Common Causes of Serious Burn Injuries
Burn injuries in Denver often occur in environments involving heat, electricity, chemicals, or flammable materials. Common causes include:
- Explosions and Fires: Structural fires, fuel explosions, or ignition of flammable materials can cause extensive thermal burns.
- Electrical Incidents and Electrocution Events: Contact with live electrical current, exposed wiring, or unsafe electrical systems can result in deep burns and internal injuries.
- Chemical Exposure: Industrial or commercial chemicals may cause severe tissue damage when handled improperly, stored unsafely, or released due to equipment failure.
- Defective Products or Equipment: Products that overheat, ignite, leak chemicals, or malfunction can create burn hazards during normal use.
- Workplace and Industrial Incidents: Construction sites, factories, and industrial facilities often involve high temperatures, machinery, and hazardous substances, increasing the risk of serious burns.
- Vehicle-Related Fires: Post-collision fires, fuel system failures, or electrical malfunctions can expose occupants to intense heat and flames.
- Scalding and Steam Events: Exposure to high-temperature liquids or steam in residential, commercial, or industrial settings can result in severe burn injuries.
Our burn injury lawyers can conduct a thorough investigation to determine the cause of your injuries. Where negligence is involved, we can pursue accountability through a personal injury claim.
Who Can Be Held Liable?
Burn injuries often occur because a person or company failed to properly control a known risk. Depending on how the incident occurred, liability may rest with one or more of the following parties:
Property Owners and Premises Operators
Property owners and businesses are responsible for maintaining reasonably safe conditions. Burn injuries may result from fire hazards, unsafe electrical systems, malfunctioning heating equipment, or failure to address known risks involving heat, chemicals, or flammable materials.
Employers and Job Site Supervisors
Workplace burn injuries may result from inadequate safety procedures, insufficient training, missing protective equipment, or failure to follow safety standards. Liability may rest with employers, contractors, or site supervisors, depending on how the injury occurred.
Manufacturers and Product Distributors
Products that overheat, ignite, leak chemicals, or malfunction can cause serious burns. When a defect in design, manufacturing, or warnings contributes to an injury, manufacturers or distributors may be held legally responsible.
Drivers and Transportation Companies
Vehicle fires following collisions, fuel system failures, or electrical malfunctions can lead to severe burns. Negligent drivers, commercial vehicle operators, or transportation companies may be liable when their actions or maintenance failures contribute to these incidents.
Utility Companies and Maintenance Providers
Burn injuries may also result from electrical failures, gas leaks, or explosions tied to utility infrastructure. Utility companies or maintenance providers may be liable if improper installation, inspection failures, or delayed repairs create unsafe conditions.
How Burn Injuries Are Classified
Burns are classified by degree based on the depth of penetration into the skin and underlying tissue. The main categories of burn injuries include:
First-Degree Burns
First-degree burns affect only the outer layer of skin. They may cause redness and pain, but typically heal without lasting damage. These burns rarely form the basis of a personal injury claim unless complications develop.
Second-Degree Burns
Second-degree burns extend into deeper layers of skin and often involve blistering, swelling, and a higher risk of infection. Depending on their severity, location, and long-term effects, these burns may support a personal injury claim, particularly if scarring occurs.
Third-Degree Burns
Third-degree burns destroy multiple layers of skin and may damage underlying tissue. These injuries often require surgical treatment, skin grafting, and long-term medical care. Third-degree burns are frequently considered serious or catastrophic injuries in personal injury cases.
Fourth-Degree Burns
Fourth-degree burns extend beyond the skin into muscle, tendons, or bone. These injuries cause permanent damage, loss of function, and significant disability. Fourth-degree burns almost always qualify as catastrophic injuries due to their lasting medical and personal impact.
While the severity of a burn is important, personal injury claims ultimately depend on negligence and the real-world impact of the injuries.
Our Approach to Burn Injury Claims
Burn injury claims require careful preparation and a clear understanding of both the medical and legal issues involved. At Ogborn Mihm, we approach serious burn injury cases by:
Investigating and Preserving Evidence
We begin by investigating how the burn occurred and identifying all potentially responsible parties. This may involve reviewing incident reports, photographs, maintenance records, and, where relevant, examining equipment or products involved in the injury.
Working With Medical Experts
Severe burn injuries require input from medical professionals. We work with qualified experts to understand the nature of the injury, its cause, and its expected long-term effects.
Being Prepared for Trial
Each case is developed with the expectation that it may be challenged. Preparing cases as if they will proceed to trial helps ensure they are supported by strong evidence and taken seriously by opposing parties.
Handling Insurance Negotiations
We manage communications with insurance companies and protect clients from early settlement offers that fail to account for long-term consequences.
This structured approach allows burn injury claims to be evaluated and pursued with the care and attention these serious injuries demand.
Types of Burn Injury Compensation
Our burn injury lawyers seek compensation that reflects both the immediate and long-term impact of your injuries. Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical Care and Burn Treatment: Emergency care, hospitalization, surgeries, skin grafts, medications, and ongoing treatment.
- Rehabilitation and Therapy: Physical, occupational, or other therapy needed to restore function.
- Future Treatment and Long-Term Care: Continued medical care, reconstructive procedures, or ongoing assistance.
- Lost Income and Earning Capacity: Wages lost during recovery and reduced ability to earn a living in the future.
- Pain, Suffering, and Emotional Distress: The physical pain and emotional impact associated with serious burn injuries.
- Scarring and Disfigurement Compensation: Accounting for permanent visible injuries and their lasting effects.
- Home and Lifestyle Adjustments: Modifications, assistive devices, and related out-of-pocket expenses.
At Ogborn Mihm, we work to recover compensation that accounts for the lasting effects of your injuries and your family’s needs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Burn Injury Cases
Having clear information can provide reassurance as you consider your legal options. Below are answers to questions our burn injury attorneys are commonly asked.
How long do I have to file a burn injury claim in Colorado?
In most cases, Colorado law allows two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. If the burn resulted from a motor vehicle accident, a three-year deadline may apply. Missing the applicable deadlines can prevent recovery.
What if I was partly at fault for the incident?
Colorado follows a modified comparative fault system. You may still recover compensation if you were less than 50 percent at fault, though any recovery may be reduced based on your share of responsibility.
Will my burn injury case go to trial?
Many cases resolve through negotiation, but some require litigation. Burn injury claims are often prepared with trial in mind due to the seriousness of the injuries and the level of scrutiny involved.
How long do burn injury cases take?
The timeline varies depending on the severity of the burn, the complexity of the evidence, and whether liability is disputed. Some cases resolve in months, while catastrophic burn injury claims involving long-term treatment or contested responsibility can take longer to reach resolution.
How do burn injury attorney fees work?
Burn injury cases are typically handled on a contingency fee basis. This means legal fees are paid only if compensation is recovered.
What Distinguishes Ogborn Mihm in Burn Injury Litigation
Clients in Denver turn to Ogborn Mihm for catastrophic injury cases because we are equipped to manage the medical, legal, and evidentiary complexity these claims involve. When you work with our personal injury lawyers, you receive:
Resources for Complex, Evidence-Driven Cases
Serious burn injury claims often require extensive medical records, expert analysis, and detailed documentation. We have the resources to work with medical professionals and technical experts and to manage cases where the evidence is substantial and closely scrutinized.
Depth of Experience
We have experience addressing the unique challenges posed by burn injuries, including evolving medical needs, long-term functional limitations, and the need to clearly demonstrate future impact.
An Established Reputation in Denver and Beyond
Ogborn Mihm is known in Denver and throughout Colorado for handling serious injury litigation. The firm’s work in complex cases has established credibility with insurers, opposing counsel, and courts, which can influence how your case is evaluated and contested from the outset.
Trial Readiness
Liability and damages are often challenged. We prepare cases with trial in mind from day one, ensuring the evidence can withstand examination by insurers, opposing counsel, and a jury.
Contact Our Denver Burn Injury Attorneys
If you or a family member has been injured, the last thing you need is the added burden of dealing with insurance companies and legal paperwork. At Ogborn Mihm, we are here to take that responsibility off your shoulders. No matter how complex the case or the medical issues involved, we have the experience needed to pursue fair compensation on your behalf. To discuss your burn injury case with our lawyers in Denver, contact Ogborn Mihm today.
