One of the most tragic things that can happen in a car accident is for someone in the car to sustain severe burns. Burns can be severe based on the portion of the body affected, or the skin depth of the burn. Severe burn survivors often suffer from long-term physical pain, psychological suffering, and decreased mobility.
If you or a loved one were severely burned in a car crash that was caused by someone else’s negligence, you are entitled to compensation intended to reimburse you for your medical expenses, lost wages, and other kinds of losses, including pain and suffering, and emotional distress. Because the expenses and losses that a severe burn victim incurs are so substantial, the money awarded in these cases can be quite high, and there is a need for detailed proof of all injuries and losses.
Severe burn injuries are usually considered catastrophic injuries that affect all aspects of a burn victim’s life. Medical bills can be much higher than for other types of injuries, and specialized care may be necessary for the rest of the burn victim’s life. Burn victims may have permanent scars. They may be unable to work in their usual jobs or to do any job at all. Pain and suffering can be intense which, along with limitations on the burn victims’ ability to engage in all of their usual activities, can cause anxiety or depression. Compensation may be awarded for all of these problems. An experienced attorney knows the best ways to collect and present evidence of these losses.
How Much Compensation Can a Severe Burn Victim Expect?
When another person’s negligence causes an auto accident where someone is severely burned, the amount of compensation that may be awarded depends on several factors:
- Medical expenses. These include medical treatment at the time of the accident, continuing medical treatment for the burns and complications from the burns, and expected medical treatment needed in the future. Severe burn victims may also have mental health challenges caused by their injuries, and treatment for those may be compensated as well.
- Lost wages. If the accident victim is unable to work as much as he or she did before the accident, or if the victim is unable to work at all, compensation may be available for the lost income. Compensation may also be available when losses of income are expected to continue into the future.
- Intangible losses. Severe burns may cause permanent disfigurement, which can interfere with the accident victim’s ability to engage in his or her usual activities. These losses may be substantial for severe burn victims, but they are harder to calculate than medical expenses. An experienced attorney knows how to document and present these losses in a way that will help you obtain all the compensation you need and deserve.
Being severely burned in a car accident is a tragic event. Legal help is available, though, to help compensate the victims for their medical bills and for the losses they have sustained because of their burns. An experienced attorney can help you get the best outcome in these complex cases.
If you or a loved one suffered severe burns in a vehicle accident, we at the Law Offices of Eric H. Woods invite you to call today for a free, no-obligation consultation. Mr. Woods has more than 40 years of experience handling serious injury auto accident cases. He and his skilled staff will work hard to get you all the compensation you deserve.