Burn injuries often result in devastating physical, emotional, and financial challenges that can affect victims for months or even years. These injuries can lead to permanent scarring, disfigurement, chronic pain, and psychological trauma. If you have suffered a serious burn injury, whether from a car accident, industrial explosion, chemical spill, or workplace fire, you have legal rights.
If you are dealing with a burn injury caused by someone else's negligence, don’t wait to seek legal guidance. Contact Schafer & Schafer LLP today for a free consultation and take the first step toward securing the justice and compensation you deserve.
Types of Burn Injury Cases We Handle
Burns carry not just physical wounds, but lasting impacts like medical bills, lost income, ongoing treatment, disfigurement, and emotional injury. When such harm is the result of another’s negligence, Indiana allows you to seek compensation for your pain, financial losses, and any future care you may need. At Schafer and Schafer LLP, our burn injury attorneys handle a wide range of burn injury cases, including:
Car Accidents and Vehicle Fires
A serious car crash can quickly turn into a life-threatening situation if fuel leaks or electrical sparks ignite a fire. Vehicle fires often lead to severe burns, smoke inhalation, and permanent injuries. Our car accident attorneys at Schafer and Schafer LLP have the experience to investigate crash conditions, identify all responsible parties, and pursue the compensation you need for medical treatment and long-term recovery.
Industrial Explosions and Electrical Accidents
Factories, refineries, and industrial job sites often involve dangerous machinery, chemicals, and electrical systems. When safety protocols are ignored, workers can suffer catastrophic burns from explosions, arc flashes, or faulty wiring. Our industrial injury attorneys work with industry professionals to uncover safety violations and hold negligent employers, contractors, or manufacturers accountable for these devastating injuries.
Chemical Burns in Workplaces and Labs
Exposure to toxic chemicals in laboratories, manufacturing facilities, or industrial plants can result in severe skin damage and often permanent disabilities. These injuries often require specialized treatment and ongoing medical care. Our firm represents victims of chemical burns by pursuing claims against negligent employers, suppliers, or third parties that failed to ensure safe handling and protective measures.
Construction Site and On-the-Job Burn Injuries
Construction sites pose numerous risks for burn injuries, from welding accidents and electrical contact to fires caused by flammable materials. Because these incidents often occur on the job, workers’ compensation may apply, but it does not always cover the full extent of medical bills, lost wages, or long-term needs. Schafer and Schafer LLP helps injured construction workers explore additional legal options to seek compensation for burn-related injuries.
Degrees of Burn Injuries and Their Impact
Burn injuries are categorized by degrees, which describe how deeply the burn penetrates the skin and underlying tissue. These classifications range from surface-level burns that affect only the outer layer of skin to the most severe burns that cause lasting damage to muscles, nerves, and even bones.
Understanding the degree of a burn is important because it guides medical treatment, recovery timelines, and the long-term challenges a victim may face. While some burns may resolve with minimal care, others require advanced medical intervention, reconstructive surgeries, and years of rehabilitation.
The degree of the burn often determines not just the physical impact, but also the emotional and financial burden that follows. Securing full and fair compensation is necessary to cover long-term medical care, rehabilitation, and financial support to rebuild your life after a catastrophic injury.
Long-Term Scarring, Disfigurement, and PTSD
Beyond the physical pain, burns can leave permanent scars that affect mobility, confidence, and emotional health. These injuries also create financial strain from mounting medical bills, lost wages, and the ongoing cost of specialized care. Securing full and fair compensation is critical in covering these long-term needs, ensuring that burn victims have access to the medical care, rehabilitation, and financial support necessary to rebuild their lives after such a traumatic experience.
First-, Second-, and Third-Degree Burns Explained
First-Degree Burns
First-degree burns are the least severe, typically affecting only the outer layer of skin. While they can be painful, they often heal without long-term complications and rarely require extensive medical treatment. However, depending on the location and size of the burn, victims may still face medical expenses, missed workdays, and discomfort during recovery.
Second-Degree Burns
Second-degree burns penetrate deeper into the skin, often causing blistering, swelling, and more significant pain. These burns usually require medical attention and carry a higher risk of infection. Scarring and discoloration can remain even after the wounds heal, sometimes requiring skin grafts or other corrective treatments. The recovery process can be lengthy, impacting a person’s ability to work and creating long-term medical costs.
Third-Degree Burns
Third-degree burns are the most severe, often destroying both the skin and underlying tissue. Victims typically face long hospital stays, multiple surgeries, and reconstructive procedures. These injuries can permanently alter physical appearance and mobility, requiring ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, and adaptive support. Beyond the physical trauma, third-degree burns often bring significant financial strain and emotional challenges, making experienced legal representation critical to securing full compensation for present and future needs.
Burn Recovery and Reconstructive Surgeries
For many burn victims, the path to recovery includes expensive treatments such as skin grafts, reconstructive surgeries, and long-term rehabilitation. These procedures are often needed to restore function, ease pain, and reduce potential scarring or disfigurement. But, the costs can be staggering and extend far beyond what basic insurance or workers’ compensation may provide. That is why holding the responsible parties accountable is important for your personal injury case. A successful burn injury claim can provide the financial resources necessary to cover ongoing medical care, multiple surgeries, and therapy, ensuring you are not forced to choose between your recovery and your financial stability.
Your Legal Rights After a Serious Burn Injury
When a serious burn injury is caused by negligence, unsafe conditions, or the reckless actions of another party, you have the right to pursue compensation under Indiana law. Property owners, employers, manufacturers, and drivers all have a duty to maintain safe environments and equipment. If your burn injury occurred while on the job, workers’ compensation benefits may cover certain medical bills and a portion of lost wages.
When Negligence or Unsafe Conditions Are Involved
If your burn injury was caused by negligence, such as a careless driver, an unsafe workplace, or a property owner who failed to address fire hazards, you may have the legal right to file a personal injury claim. These claims allow you to hold the responsible parties accountable and seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and long-term care.
In Indiana, you must act quickly. The statute of limitations generally gives you two years from the date of the injury to file a claim. Missing this deadline can mean losing your right to recover damages, making it essential to speak with an experienced burn injury lawyer as soon as possible.
Can You File a Claim While on Workers’ Comp?
However, workers’ comp does not always provide full recovery for the long-term effects of severe burns. In some cases, you may also be able to pursue a separate personal injury claim if a third party, such as a contractor, equipment manufacturer, or chemical supplier, played a role in causing your injuries. An experienced burn injury lawyer can evaluate your case, determine whether you are eligible to file beyond workers’ comp, and fight to ensure you receive the full compensation you are entitled to under the law.
Compensation You May Be Entitled To
After a serious burn injury, the law allows you to seek compensation for both the immediate and long-term effects of your injuries. Because burns often require extensive medical care, reconstructive surgeries, and time away from work, the financial impact can be significant. Filing a claim ensures that those responsible are held accountable and that you have the resources necessary to manage your recovery and future needs. Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may be entitled to pursue compensation for:
- Medical expenses, including emergency treatment, surgeries, and hospital stays
- Reconstructive and cosmetic procedures to restore function and appearance
- Rehabilitation, physical therapy, and long-term medical care
- Lost wages and loss of future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering, including emotional distress and reduced quality of life
- Permanent scarring, disfigurement, or disability
- Loss of consortium or companionship in cases of severe, life-altering injuries
Securing full compensation not only eases the financial burden but also ensures access to the medical care and support necessary to rebuild your life after a burn injury.
Why Choose Schafer and Schafer LLP for a Burn Injury Claim?
Schafer and Schafer LLP has built a reputation as one of Northwest Indiana’s most trusted personal injury law firms. Our attorneys bring decades of combined experience handling complex and catastrophic injury cases, including severe burn injuries caused by accidents, unsafe workplaces, and negligence. We are a family-founded firm that has grown with a clear mission: to deliver skilled, aggressive representation while treating every client with the care and respect they deserve.
Decades of Experience in Serious Injury Cases
Burn injury claims demand both legal knowledge and compassion, as they often involve long-term medical needs, reconstructive surgeries, and lasting effects on quality of life. At Schafer and Schafer LLP, we take the time to understand your story, investigate every detail of your case, and hold negligent parties accountable. With our record of success in serious injury and wrongful death litigation, we have the resources, experience, and dedication to pursue maximum compensation for you and your family. Choosing Schafer and Schafer LLP means choosing a team that stands by your side and fights tirelessly for the justice and financial recovery you need to rebuild after a burn injury.
Start Your Burn Injury Case with a Free Consultation
Burn injuries can leave lasting physical, emotional, and financial effects, but you have the right to take action. Schafer and Schafer LLP offers free consultations to help you understand how the law applies to your situation and what compensation may be available. Our burn injury attorneys take the time to evaluate your case, explain your options, and guide you through each step of the process while you focus on recovery. With no upfront costs and fees only collected if we secure a recovery, you can seek the answers you need today without financial risk. Contact Schafer and Schafer LLP today for a free consultation.
