
These include but are not limited to:
- Whether the victim shared fault for their injuries;
- Where the accident occurred;
- The victim’s total medical bills;
- Whether the victim needs future medical care;
- Whether the victim can return to work;
- Whether the victim can return to their previous job;
- The location of the injury;
- The victim’s age; and
- Whether the injury caused lasting scars or disfigurement.
Every burn injury claim has extenuating circumstances. If you or a loved one suffered burn injuries, have your claim’s value evaluated by a personal injury attorney.
Contact an Experienced Denver Burn Injury Attorney Today
Dulin McQuinn Young can honestly review your burn injury claim and advise you regarding your next best legal steps. We have decades of experience battling insurance companies and corporations across Colorado for people just like you.
Dulin McQuinn Young has a proven track record of success and is committed to getting you maximum compensation for your burn injuries. Call us in Denver today to schedule your complimentary consultation.