Ventura burn injury attorneys

Our Firm Handles Complex Catastrophic Injury Claims

If you need immediate legal assistance for a burn injury claim in Ventura, turn to }. Our nationally recognized law firm has achieved outstanding case results for burn injury clients, including a headlining $4.9 billion award against General Motors and a record-setting $58 million award for a single plaintiff. 

After suffering a serious burn injury, your priority should be your recovery, not navigating the complexities of a legal case. Our team manages every aspect of personal injury claims, from start to finish, allowing you to focus on your well-being.

Call (866) 634-4525 to schedule a free consultation with our Ventura burn injury attorneys. We take calls 24/7 for your convenience.

Potential Causes of Burn Injuries

A severe burn is among the most painful and life-changing injuries you can sustain—often requiring lengthy hospitalization and surgery, as well as long term specialized care and rehabilitation. Severe burns can occur in many different types of accidents, from defective products to unsafe workplace conditions to motor vehicle collisions. Whatever the cause of the burn, the recovery process is often grueling and every area of the victim’s life can be impacted. In addition to physical pain and disability, there is often significant psychological trauma and an overwhelming financial burden.

You can trust our team to offer knowledgeable and compassionate legal representation. We understand the complexity of burn cases and are committed to fighting for your best interests.

Our firm handles a wide range of burn injury cases, including those caused by:

• Defective motor vehicles: Faulty vehicle parts or design flaws can lead to fires, causing severe burns. Potential causes of such fires include defective fuel systems, electrical systems, or engine components.
• Defective household products: Everyday household items, like stoves, heaters, and irons, can pose a risk of a burn injury if the products are flawed and unnecessarily dangerous.
• Defective electronics: Poorly designed or manufactured electronics can overheat, explode, or catch fire, leading to burn injuries. In recent years, there have been many reports of e-cigarettes and hoverboards bursting into flames due to defective batteries.
• Unsafe chemical products: Certain chemicals can cause burns when they come in contact with skin or are inhaled. Cleaning products must be labeled correctly by manufacturers to warn of any burn or caustic injury dangers.

Burn Injury Degrees

Burn injuries vary significantly in their severity and potential complications, and the impact on a victim’s health and life often depends largely on the degree of the burn and the affected area. Each level of burn presents unique challenges in treatment and recovery, and understanding these distinctions is crucial for the victim’s medical care and legal case.

Burn injuries are medically classified into three degrees:

• First-degree: First-degree burns are the least severe type of burns. They affect the outer layer of the skin, causing redness and minor inflammation. While painful, they usually heal within a week or two without medical treatment.
• Second-degree: Second-degree burns extend to the second layer of the skin and may damage soft tissues. Symptoms can include blisters, severe pain, and swelling. Urgent medical attention can help prevent infection and minimize scarring.
• Third-degree: Third-degree burns are severe burns that damage all layers of the skin and can devastate underlying tissues. They are a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment. If untreated, third-degree burns can be fatal.

Complications of Burn Injuries

Severe burns can lead to long-term complications—extending far beyond the initial trauma, and taking an enormous medical, psychological, and financial toll on the victim’s life. Extensive treatment and surgery, ongoing care, therapy, and major lifestyle adjustments may be necessary, warranting higher compensation in your injury claim than initially anticipated. When building a burn injury case, it is critical to anticipate and plan for the wide range of potential lifelong impacts and costs.

Complications caused by serious burns can include:

• Scarring: Burns can leave visible scars that cause physical and psychological discomfort. In severe cases, scarring can limit mobility if it occurs near joints and can require surgeries to improve functionality and appearance.
• Chronic pain: Even after a burn injury has healed, survivors may experience recurring or constant pain due to nerve damage, scar tissue, or other lasting effects of the burn. Chronic pain can impact daily activities and overall quality of life.
• Breathing difficulties: Individuals who suffer from burn injuries may develop respiratory conditions, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or pneumonia, due to smoke inhalation, inflammatory responses, or infections.
• Mental and emotional trauma: Survivors of serious burn injuries often experience psychological effects such as anxiety, depression, loss of self-esteem due to disfigurement, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The emotional impact can be as debilitating as the physical injuries and may require ongoing therapy and support.

Leveraging Evidence to Develop Your Burn Claim

Our skilled and experienced team of attorneys understands the challenges and complexity of building a burn injury claim. We are prepared to conduct a thorough investigation—gathering compelling evidence to establish liability and bolster your case by demonstrating the full extent of your injuries and their impact on your life. We are tireless advocates for our clients in settlement negotiations and, when necessary, at trial. 

Evidence that can be helpful when building a burn injury claim includes:

• Product evidence: If your burn injury was caused by a defective product, it is essential to preserve the product and any packaging or manuals. We can analyze these items to identify design flaws, manufacturing defects, or improper labeling that may have contributed to your injury.
• Photos: Photographs can provide a visual record of the accident scene, your burn injuries, and the progression of your recovery. They can also help illustrate the impact the severe burn has had on your life.
• Expert testimonies: Medical professionals, product engineers, and other expert witnesses can provide critical insights into your case. They can explain the cause and extent of your injuries, outline the necessary treatments and costs, and in defective product cases, testify about the product’s failure and how it led to your injuries.
• Accident reports: If your burn injury occurred in an auto collision or workplace accident, official reports from the police, fire department, or occupational safety inspectors can offer valuable evidence and help establish the facts surrounding the incident. This documentation may contain information about safety violations or other forms of negligence.

By meticulously collecting and analyzing diverse types of evidence, our team can help you build the strongest possible case in your burn injury claim. We fight tirelessly to win fair and just compensation for burn victims. 

Medical Treatments for Burn Injuries

Medical care for serious burn injuries can be extensive and the recovery process tremendously difficult. Treatment is highly individualized, determined by the severity of the burn and numerous other factors. Goals of burn treatment include pain management, removal of dead tissues, infection prevention, minimizing scars, and rehabilitation.

Typical treatment types of serious burn injuries include:

• Skin grafts: Removing healthy skin from one area of the body and transplanting it to the burned area helps cover the wound and encourages healing. Skin grafts, especially over a large area, are major surgery, typically performed under general anesthesia. The recovery process can be lengthy and painful, and should be a consideration in your claim.
• Hospitalization: Patients with third-degree burns typically require hospitalization in a specialized burn unit where they receive round-the-clock care to manage pain, prevent infection, and monitor their recovery. This care often includes wound cleaning, dressing changes, and in some cases, multiple surgeries.
• Physical therapy: Once a burn patient is discharged from the hospital, they may need ongoing physical therapy. Various types of therapy can help restore strength, flexibility, and function to the affected areas. In cases where burns have caused significant scarring or damage near joints, physical therapy can be crucial in regaining as much mobility as possible.

In addition to physical pain, emotional trauma, and life-altering disability, individuals who suffer serious burns can incur massive and ongoing medical expenses. When building your case, we assess your situation comprehensively, factoring in all forms of harm and loss.

Damages and Compensation in Burn Cases

We strive for just compensation for burn injury claimants and plaintiffs in Ventura. Our experienced and caring attorneys understand the true scope of physical, mental, and financial impacts these injuries can have. We fight to help our clients attain the resources they need to recover as fully as possible and move on with life. 

Although our history of securing substantial settlements and verdicts doesn’t guarantee future results, this impressive track record demonstrates our dedication and ability to effectively represent our clients in and out of court.

Damages that may be available in a burn injury claim include:

• Medical costs: Includes all expenses necessary for medical care related to the burn injury, such as hospital stays, surgeries, skin grafts, medications, and physical therapy.
• Future treatment costs: Burn injuries often require ongoing care and treatment after the initial recovery period. You may need additional surgeries, long-term physical therapy, as well as mental health services to address the psychological impact of the injury. Such future costs should be factored into your claim.
• Pain and suffering: Beyond the tangible costs of medical care, burn injury victims often endure severe pain and suffering. This type of damage can include physical discomfort and emotional distress, such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Although a financial award cannot change what happened, compensation for pain and suffering acknowledges these non-economic damages and aims to provide some measure of relief.

Our Past Victories for Burn Injury Clients

Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP has an extensive history of complex burn injury cases and a long list of newsworthy victories. Attorney Christine Spagnoli achieved a particularly impressive case result. Christine was a key member of a trial team that brought a burn injury and product defect claim against General Motors (GM). The automaker sold a vehicle with a defective fuel system that caused severe burns to two adults and four children. The case concluded with a landmark $4.9 billion jury award, the largest product liability verdict in U.S. judicial history when it was issued.

We Can Fight for You – Call Today

At Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP, we have a long-standing reputation for effectively handling burn injury claims in Ventura. If you’ve suffered a burn injury due to someone else’s negligence, our experienced and compassionate team is ready to offer trusted legal counsel. We will skillfully guide you through the process of filing an injury claim. We prepare every case for trial because even clear-cut liability cases can get complicated by difficult defendants and powerful insurance companies. With our extensive resources, thorough preparation, and esteemed reputation for delivering exceptional legal services, we will work toward just compensation on your behalf.

Get a free initial consultation with our firm. Dial (866) 634-4525 at any time.