Portsmouth, VA Burn Injury Lawyer
Regardless of how you suffered your injuries, you may be able to seek financial recovery for medical expenses and other losses with help from a Portsmouth, VA burn injury lawyer. Especially if your injury causes lasting or permanent damage, the assistance of a catastrophic injury attorney from Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers can be essential to recovering comprehensive compensation.
Although a minor burn in the kitchen may not be anything to worry about, more severe burns can result in significant and permanent damage. These injuries can stem from a variety of negligence-based accidents, including a car accident in Portsmouth, unaddressed hazards on public or private property, and consumer product defects.
Classification of Burn Injuries
Burn injuries are categorized into different degrees based on how deep into the skin the burn penetrates and how much damage it does to internal structures. Since first-degree burns only affect the outermost layer of skin, they usually do not require medical attention unless they are widespread.
Second-degree burns, on the other hand, damage deeper layers of the skin, and may cause significant physical pain that requires prompt medical intervention. Partial-thickness second-degree burns may even result in permanent scarring.
Third-degree burns penetrate deep enough to reach the fat layers, meaning they are severe enough to cause nerve damage as well as permanent disfigurement. Finally, fourth-degree burns destroy muscle tissue and sometimes damage bones. These injuries are fatal.
Severe second, third, and fourth-degree burns may serve as grounds for a civil lawsuit. A Portsmouth, VA attorney can assess someone burn injury and determine if they are eligible to file suit.
Avoiding Allegations of Contributory Fault
If their civil case is successful, an injured party may be able to hold a negligent individual accountable for both objective economic damages and subjective non-economic damages. However, claimants may miss out on recovery altogether if they do not take steps to show they were not at all responsible for causing or exacerbating their injury.
This is because Virginia adheres to a contributory negligence system for civil cases. Unlike in other states, where partially liable claimants may still recover some compensation, injured parties in Virginia cannot seek civil recovery if a court finds them even one percent liable for their own accident. Working with a lawyer in in the area may be necessary for any claimant who wants to effectively contest allegations of contributory fault made by the defendant(s) in their burn injury case.
Work with a Portsmouth, VA Burn Injury Attorney
Severe burns are uniquely painful injuries that, if not treated properly, can have permanent consequences. Anyone who suffers a severe burn because of another person’s negligence should consider filing suit for damages, as the long-term impact can be more significant than some may expect.
A Portsmouth-based personal injury lawyer can answer any questions you have and help you decide on the best course of action for your circumstances during an initial meeting. Call today to schedule your free case consultation.
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