Before the accident, you knew the person in the mirror. Now, you are forced to confront a stranger. A severe burn injury does more than scar the skin; it fundamentally alters a person’s identity. It leaves a permanent, visible reminder of the trauma and begins a long, excruciating journey of surgeries, skin grafts, and rehabilitation.
While you are fighting for your physical and emotional survival, the last thing you should have to do is fight a legal battle alone. At Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers, we know that this is a fight for your future, your identity, and your ability to feel whole again.
We are the New Port Richey burn injury lawyer team with the resources and resolve to hold the responsible parties accountable, so you can focus on the hard work of healing.
Why Choose Roman Austin for a Burn Injury Claim?
A burn injury case is one of the most complex and resource-intensive claims in personal injury law. It requires a law firm with a specific combination of financial strength, litigation experience, and profound compassion for the survivor’s journey.
A record of fighting for the catastrophically injured
We have a long and successful history of representing clients who have suffered the most severe, life-altering injuries. While past results do not guarantee future outcomes, our firm has secured numerous multi-million-dollar recoveries for victims of catastrophic events.
This record demonstrates our ability to build a powerful case that reflects the true, lifelong cost of a devastating injury and our willingness to take that case to a jury if a corporation or insurance company refuses to offer fair compensation.
The resources to fund a complex burn injury case
Burn injury litigation is expensive. To win, it is often necessary to hire a team of nationally recognized experts, including fire cause-and-origin specialists, chemical engineers, and life care planners who can project the cost of a lifetime of medical care. We have the financial strength to fund these complex cases from start to finish. We invest our own resources to build your case, and you pay us no fees unless we win a recovery for you.
A local presence in Pasco County
Our New Port Richey office is staffed by personal injury attorneys who are part of this community. We are here to meet with you in person, to understand how this injury has impacted your life right here in Pasco County. This local presence is an advantage when it comes to investigating accidents at local job sites, apartment complexes, or businesses and building a case that is grounded in the reality of our community.
The Lifelong Journey of a Severe Burn Injury
A burn is not a singular event; it is the beginning of a long and arduous path. A successful legal claim must account for every step of this journey, both the visible and the invisible wounds.
The immediate trauma and specialized medical care
Severe burns require immediate, highly specialized treatment, often in a dedicated burn unit like the one at Tampa General Hospital. The initial phase of care is intensely painful and focused on survival.
It involves procedures like debridement, where damaged tissue is surgically removed to prevent infection, and the initial stages of wound care and fluid replacement. This phase is medically intensive and financially staggering.
The long road of reconstructive surgery and rehabilitation
After stabilization, the reconstruction process begins. This is often a years-long process involving multiple, painful surgeries.
- Skin grafts: Healthy skin is harvested from an unburned part of your body (a donor site) and surgically attached to the burned area. This means you are left recovering from two painful wounds simultaneously.
- Tissue expansion: This procedure involves placing a silicone balloon expander under a patch of healthy skin near the burn site. Over weeks or months, the balloon is gradually filled with saline to stretch the skin, creating a new flap of skin that can be used to cover the scar tissue.
- Physical and occupational therapy: Severe burns cause the skin to tighten as it heals, creating contractures that can severely limit movement in joints like the hands, elbows, and knees. Years of intensive therapy are often needed to regain function and maintain mobility.
The invisible wounds of psychological trauma
The emotional and psychological scars of a burn injury are often as debilitating as the physical ones. The disfigurement can lead to severe body image issues, social anxiety, and depression.
The traumatic event itself often results in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), causing flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety. A comprehensive claim must include compensation for the cost of long-term psychological counseling and therapy to help survivors cope with these invisible wounds.
The Causes of the Fires and Burns
These injuries are almost always preventable. A thorough investigation is needed to identify the exact point of failure and hold the responsible parties accountable for their negligence.
Common causes of severe burns in Pasco County
While a burn can happen in many ways, most claims arise from a few common scenarios where safety was compromised.
- Workplace accidents: Explosions, chemical spills, or contact with live electrical equipment on a construction site or in an industrial setting.
- Defective products: A faulty water heater that explodes, a defective power tool that catches fire, or flammable clothing that fails to meet safety standards.
- Car and truck fires: A severe vehicle collision can rupture a fuel line, leading to a fire that traps occupants inside.
- Premises liability: A fire in an apartment building or hotel caused by faulty wiring, a lack of smoke detectors, or blocked fire exits.
The investigation process for a burn injury claim
We move quickly to preserve the evidence before it can be lost or destroyed. This involves sending a spoliation letter to all potential defendants, demanding that they refrain from altering the scene or repairing any equipment involved. We then assemble a team of experts to conduct a scientific investigation.
This often includes a fire cause-and-origin specialist who can analyze burn patterns to determine exactly where and how a fire started, proving whether it was caused by an electrical fault, a chemical accelerant, or another negligent act.
Calculating the Full Value of Your Claim
A burn injury is one of the most expensive injuries a person can suffer. The claim for damages must be meticulously detailed to account for a lifetime of costs.
Lifetime medical and rehabilitation costs
This is the cornerstone of the claim. We work with your doctors, plastic surgeons, and physical therapists to document every dollar of past medical care. Then, we retain a life care planning expert. This is a medical professional who will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of your condition and create a detailed, multi-decade plan that projects the cost of every single future medical need.
This includes future reconstructive surgeries, scar revision treatments, physical therapy, occupational therapy, psychological counseling, and in-home nursing care. This plan provides the jury with a clear, undeniable dollar amount for your future care.
Lost income and diminished earning capacity
A severe burn can end a career. We calculate the full value of the wages, benefits, and raises you have lost since the accident. More than that, we fight for the value of your diminished earning capacity.
If your injuries and scarring prevent you from returning to your previous line of work, we hire a vocational expert to assess what kind of work you can still do and an economist to calculate the difference in your lifetime earnings. This ensures your family does not suffer a permanent financial collapse because of your inability to work.
Valuing the intangible human losses
The law allows you to seek compensation for the immense human suffering caused by negligence. This is known as pain and suffering. It is compensation for the physical pain of the burn and the agonizing treatment process. It also covers the emotional distress of living with disfigurement and the psychological trauma of the event.
It acknowledges the loss of enjoyment of life – the inability to go to the beach in Pasco County without fear of the sun, or the loss of intimacy in a relationship.
FAQ for New Port Richey Burn Injury Lawyer
I was burned at work. Is workers’ compensation my only option?
It might not be. While you generally cannot sue your own employer, you may have a third-party claim if your burn was caused by the negligence of someone else on the job site, like a subcontractor, or by a defective piece of equipment. A personal injury claim can pursue damages for pain and suffering, which workers’ comp does not cover.
How is the value of a burn injury claim with permanent scarring calculated?
The value is based on several factors, including the total cost of all past and future medical care, the amount of lost income, and the severity and location of the scarring. Scarring on the face and hands, for example, is often valued more highly due to its significant impact on a person’s social and professional life. The American Burn Association provides data that helps contextualize the immense lifelong cost of these injuries.
Can I file a claim on behalf of a child who was burned?
Yes. A parent or legal guardian can file a personal injury claim on behalf of a minor child. The claim will seek compensation for the child’s medical bills, their pain and suffering, and the future challenges they will face due to their injuries and scarring.
What if a defective smoke detector in my apartment failed to go off during a fire?
If a landlord fails to install or maintain working smoke detectors as required by law, they may be held liable for the injuries you suffer in a fire. Their negligence prevented you from receiving an early warning, which could have allowed you to escape unharmed.
Your First Step Toward Healing
The journey back from a severe burn is a testament to the human spirit’s resilience. You do not have to walk that path alone. A dedicated legal team can lift the burden of the legal and financial fight from your shoulders, allowing you to pour all of your strength into healing. The attorneys at Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers are prepared to be your advocates.
Contact our New Port Richey office today for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your case. We will provide a clear, honest assessment of your legal options. Call us at (727) 815-8442 or complete our online contact form.
Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers – New Port Richey Office
2515 Seven Springs Blvd.
New Port Richey, FL, 34655
(727) 815-8442
