Whether it comes from exposure to open flame, boiling water, superheated metal, or any other source, a severe burn injury can instantly change your life in both the short term and the long term. If you have been injured in this way directly through another person’s misconduct, that person may owe you civil restitution for your injury-related losses—but only if you can prove them legally liable for your injuries through private settlement talks or a civil court trial.
As any seasoned catastrophic injury attorney can tell you, this is often a lot easier said than done, especially if you have no past experience with personal injury litigation or with civil law in general. Working closely with a capable Savannah burn injury lawyer could be the difference between getting paid fairly for your losses through a case of this nature and getting nothing at all for the harm you have unfairly sustained.
The severity of a burn injury, as determined by a doctor, does not affect legal liability for negligence. The burden of proving negligence remains with the burn victim. However, the degree of the burn can significantly influence the damages included in a claim and the total compensation sought.
For example, A second-degree burn may cause long-term scarring but typically does not impair a person’s ability to work or live independently. In contrast, a third-degree burn can result in permanent loss of bodily function and require costly, invasive medical treatment. As a result, victims may seek higher compensation for future lost earning capacity, diminished quality of life, and other long-term losses—all things a Savannah burn injury attorney can help identify and accurately value during your claim.
An attorney can help you build and file a strong lawsuit within the deadline set by Georgia’s personal injury statute of limitations. Under Official Code of Georgia §9-3-33, individuals who file a lawsuit more than two years after sustaining a personal injury are generally time-barred from ever receiving compensation for that particular injury.
Another two statutes worth mentioning in the context of Savannah burn injury lawsuits are O.C.G.A. §§51-11-7 and 51-12-33. The former prohibits anyone found to hold 50 percent or more of the total fault for their own injury from receiving any civil compensation for that injury, and the latter allows courts to proportionately reduce the final damage award of anyone assigned a lesser percentage of comparative fault by that same percentage. Representation from a skilled lawyer can be crucial to fighting back against allegations along these lines and maximizing available restitution for a high-degree burn.
On top of being painful and sometimes physically debilitating injuries, high-degree burns can also make for uniquely tricky civil claims if you want to file suit against the person who caused you to get burned. Fortunately, experienced and community-focused legal professionals are available to support you. They know how to handle cases like yours and will work tirelessly to pursue the best possible outcome.
During a private initial consultation, a Savannah burn injury lawyer can discuss your legal options and offer preliminary guidance about the next steps. Contact us today to set up your free consultation.