Minnesota Third and Fourth-Degree Burn Injury Lawyers

Minnesota Third and Fourth-Degree Burn Injury LawyersWhen it comes to burn injuries, third-degree and fourth-degree burns are the most serious kinds of burns. These types of injuries can leave victims with permanent disfigurement and disability or can even prove fatal. If you have had a third- or fourth-degree burn injury from an accident caused by someone else, let a Minnesota burn injury attorney from Robert Wilson & Associates help you seek accountability and justice for the harm you have suffered.

If you have suffered third- or fourth-degree burn injuries in an accident that wasn’t your fault, turn to a burn injury lawyer at Robert Wilson & Associates. To learn more about your rights and options for seeking the financial resources you need to help you recover from your injuries, call us at (612) 334-3444 today.

Why Do I Need a Lawyer After a Third- or Fourth-Degree Burn?

When you have suffered a third- or fourth-degree burn injury, you have a considerable road to recovery ahead of you. Your time and energy should be focused on getting back to normal life after such a devastating injury. Let a burn injury attorney handle all the details of investigating, preparing, and pursuing your case for compensation. A burn injury lawyer can give you a better chance at obtaining fair and full compensation than you would have on your own.

Why Choose Robert Wilson & Associates for Help?

At Robert Wilson & Associates, our experienced burn injury lawyers have been advocating for the rights and interests of Minnesotans who have suffered catastrophic injuries. Over the years, our firm has become known as one of the most effective and trusted injury firms in the state. When you hire us, you can expect to have the full effort and resources of our firm and our attorneys at work on your case. We also strive to provide each client with the attention and care that they need at this critical time in their lives. When you work with Robert Wilson & Associates, you can expect to be treated like a member of our family.

Our attorneys also take a team approach to each case we take on. Although your case will be assigned to one of our attorneys, every member of our legal team will provide their knowledge, experience, and advice to help prepare and pursue your case.

What Is a Third- or Fourth-Degree Burn Injury?

Minnesota Third and Fourth-Degree Burn Injury LawyersA third-degree burn injury is a burn that damages or destroys both the epidermis, the upper layer of the skin, as well as the dermis, the layer underneath. Third-degree burns can also damage or destroy some of the tissues under the skin, including fat tissue, sweat glands, and skin nerves. Third-degree burns may cause the skin and tissues to appear either charred or white. Third-degree burns often require skin grafts to replace skin tissue damaged beyond the point of being able to heal.

Fourth-degree burns damage tissue far beneath the skin, including nerves, tendons, ligaments, and muscle. These burn injuries leave the skin and underlying tissues completely charred. Depending on the location on the body, a fourth-degree burn may even leave the bone exposed. Fourth-degree burns will require skin grafts due to the complete destruction of the skin tissue. Many fourth-degree burn injuries result in permanent damage or may require amputation.

Click to learn about first-degree burns and second-degree burns.

How Another’s Negligence Can Cause a Burn Injury

A third- or fourth-degree burn injury can arise from various kinds of accidents caused by the negligence or recklessness of others. Common causes of burn injuries include:

  • Defective and dangerous products
  • Motor vehicle accidents that result in vehicle fires with occupants trapped inside
  • Inadequate child or elder care
  • Defective home construction, including defective gas lines, electrical wiring, heating systems, or fireplaces
  • Negligent construction or maintenance of gas and electrical utilities

Compensation for a Third- or Fourth-Degree Burn

When you have suffered a third-degree or fourth-degree burn injury, you may be entitled to a financial recovery for losses and expenses that you have or will incur, including for:

  • Costs of medical treatment and physical therapy
  • Long-term care expenses for permanent disabilities or other chronic health conditions caused by your injury
  • Loss of income from missed work
  • Loss of future earning capacity due to permanent disability
  • Pain and suffering
  • Lost quality of life from scarring/disfigurement or from disabilities interfering with daily activities

Frequently Asked Questions

You undoubtedly have questions about how to obtain compensation. We’ve answered some of the questions we’ve heard most often from our clients for you here.

How long do I have to file a lawsuit?

Under Minnesota’s statute of limitations, you typically have two years from the date of a burn injury that was caused by someone else’s actions to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you suffered a burn injury due to a defective product, you have four years from the date of your injury to file a lawsuit.

If you don’t file your lawsuit until after the statute of limitations expires on your claim, your lawsuit may end up being permanently dismissed by the court. If this happens, you will lose the right to pursue your claim for compensation for your injuries through the courts.

What if I was partially at fault for causing my burn injury?

If you bear partial responsibility for causing your burn injury, you may still have the right to pursue a claim to recover financial compensation from others who share fault for your injury. Under Minnesota’s comparative negligence law, an injured plaintiff may still pursue a claim for compensation so long as they have an equal or lower share of fault than the party or parties they are seeking compensation from. However, if you were 50 percent at fault for your injuries, you will be unable to recover any compensation at all. If you bear less than 50 percent of the fault for your burn injury, under the comparative negligence system your compensation award can be reduced in proportion to your percentage of fault.

Will I have to go to court?

When you have suffered a third-degree or fourth-degree burn, you likely need to recover financial compensation as soon as possible to help with your recovery. We also understand that some people can feel uncomfortable with the idea of having to go to court or testify at trial. Our attorneys work diligently to recover the compensation you need and deserve as efficiently as possible through a negotiated settlement. But we also prepare your case to go to court or to trial and will give you honest advice when litigation represents the best path for pursuing maximum financial recovery.

Contact Us Today

After you have been the victim of a third-degree or fourth-degree burn injury due to another party’s negligence or recklessness, call Robert Wilson & Associates at (612) 334-3444 or contact us on our website. We can discuss how a burn injury lawyer from our legal team can help you pursue fair and full compensation for your injuries.