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Burn injuries are not uncommon in catastrophic accidents, and they can take a significant physical and psychological toll on a victim. At Parnall Law Firm, we provide people who have suffered from this harm with the legal advocacy they need to recover damages from those responsible. Our catastrophic accident attorneys represent individuals throughout the Albuquerque region who have suffered traumatic injuries, including severe burns. We provide compassionate client service, while tenaciously asserting your right to damages.
Why Choose Parnall Law for Your Burn Injury Case?
Our team at the Parnall Law has been representing personal injury burn victims in Albuquerque and central New Mexico since 1997. Martindale Hubbell has also given us an AV Preeminent rating. This is the highest ranking of excellence in the legal community.
When facing the challenges of a burn injury case, you need to ensure you’re well-represented. By choosing Parnall Law, you’ll experience the following advantages:
- Experience and Empathy: Parnall Law has extensive experience handling burn injury cases. Our attorneys understand the complicated medical and legal factors of burn injury cases, ensuring comprehensive representation. We empathize with our clients and, therefore, are dedicated to ensuring they receive maximum compensation and a fair settlement.
- Local Knowledge: As an Albuquerque-based firm, we know New Mexico laws and the local court system. Therefore, we can interact with the courts so our clients can receive settlements sooner.
- Personalized Attention: Our legal firm is known for providing individualized care to each client, ensuring that your specific needs and circumstances are met. We customize each client’s experience.
- Track Record of Success: Our legal team at the Parnall Law has a history of securing substantial settlements and verdicts for our clients in personal injury cases. Review the testimonies on our website.
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Financial Compensation Available for a Burn Injury
Burn injuries can result in significant physical, emotional, and financial hardships. The Parnall Law can help you receive compensation for the following damages:
Medical Expenses
We can help you cover current and future medical costs related to the burn injury, such as:
- Emergency room visits
- Hospitalization
- Procedures (including skin grafting)
- Prescription medicines
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Psychological counseling
- The costs of long-term care
Lost Wages and Earning Capacity:
We negotiate compensation for:
- Income lost due to time away from work during recovery
- Reduced earning capacity if the injury affects your ability to work in the future
- Job retraining costs if you’re unable to return to your previous occupation
Pain and Suffering (Including Emotional Distress)
This non-economic damage compensates you for the physical pain and emotional distress caused by the burn injury. Burn injuries can lead to significant psychological trauma and emotional distress, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Disfigurement and Scarring
We may ask for compensation for permanent scarring or disfigurement resulting from the burn injury.
Loss of Enjoyment of Life
If the injury impacts your ability to engage in activities you previously enjoyed, you may be entitled to compensation.
Property Damage
If your personal property was damaged in the incident leading to your burns, we’ll ask for as much as possible for repair or replacement costs.
Punitive Damages
In some cases, punitive damages may be awarded to punish the other party for egregious behavior and prevent the same activity in the future.
The exact amount of compensation you’ll receive varies depending on factors such as the severity of the burn, the circumstances of the incident, and the impact of the experience on your life. Therefore, we can help determine the total value of your claim.
How Can a Burn Injury Attorney Help Ensure Compensation?
A burn injury attorney plays a primary role in helping you secure fair compensation. Here’s how the Parnall Law helps:
Case Evaluation
Your attorney will thoroughly evaluate your case, determining its strengths and potential challenges. They can provide a realistic evaluation of what your claim might be worth.
Investigation of Your Claim
The lawyers at the Parnall Law have the resources required to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the incident that caused your burn injury. This may involve:
- Gathering evidence (photos, videos, witness statements)
- Obtaining official reports (police reports, fire department reports)
- Consulting with experts (fire investigators, medical professionals)
Establishing Liability
Your attorney will work to identify all potentially liable parties and build a strong case demonstrating their negligence or fault.
Negotiating with Insurance Companies
Our experienced attorneys know how to negotiate with insurance companies, protecting you from the tactics they might use to minimize your claim.
Collecting Medical Evidence
At the Parnall Law, we will work with medical experts to document the full extent of your injuries, including future medical needs and the long-term effects.
Calculating Damages
We will ensure all points of your damages are considered, including non-economic damages like pain and suffering.
Litigation
If a fair settlement can’t be reached, we will take your case to court, presenting a strong and irrefutable argument to a judge and jury.
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Burn Injury Lawyers Protecting the Rights of Accident Victims in Albuquerque
Burn injuries typically have a long-lasting physical, emotional, and financial impact on a victim. A person will usually require intense medical care to recover from them. Third-degree burns, for example, destroy both the outer layer of the skin and the layer beneath it. They can also cover large portions of the body, which can cause nerve damage and loss of bodily functions.
Many victims will need to undergo a number of procedures to repair and restore their skin and other functions, including:
- Skin grafting
- Amputations
- Functional and cosmetic reconstructive surgery
- Rehabilitative care
Causes of Burn Injuries
Burn injuries are often caused by serious accidents; including:
- Cars and trucks – which can explode on impact in a crash.
- Oilfields and construction sites – caused by workers who are required to work with explosive and flammable substances.
- Defective products – resulting from flammable and hazardous products.
When an accident causes this severe type of harm, the victim can bring a catastrophic injury claim against any party responsible for it.
Common Types of Burn Injuries and Degrees of Burns
Burn injuries are categorized by their cause and severity. Understanding these classifications is important so you can receive proper care when filing a legal claim.
Types of Burns:
- Thermal burns are caused by contact with heat sources like fire, hot liquids, or steam.
- Chemical burns result from exposure to strong acids, alkalis, or other corrosive substances.
- Electrical burns occur when an electrical current passes through the body.
- Radiation burns result from exposure to radiation, such as from X-rays or radiation therapy.
- Friction burns develop when the skin rubs against a hard surface, often in accidents.
- Cold burns (frostbite) cause damage to skin and underlying tissues due to extreme cold.
Establishing The Liability of A Negligent Motorist after a Burn Accident
If you were hurt in a car crash or another preventable accident like on an oil rig or in an oilfield, you usually will use the theory of negligence to prove your case. Negligence occurs when someone’s failure to use proper care causes injuries to others. In order to prove that the defendant in your case was negligent, you would need to show duty, breach of duty, causation, and damages.
The defendant in your case must have had a legal duty to exercise care. In most cases, you will need to demonstrate that an obligation to use reasonable precautions existed. For example, motorists have to drive with the same level of care that a prudent driver would use under similar circumstances. The defendant must have breached this duty by his or her actions or omissions. A motorist, for instance, may speed excessively or drive while distracted. You then need to show how the defendant’s breach caused the accident and your injuries. It must be the factual and proximate cause of the harm, which means that the connection must be direct as well as foreseeable.
Under some circumstances, an employer may be vicariously liable if its employee harms others. A trucking company, for example, may be liable if its driver strikes you. Under the doctrine of respondeat superior, you can hold an employer accountable for its employee’s negligence if the individual acted within the scope of his or her employment when the incident occurred.
Burn Injury Lawsuit: Comparative Fault and Compensation
New Mexico will consider the negligence of all the parties involved. In other words, a court may find that your own carelessness partially contributed to your injuries. You can seek damages from the defendant, but only to the extent of his or her negligence. For instance, a court may determine that another driver is 40 percent at fault and that you are 60 percent at fault for your injuries. You would potentially be able to recover up to 40 percent of your damages from the defendant.
Recoverable damages for burn injuries may include compensation for any medical care you need, including surgeries, physical therapy, and medications. You can also pursue compensation for any lost wages or loss of income, property damage, and pain and suffering.
Who is Most At Risk of an Albuquerque Burn Injury?
While anyone can suffer a burn injury, certain groups of people are at higher risk in Albuquerque and in similar urban environments:
- Workers in high-risk industries, such as construction workers, firefighters, and industrial workers (or people dealing with high-heat processes or chemicals). Restaurant kitchen employees and electricians may also fall under this category.
- Children may get burned from stove burners or hot liquids.
- Elderly people – especially older people with mobility issues. Their thinner skin can make burns more severe. They are also at an increased risk of getting scalded by hot water.
- Residents living in older buildings with outdated electrical systems (which increases the fire risk) or which lack modern fire safety amenities.
- Low-income people who live in housing with inadequate safety measures. They might also use stand-alone heating methods, such as space heaters, which increase fire risk.
- Disabled individuals who have difficulties with escaping dangers are at a higher risk for burn accidents as well.
- Victims of domestic violence, when burns are used as a type of abuse.
- Drivers and passengers in vehicle accidents, especially when chemicals spill or fire occurs.
What Is the Time Limit for a Burn Injury Claim in New Mexico?
In New Mexico, the time limit for filing a burn injury claim is governed by the state’s statute of limitations. For most personal injury cases in New Mexico, including burn injuries, the statute of limitations is set at three years from the date of the injury. This also includes wrongful death claims. If you don’t file your claim within this time frame, you’ll lose your right to submit a lawsuit.
However, there can be rare exceptions, so always consult our Albuquerque burn injury attorneys about any deadlines for your case.
See How An Albuquerque Burn Injury Lawyer Can Help You
Bert Parnall and the burn injury attorney at Parnall Law Firm can help you seek damages after an accident in or around Albuquerque. We have represented victims who have suffered serious harm since 1997. We understand the severity of burn injuries and the long-term impact they can have on you and your family. We can tenaciously advocate for your right to fair compensation from those responsible for harming you. Call us today at 505-268-6500 or complete our online form to schedule a no-obligation consultation.
Bertrand Russell Parnall
Owner/CEO at Parnall Law Firm
“Though my firm has grown quickly to fill the legal needs of our community, it has retained its focus on providing excellent service to clients. I believe what sets the firm apart from others is the way we treat our clients.”
Years of Experience: 25+ years
Justia Profile: Bert Parnall
