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.
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:
Burn injuries can result in significant physical, emotional, and financial hardships. The Parnall Law can help you receive compensation for the following damages:
We can help you cover current and future medical costs related to the burn injury, such as:
We negotiate compensation for:
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).
We may ask for compensation for permanent scarring or disfigurement resulting from the burn injury.
If the injury impacts your ability to engage in activities you previously enjoyed, you may be entitled to compensation.
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.
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.
A burn injury attorney plays a primary role in helping you secure fair compensation. Here’s how the Parnall Law helps:
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.
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:
Your attorney will work to identify all potentially liable parties and build a strong case demonstrating their negligence or fault.
Our experienced attorneys know how to negotiate with insurance companies, protecting you from the tactics they might use to minimize your claim.
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.
We will ensure all points of your damages are considered, including non-economic damages like pain and suffering.
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.
We’ll fight for the compensation you deserve
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:
Burn injuries are often caused by serious accidents; including:
When an accident causes this severe type of harm, the victim can bring a catastrophic injury claim against any party responsible for it.
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:
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.
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.
While anyone can suffer a burn injury, certain groups of people are at higher risk in Albuquerque and in similar urban environments:
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.
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 is an Albuquerque native, salutatorian of the Class of 1988 at Albuquerque High School, and co-captain of the district football champion Bulldogs. He earned his undergraduate degree from Rice University with a double major in history and French, and his law degree from the University of New Mexico School of Law after coming home to Albuquerque.
Years of Experience: 27+ years
Justia Profile: Bert Parnall
If you have been involved in a serious accident and sustained significant injuries, you need to consult with an Albuquerque personal injury lawyer to understand your legal options. After a serious injury accident, you will need to file a claim and deal with the insurance adjusters. The insurance company will try to minimize the amount it pays out in claims to protect its profit margin. It may deny your claim or offer a settlement that is a fraction of the fair value of the claim. A lawyer will help you understand your legal rights and whether you have a valid personal injury lawsuit.
A lawyer can collect evidence to strengthen your claim and negotiate on your behalf with the insurance company representing the at-fault party. A lawyer can push back if an insurer tries to deny your claim or take advantage of you. If the case goes to trial, an experienced personal injury attorney will know how to present your case to jurors to increase your chances of a favorable jury verdict.
Attorney Bert Parnall is a fighter. He and his legal team will fight for your legal rights if you have been injured in an accident due to the negligence of someone else in Albuquerque or anywhere in Central New Mexico.
An experienced personal injury lawyer brings a knowledgeable perspective to the process of negotiating with insurers and settling an injury claim. Based on years of experience handling similar claims, an attorney will have a sense of the fair value of your injury claim. Most accident victims are uncertain what their claim is worth. An attorney will analyze the facts of your case and provide guidance about whether an insurer’s settlement offer is reasonable based on the specifics of your case. If you have never dealt with a claim before, it may be difficult for you to know whether an offer is fair on your own.
The insurance company will have lawyers advising its staff during the settlement process. Having an attorney on your side and looking out for your interests evens the playing field. Insurance companies want to avoid going to court. The insurance company may agree to a higher settlement in order to avoid litigation if you have a lawyer advocating for you. If you do not have legal representation, you will be at a disadvantage in dealing with the insurance company.
You want a lawyer that has years of experience handling cases similar to your case and has a record of verdicts and settlements. Ask the lawyer what percentage of his or her practice involves the practice area that applies to your case. You want an established lawyer who knows the local court system and has the resources and determination to pursue your case to completion.
You want a lawyer with whom you feel comfortable communicating and sharing information. You want a lawyer who will listen to your questions and concerns and offer informative answers. You want a lawyer who will be accessible when you have questions and keep you informed of the status of your case.
You want a lawyer that has good references.
Steer clear of any attorney who promises or guarantees you a settlement or a certain outcome. No lawyer can ethically guarantee a certain result in a case.
To find an attorney, you may ask your friends, relatives or co-workers to recommend a lawyer who they have used. You can also schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with an attorney at Parnall Law to get an understanding of your legal options. The consultation will help you clarify your legal options at no charge whether you decide to work with our law firm.
The most common reason to hire a personal injury lawyer is to provide representation after a car crash caused by someone else that resulted in serious injuries. The law allows people who are harmed by others’ negligence to seek compensation. That is an adversarial process. It is helpful to have an experienced injury attorney standing up for you when dealing with an insurance company representing the at-fault party. The insurance company may dismiss or delay your claim if you do not have a personal injury lawyer representing you.
Other reasons to hire a personal injury lawyer include pursuing compensation for injuries caused by unsafe conditions at someone else’s property or protecting a loved one in a nursing home if you suspect your loved one is being subjected to neglect or abuse.
In many instances, people who need legal guidance may have questions about a troubling situation and need a personal injury attorney to investigate the matter and find answers.
Bert Parnall and the team at Parnall Law are available to answer your questions and discuss your legal needs during a free and confidential consultation. The attorneys at Parnall Law have helped thousands of accident victims obtain proper compensation and move forward with their lives.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Bertrand Russell Parnall who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney.
Tell us about your accident and your injuries. An injury lawyer from our team will call and provide you with a Free Evaluation of your Case. If we can help, and you are unable to travel, we will come to your home, office or hospital. It’s easy – let’s get started.
CONTACT US FOR A FREE CONSULTATION
Parnall Law Firm, LLC
Hurt? Call Bert ®
2155 Louisiana Blvd NE #8000
Albuquerque, NM 87110
Parnall Law Firm, LLC
Hurt? Call Bert ®
1424 Luisa St STE 1
Santa Fe, NM 87505
Parnall Law Firm, LLC
Hurt? Call Bert ®
2003 Southern Blvd SE #126
Rio Rancho, NM 87124