Each year, there are over 2 million burn injuries reported nationally. According to the National Institute of Health, nearly 40% of all burn victims sustain significant and/or permanent disabilities from their injuries. Statistics show that nearly 50% of all burn injuries could have been avoided. The cost to treat burn victims can range into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. In addition, burn victims experience horrific physical pain and suffering, not to mention the emotional and psychological injuries and scarring that ensue. Unfortunately, burns are one of the more common injuries giving rise to litigation in light of the vast number of ways that these injuries occur. For example, people can be burned while on the job (electrocution, chemical burns). Others have been burned as a result of a household fire that was started by a defective household appliance or product. Still others are burned following a car collision. Some are burned due to a household fire that started because a house or its wiring was not built properly to code. Finally, some suffer surgical burns while under anesthesia in the operating room – caused by the improper use of electrocautery devices or the improper use of potentially flammable gases while operating.

At STSW, we routinely and successfully handle cases in which our clients have sustained serious burn injuries. For example, we recently represented the family of a woman who suffered extensive burns and later died when her home–hospital bed malfunctioned, caught fire and burned her house down. In addition, we recently settled a separate medical negligence case against a health care provider in which our client suffered a significant burn during an operation.

Burns also require extensive and specialized medical care. Sometimes, that care falls below the standard of care. We have successfully represented clients in medical malpractice cases in which burns were not properly treated, causing death. If you or a loved one believe you have been the victim of a preventable burn injury, call the lawyers at STSW for a free consultation.