Reno, NV Burn Injury Attorney

Dubbed “The biggest little city in the world,” Reno is known for its stunning scenery and diverse range of indoor and outdoor recreational activities. Locals and visitors alike are drawn here for the skiing, casinos, and progressive tech industry.

With such growth and development comes more responsibility. Yet, despite advances in technology and improved safety measures in the public and private sectors, accidents still occur, some leading to severe burn injuries.

Severe burns can significantly impact a person’s life, leaving him or her with long-term hospital care and life-long scars. If you or a loved one has suffered a severe burn, our burn injury lawyers are ready to listen to your story and help you determine what step you should take next.

The attorneys at Richard Harris Law Firm are passionate and compassionate, always striving to provide our clients with quality legal representation that you can trust. Contact us today for afree case evaluation and find out what our burn injury lawyers can do for you.

Common Causes of Burn Injuries in Reno, Nevada

Burns are a common cause of accidental death in children and adults in the United States. There are multiple ways a person can suffer a burn, not just from an open flame.

The following are some common causes of burn injuries:

  • Vehicle fires
  • Chemical exposure
  • Defective product
  • Building fires
  • Workplace accidents
  • Electric shock
  • Scalding water
  • Fireworks
  • Explosives
  • Flammable liquids
  • Steam-related burns

If you or a loved one has suffered a burn injury for any of the above reasons or something similar, you might be able to recover compensation for the damages suffered. An experienced attorney with Richard Harris Law Firm can analyze your case and explain what options are available to you.

Types of Burns

Burns are some of the worst injuries a person can experience. Depending on the cause, burns can damage the skin, hair, nerves, bone, and internal organs of a person. Therefore, medical professionals must identify the type of burn a person has in order to treat the wound properly.

Burn injuries generally fall under four different categories:

  • Thermal: Burns caused by contact with hot material like fire, steam, or hot liquid
  • Electrical: Burns caused by contact with an electrical current, such as through appliances or exposed wiring
  • Chemical: Burns caused by chemical solvents, explosions, or strong acids
  • Radiation: Burns caused by high exposure to X-rays, UV-rays, or radiation therapy

What are the Different Degrees of a Burn?

Our skin is the first line of defense against bacteria and infection, so severe burn injuries can seriously affect the health of our internal organs. Symptoms and recovery times of a burn injury will vary depending on the cause and degree of the burn.

The following is a description of the four different degrees of burns and the extent of damage to the affected tissue.

First-degree burns

First-degree burns cause minimal skin damage as it only affects the outermost layer of skin. These types of burns usually heal within 7 to 10 days without any long-term damage.

Second-degree burns

A second-degree burn is more serious because it damages the first and second layers of the skin and may cause blistering. This type of burn takes longer to heal than first-degree burns, but the skin should recover within a few weeks without scarring. To prevent infection, it is vital to keep the affected area clean and dress it properly.

Third-degree burns

Third-degree burns affect all levels of the skin, as well as the underlying tissue. Despite the severity of the burns, victims may not feel much pain due to extensive nerve damage. Third-degree burns are dangerous and often require surgical grafting or skin transplants.

Fourth-degree burns

Fourth-degree burns are the most severe type of burn and can be life-threatening. This type of burn damages all layers of the skin, underlying tissue, and even deeper tissue such as bone, muscle, and tendon. If nerve endings have been destroyed, the injured may not feel much pain in the affected area.

When a person has an accident that causes a severe burn, the wound can become more susceptible to infection, which can lead to a medical emergency such as sepsis. Therefore, it is crucial that burn victims seek immediate medical attention. Having their burns evaluated professionally will ensure that they can receive the proper treatment.

Determining Liability and Proving Negligence for Reno, NV Burn Injuries

It doesn’t matter whether your burn injury was caused by a car accident, a defective product, or a work-related accident. If you were hurt due to the negligence of another party, you have the right to pursue compensation for your losses.

Proving negligence and pursuing your claim can be stressful and overwhelming. Having an experienced burn injury lawyer on your side, though, can give you the peace of mind that comes from knowing your case is being handled professionally and efficiently.

When you hire the Richard Harris burn injury lawyers, your attorney will carefully examine your case details to determine:

  • How the accident happened
  • What caused the accident, and;
  • Who should be held accountable for your damages

To determine whether a party acted negligently, the following four factors must be established:

  1. Duty of care: The defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care
  2. Breach: The defendant breached that duty
  3. Injuries: The breach of duty caused the plaintiff’s injuries
  4. Damages: The plaintiff suffered damages due to those injuries

Proving negligence is a crucial step towards successfully pursuing compensation. Our experienced burn injury lawyers can explain your options, advocate for your rights, and help you prove the negligence of the at-fault party. To ensure you have the best chance at recovering your losses, contact Richard Harris Personal Injury Law Firm for a free consultation today.

Related Practice Areas We Handle

Our personal injury lawyers offer Reno residents a broad range of services to help with their specific legal needs. Depending on the circumstances of a burn injury, your case may relate to other practice areas we handle.

For example, suppose your burn was caused by a defective product. This may complicate your case, but our personal injury lawyers understand the specific laws and procedural requirements pertaining to dangerous or faulty products.

If your accident resulted in a serious burn, it might relate to one or more of the following case types we handle:

When analyzing the details of your accident, Richard Harris’s team of personal injury lawyers will be able to figure precisely what evidence, documentation, and expert advice is required to build a strong case for you.

Compensation for Burn Injuries in Reno, Nevada

Those injured by burns may face prolonged hospitalization, disfigurement, disability, or even death. This can leave victims and their families weighed down with a sudden loss of income and mounting medical bills. Not only does a burn survivor suffer physically, but many endure psychological and emotional trauma resulting from the social stigma associated with their burns.

Although we are unable to change the past, we are passionate about helping Reno burn victims seek justice for their suffering.

Damages that our personal injury lawyers strive to recover include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Medical bills
  • Lost wages
  • Loss of future earnings
  • Property damage
  • Rehabilitation expenses
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional trauma
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Physical impairment
  • Diminished quality of life
  • Loss of love and companionship

Many victims are unaware that they may be entitled to recover compensation for pain and suffering. The Richard Harris team has recovered over1 billion dollars in compensation for our clients. When we take on your case, we fight hard for your rights and aggressively seek the compensation you deserve.

Statute of Limitations for Reno Burn Injury Claims

Reno burn injury cases are subject to a strict 2-year time limit to file a claim or lawsuit. The Nevada statute of limitations for a personal injury claim usually begins from the date of the incident. If you fail to submit your documentation on time, you may lose out on the only opportunity to recover compensation for your case.

Hiring an attorney on your side who understands the system can significantly reduce your stress and give you the confidence your claim is being handled with care. Richard Harris Personal Injury Law Firm has a team fully equipped with the knowledge and resources to ensure all appropriate documents are submitted within the required time limits.

Dealing With Insurance Companies

Generally, an insurance company will make a low-ball offer to an injured victim, which may not even cover your immediate medical bills. Undervaluing the impact the damages have had on your life is a common tactic to lower the settlement amount. But you don’t have to let insurers take advantage of you.

Unlike an insurance company, Richard Harris’s team of attorneys use our knowledge of the law to work for our clients’ best interests. We even the playing field with insurance companies so that you have a fair chance of getting the compensation you deserve.

Let us give you a free evaluation of your case to ease your mind. During your session, we can explain your options to get the maximum reward that accurately reflects your losses.

When Does a Burn Injury Case Go to Trial?

Most cases are successfully settled out of court, but when the parties involved cannot come to an agreement on a fair settlement amount, going to trial is often the last resort. Our seasoned Reno, NV, trial lawyers know how to deal with the legal system, insurance companies, and responsible parties on your behalf. We are prepared to go to trial to fight for your rights if necessary.

How Our Burn Injury Attorneys Can Help

The lawyers at Richard Harris Personal Injury Law Firm have over 40 years of experience in helping clients seek justice and compensation for their losses. If you have suffered a severe burn due to the negligence of another party, we can give you an honest assessment of your case, explain your rights, and help you know what step to take next.

Our team is passionate and dedicated to helping burn victims get the justice they deserve by putting our knowledge and experience to work for a successful outcome.

Duties and services our team provide include:

  • Gathering evidence including police reports, witness statements, affidavits, and expert advice
  • Managing communication and negotiations with insurance companies
  • Filing a lawsuit and required documentation with the court if necessary
  • Keeping each client up to date with the progress of his or her case

We know it can be a daunting task to seek out a trustworthy attorney, so don’t take our word for it. Why not review our client testimonials and let our reputation speak for itself? We work on a contingency basis, which means that you don’t pay a cent until we have successfully resolved your case.

Our team can give you the answers you need and the advice you can trust. Call or text (702) 213-9779 for a free consultation today.

 

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