Burn injury is one of the most painful and life-altering injuries a person can sustain. The physical damage from a burn is obvious—and often very extensive. But the emotional impact of a burn injury can also be devastating.
In the event that you were injured in a burn accident, and are researching burn injury attorneys, you may be wondering what type of compensation you can expect to receive. Read on to learn more.
General damages are intended to cover any losses or expenses that were caused by the accident. This includes medical bills, lost wages during recovery time from the injury, loss of earning capacity if you were permanently disabled from injuries sustained in the accident (e.g. if you can no longer work at your job), loss of future earnings due to permanent disability or scarring caused by burns (e.g., if you will always be unable to work in construction).
Special Damages
These are intended for situations where there was intent on the part of another party involved in the accident even if it was unintentional.
For example, if someone intentionally spilled hot coffee on your arm while giving you a hug because they didn’t see how much it burned you until after they’d already done so and therefore had no way to avoid doing so, this could be considered intentional and would be compensated by special damages.
The person who was harmed (the plaintiff) may receive punitive damages in addition to actual damages if the court finds that the person who caused the harm (the defendant) acted maliciously or with gross negligence.
Punitive damages can be hard to get because they require a finding that the defendant was acting with malice or intent to harm the plaintiff. This means that a defendant’s actions must have been intentional and malicious in order for punitive damages to be awarded.
Final Thoughts!
In conclusion, burn injuries can be very serious and life-threatening. They also come with a lot of physical and emotional pain which can leave you depressed and unable to perform daily tasks. In order to prevent these types of injuries, you need to make sure that you use the proper equipment when dealing with fire or other heat sources.
If you have been injured in an accident and need help with your case, we’re here to help. Contact us today!
