Burn Injury Attorneys in Baton Rouge

Over $6.1 Million Recovered for Burn Injury Victims

Severe burn injuries have devastating consequences, from immense and ongoing pain to permanent scarring and disfigurement. At Clayton, Frugé & Ward, we understand how difficult it can be to recover from serious burns. If you or someone you love suffered a catastrophic injury because of someone else’s negligent or wrongful acts, we can review your legal options and help you seek just compensation for your damages.

Serious burns can involve hospitalization, skin grafts, rehabilitation, follow-up treatment, lost income, and substantial medical bills. Your injury claim may need to account for both the immediate effects and your future care, physical limitations, emotional distress, and major life changes. 

For a free consultation with one of our Baton Rouge burn injury attorneys, call (225) 209-9943 or contact us online, and a member of our staff will be in touch with you shortly.

Burn Injury Types & Classifications

Burn injuries are classified according to both how they occur and their severity, or degree. Although a burn’s degree doesn’t by itself decide whether someone has a legal claim, the depth of the injury can help show the treatment required and its effect on daily life. Severe burns may require immediate medical attention, wound care, surgery, skin grafting, pain management, rehabilitation, and long-term follow-up.

The different types of burns, according to severity, include:

• First-Degree Burns: First-degree burns affect the outer layer of skin, called the epidermis, and typically result in redness and mild pain. They often heal within days, though a medical professional can assess any burn that causes concern.
• Second-Degree Burns: Second-degree burns involve the epidermis and part of the underlying skin layer, called the dermis. Symptoms can include severe pain, swelling, and blisters, and healing may take weeks or longer.
• Third-Degree Burns: Third-degree burns extend through the skin into deeper tissues. The area may appear white, charred, or leathery, and nerve damage can limit sensation. These burns generally require extensive medical treatment, often including skin grafts.
• Fourth-Degree Burns: Fourth-degree burns extend beyond the skin into muscle, bone, or tendons. They are medical emergencies that can require surgery, rehabilitation, and reconstructive treatment.

Burns are also categorized according to how they occur:

• Thermal Burns: Thermal burns result from flames, hot liquids, steam, or other heat sources.
• Chemical Burns: Chemical burns result from exposure to strong acids, bases, or other corrosive substances.
• Electrical Burns: Electrical burns occur when an electrical current passes through the body.
• Radiation Burns: Radiation burns can result from prolonged exposure to radiation sources, including the sun or radiation therapy.
• Friction Burns: Friction burns can occur when skin rubs forcefully against another surface.

The type of burn, the treatment plan, and the anticipated recovery all matter when evaluating losses. Medical records can help document the need for hospital care, surgeries, medication, therapy, and future procedures.

Common Causes of Severe Burns in Baton Rouge

Catastrophic burn injuries can occur in vehicle collisions, workplace incidents, explosions, unsafe properties, and incidents involving defective products. Our Baton Rouge burn injury attorneys can investigate how the incident happened, whether safety practices were ignored, and which parties may be legally responsible.

Common situations that can cause serious burns include:

• Motor Vehicle Accidents: Fuel leaks and post-collision fires can cause severe burns after crashes involving cars, motorcycles, tankers, large trucks, or other vehicles.
• Workplace Incidents: Workers in construction, manufacturing, and chemical processing can face hazards involving equipment, fires, explosions, chemicals, or electrical systems.
• Defective Products: Faulty appliances, heaters, fireworks, batteries, and other products can create fire, explosion, electrical, or chemical hazards. These claims can involve product liability issues.
• Explosions: Gas explosions and similar incidents can cause serious burn injuries at work, in residential settings, or on the road. Some explosions occur in the workplace.
• Property Hazards: Unsafe conditions at a home, business, or other property can raise premises liability questions when a fire, hot surface, or other hazard causes injury.

Potentially responsible parties depend on the facts. They may include a negligent driver, property owner, manufacturer, distributor, employer, contractor, or another third party. Work-related burns can also raise workers’ compensation questions and, in some circumstances, a separate third-party claim.

Our firm handles complex personal injury matters, including difficult cases other firms may reject. Our results include a $6.1 million burn injury result and a $171 million plant explosion result. Every case is different, and past results don’t guarantee a similar outcome. However, when you choose our burn injury lawyers in Baton Rouge, you can rest assured that you're getting a team willing to go the distance for you.

Handling Medical Bills After a Burn Injury

Burn injuries often require expensive, ongoing treatment, from emergency care and hospital stays to surgeries, skin grafts, rehabilitation, and follow-up appointments. Even with insurance, out-of-pocket costs can become overwhelming. You shouldn’t delay necessary treatment because of cost concerns, and treatment decisions should be made with qualified medical professionals.

If another party caused your injury, a claim may seek compensation for related medical expenses from the past, present, and future. Health insurance may pay for treatment while a claim is pending, but reimbursement or subrogation issues can affect the net amount recovered in a settlement. In some circumstances, a provider may agree to a letter of protection, which can defer payment until a case resolves.

Keep documentation related to your care, including:

• Hospital and physician bills
• Pharmacy and medication receipts
• Records of surgeries, skin grafts, and rehabilitation
• Travel costs for medical appointments
• Insurance correspondence and explanations of benefits
• Records showing time missed from work

These records help show the financial impact of a burn injury. They can also help our attorneys evaluate future medical expenses when additional treatment may be necessary.

Damages in a Baton Rouge Burn Injury Claim

By filing a personal injury claim, you may seek damages for losses connected to the burn injury. The available damages depend on the evidence, the parties involved, and Louisiana law.

Potential damages may include:

• Economic Damages: Past and future medical expenses, rehabilitation, medication, lost wages, lost benefits, and reduced earning capacity.
• Non-Economic Damages: Physical pain, emotional distress, scarring and disfigurement, reduced quality of life, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Punitive Damages: Additional damages that may be available only when authorized by applicable law and supported by the conduct involved.

In total, we have recovered more than $1 billion in verdicts and settlements for clients. Our goal is to build a claim that reflects the documented effect of the injury, including treatment needs that may continue long after the initial incident.

What to Expect During a Burn Injury Claim

A burn injury claim usually begins with an investigation into the incident, the responsible parties, and the full extent of the injury. Evidence can include accident reports, photographs, witness accounts, equipment or product information, safety records, medical records, employment records, and analysis from qualified professionals.

Insurance companies may dispute fault, question the severity of the injury, or make an offer before the long-term effects of scarring, surgeries, rehabilitation, and lost income are fully known. We work to develop evidence regarding treatment, physical limitations, pain, work effects, and future care needs before evaluating settlement discussions.

If negotiations don’t produce an appropriate resolution, a lawsuit and trial preparation may follow. Our firm’s reported case results include matters involving workplace incidents, plant explosions, defective products, house fires, and burn injuries. We can handle the legal process while you focus on medical treatment and recovery.

How Our Baton Rouge Burn Injury Attorneys Help

Our attorneys represent personal injury clients throughout Louisiana and accept complex cases that require careful investigation. A lawyer from our firm can investigate liability, preserve evidence, document current and future losses, and prepare a case for negotiations or trial.

Our results include verdicts and settlements of $411 million, $171 million, $117 million, and $75 million, along with our $6.1 million burn injury result. Our attorneys come from diverse legal and cultural backgrounds and represent clients across Louisiana’s varied communities. 

Choosing a Burn Injury Lawyer

A consultation can show how a law firm approaches complex injury claims and help you identify possible responsible parties, evidence that should be preserved, potential damages, and the next procedural steps.

Questions to consider when choosing legal representation include:

• Has the firm handled serious and complex injury claims?
• Can the firm investigate liability involving a workplace, property, vehicle, or product?
• How will the firm evaluate future treatment and lost-income needs?
• How does the firm communicate with clients during a case?
• Is the firm prepared to pursue litigation when necessary?

We offer free consultations for potential burn injury claims. During that conversation, we can discuss the facts available, the legal issues that may apply, and what information may help us evaluate the claim.

How Long Do You Have to File a Burn Injury Lawsuit in Louisiana?

In Louisiana, “prescriptive periods” are the deadlines for bringing a civil claim. Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 3493.1, delictual actions arising on or after July 1, 2024, generally have a two-year prescriptive period. That means you have just two years (with some rare exceptions) to file your lawsuit.

Certain factors can also affect a deadline. Claims involving a government entity, a minor, workplace injuries, product liability, industrial incidents, or other legal issues may involve additional rules. For burns caused by industrial accidents, the facts and applicable regulations may require particularly careful review. Don’t wait to seek legal advice about a possible deadline.

Burn Injury Resources for Baton Rouge Residents

Specialized medical care can be an important part of recovery from a serious burn. The Baton Rouge General Medical Center operates the Baton Rouge Regional Burn Center, which provides care for adult and pediatric burn patients, including chemical burns and outpatient burn treatment. This information is provided as a resource and doesn’t imply any affiliation with our firm.

Civil claims arising in East Baton Rouge Parish may proceed through the Nineteenth Judicial District Court, which has original jurisdiction over civil matters in the parish. Support groups, counseling, and organizations such as the American Burn Association can also provide recovery-related information and support resources for burn survivors and families.

Frequently Asked Questions About Burn Injuries

What Should I Do Immediately After Suffering a Serious Burn?

Get appropriate medical care first. Treatment decisions should come from qualified medical professionals based on the nature and severity of the injury.

How Can I Protect Evidence After a Burn Injury?

If you can do so safely, preserve photographs, incident reports, damaged products, medical records, bills, insurance communications, and records of missed work.

How Do Future Surgeries, Scarring & Rehabilitation Affect a Claim?

Future surgeries, skin grafts, rehabilitation, and scar treatment may affect a claim when they create additional medical costs, physical limitations, or time away from work.

What Should I Know Before Speaking with an Insurance Company?

Before speaking with an insurer or making a settlement decision, seek legal guidance about your circumstances. An early offer may not account for future treatment, lost income, or the long-term effects of scarring and disfigurement.

How Long Do I Have to File a Burn Injury Claim in Louisiana?

For actions arising on or after July 1, 2024, Louisiana generally provides a two-year prescriptive period. Earlier injuries and claims involving government entities, minors, workplace incidents, product liability, or other exceptions require date-specific legal analysis.

Discuss Your Burn Injury Claim with Our Baton Rouge Attorneys

A serious burn can create medical, financial, and legal questions that should be addressed carefully. You can contact us for a free consultation to discuss how the injury occurred, the evidence available, and the potential next steps for your claim.

Call (225) 209-9943 to schedule your free consultation with Clayton, Frugé & Ward.