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When you suffer serious burns, the physical trauma is often accompanied by mental trauma, too. If your injuries were caused by the wrongdoings of another person, your anguish may be even greater.

When you suffer personal injuries due to the recklessness or ignorance of others, you might be entitled to seek damages in a Virginia lawsuit. Whether you were hurt in a car crash, because of a business owner’s negligence, or in a truck wreck, a Chesapeake burn injury lawyer could help you determine what your rights are following an injury. With the help of the dedicated team of Chesapeake injury attorneys at Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers, you could recover the compensation you need.

Classifying Burn Injuries

Burns are classified as minor or major depending on the damage. Typically, minor burns are treated at home, while major burns require emergency medical care. Minor burns are also called first or second-degree burns. First-degree burns are common incidents that may call for an icepack or cool running water. Second-degree burns generally entail damage below the skin, but rarely leave scarring.

Major burns are usually grouped into third-degree and fourth-degree burns. Both types are extremely dangerous. In certain situations, they can even be life-threatening. Third-degree burns involve damage deep in the muscle tissue. When they occur, scarring is likely as is nerve damage.

Finally, fourth-degree burns can destroy the skin, muscle tissue, ligaments, and bone. These injuries leave black wound sites, and may also destroy parts of the nervous system.

Severe third and fourth-degree burns caused by the recklessness of another party should potentially result in legal action. A burn incident attorney in Chesapeake could help you determine whether bringing a claim for compensation from an insurance company or a VA lawsuit is your best course of action.

When Are Punitive Damages Available in Chesapeake?

If the responsible party’s behavior was extremely bad, you may be able to seek punitive damages in a claim or lawsuit. Unlike compensatory damages, which aim to cover the medical bills, lost wages, and emotional turmoil that the accident caused, punitive damages seek to punish the defendant or deter others from such malicious action.

Jurors in Virginia may award punitive damage claims in certain, very limited, situations. A severe burn lawyer practicing in Chesapeake could help you determine the appropriateness of punitive damage claims. It is important to note that, according to Virginia Code 8.01-38.1, any punitive damage payout will be capped at $350,000. This is true even in cases of extreme negligence. This arbitrary limit, no matter how big the at-fault company is, makes punitives a less useful remedy in VA than other states.

How a Chesapeake Burn Injury Attorney Can Help You

After an accident involving burns, many people suffer unimaginable damages. For example, a burn may have left you unable to work. Or in other situations, the injury may have considerably changed your personal life. However, in a VA lawsuit you can get the compensation you need and deserve for any losses you suffered because of your injuries. Our experienced burn injury lawyers know the types of proof and expert testimony needed to convince insurance representatives and juries to fully and fairly compensate you after a burn injury.

Speak to a Chesapeake burn injury lawyer from Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers today to see what types of damages might be recoverable in a lawsuit. We could help you through the process of filing and litigating a claim. Call us today for a free consultation to get started.

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