Written by the Mama Justice legal team.
Legally reviewed by Missy Wigginton, Founding Attorney (“Mama Justice”).
Last reviewed: September 11, 2026.

Serious Legal Help for Severe Burn Injury Cases

If you suffered a burn injury in Tupelo, you generally have three years to file a claim (Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49). Burns from a crash, a defective product, or an unsafe property can lead to surgeries, skin grafts, and lasting scarring. A Tupelo burn injury lawyer at Mama Justice can pursue the full cost of your recovery. Call 24/7 for a free consultation.

A severe burn injury can be life-changing, agonizing, and expensive to treat. If you were burned in an accident that was not your fault, then you need to think about how you can get compensation for your catastrophic injury. A skilled Tupelo personal injury lawyer at Mama Justice – MW Law Firm here in Tupelo can help.

For more than 40 years of combined legal experience, we have been fighting for locals in Tupelo like they were our family. Insurance companies big and small know not to mess with Mama Justice when her family’s wellbeing is on the line. We don’t stop fighting for people in need. Even when your case is over, we’ll be here to make certain you’re doing okay.

Tupelo burn injury lawyers are standing by to hear from you. Call (833) 626-2587.

What Are the Degrees of Burn Injuries?

To understand just how badly you have been burned and how it will likely affect your livelihood, it helps to understand how burn injury severities are classified. Serious burns should be treated as a medical emergency, according to the Mayo Clinic. In medical contexts, burns are sorted into degrees, with more harm being done the higher the degree number.

The most common burn degrees are:

  • First: Mild burn that only damages the top layers of skin and can be remedied with in-home first-aid like a wet cloth or ice patch.
  • Second: Moderate burn that damages several layers of skin. Medical attention should be sought as soon as possible. Second-degree burns can cause debilitating pain depending on what body parts are affected.
  • Third: Severe burn that damages all layers of skin and soft tissues or bone underneath. Immediate medical attention is required. Untreated third-degree burns can cause death due to shock or infection.

There are fourth, fifth, and sixth-degree burns as well. However, the intensity of these burns will more than likely cause enough bodily harm to be fatal. At that point, a burn injury claim would be replaced by a Tupelo wrongful death lawyer representation.

How Long Do You Have to File a Burn Injury Claim in Tupelo, MS?

In Mississippi, you generally have three years from the date of the injury to file a burn injury claim (Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49). Serious burns often mean long hospital stays and multiple surgeries, and it is easy to lose track of a legal deadline while you focus on healing. If a loved one dies from a burn injury, a wrongful death claim usually follows a similar timeline.

Some deadlines are shorter. If a government vehicle or property was involved, you may have only a matter of months to give proper notice. And if a defective product caused the burn, preserving that product quickly can make or break the case. The sooner you speak with a Tupelo burn injury lawyer, the more we can do to protect your rights and the evidence. Deadlines vary by the facts, so confirm yours with an attorney as soon as you can.

What Causes Burn Injuries, and Who Can Be Held Liable?

Burns happen in many ways, and the cause usually points to who is responsible. Common causes and the parties who may be liable include:

  • Car, truck, and motorcycle crashes. Fires and hot surfaces after a wreck can cause severe burns, and a negligent driver or trucking company may be responsible.
  • Defective products. Faulty wiring, batteries that overheat, flammable clothing, and unsafe appliances can cause burns, and the maker or seller may be liable under product liability law.
  • Unsafe property. Apartment fires, restaurant accidents, and scalding water can result from a property owner’s negligence. In these cases, a Tupelo premises liability lawyer can assist in holding negligent landlords or business owners accountable.
  • Workplace accidents. Burns on the job may be covered by workers’ compensation, and if a third party like an equipment maker was involved, you may also have a separate claim.
  • Chemical and electrical exposure. Contact with dangerous chemicals or live wires can cause deep, lasting burns.

Sometimes more than one party is responsible. Because a serious burn can be very expensive to treat, finding every liable party and every source of insurance matters. And even if you were partly at fault, Mississippi follows a pure comparative fault rule, so you can still recover money, reduced by your share of the blame. We investigate to find everyone who should pay.

What Damages Can You Recover in a Burn Injury Claim?

A severe burn injury can take you off your feet and keep you out of work for weeks or months. Operations like skin grafts are often required, but they are painful and take time to complete followed by extensive recovery. If you want to stay financially stable as your recover, then you are going to need significant compensation paid by the party that hurt you.

Recoverable compensation might include costs of:

  • Hospitalization
  • Surgery
  • Rehabilitative therapy
  • Lost wages
  • Reduced income capacity
  • Pain and suffering

When everything is added together, your damages could be significant, easily ranging into six figures. Do not worry about the total cost, though. Mississippi generally caps non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, at one million dollars (Miss. Code Ann. § 11-1-60), but does not cap economic damages like medical bills and lost wages. A severe burn is often a catastrophic injury, so consulting with specialized attorneys can help ensure all future care costs are properly claimed. The defendant needs to worry about it because we can swing tirelessly away at their case until they agree to a fair settlement.

How Is a Burn Injury Case Valued?

Severe burns are among the most painful and expensive injuries to treat, and their effects can last a lifetime. That is why we do not settle for a quick estimate. We build the value of your case with help from medical and economic experts who understand what burn recovery really involves.

The costs can go far beyond the first hospital stay. Many burn survivors need repeated skin grafts and reconstructive surgeries over years, along with wound care, physical therapy, and treatment for scarring. Beyond the medical bills, a burn can leave permanent, visible disfigurement and deep emotional trauma, which the law recognizes as real, compensable harm. For a serious burn, we may use a life care plan to map out the future care you will need and its cost.

This is also why you should never accept the insurance company’s first offer. Once you settle, you usually cannot come back for more, even if you need another surgery later. A fast, low offer is often an attempt to close your case before the full cost is known. We take the time to get it right. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

What Should You Do After a Burn Injury in Tupelo?

A serious burn is a medical emergency, and your health comes first. When you or your family are able, these steps help protect both your recovery and your claim.

  1. Get emergency medical care. Serious burns need immediate treatment, sometimes at a specialized burn center. Follow all medical advice.
  2. Keep the evidence. If a product caused the burn, save it exactly as it is, along with the box and any manuals. Do not repair or throw anything away.
  3. Take photos. Document the scene, the cause if you can, and your injuries over time as they heal.
  4. Keep records. Save medical bills, discharge papers, and notes about your pain and recovery.
  5. Do not give a recorded statement or accept a quick settlement. Talk to a lawyer first, because early offers rarely cover the true cost of a burn injury.
  6. Call Mama Justice. The consultation is free, and the sooner we start, the more we can do to protect your claim.

Frequently Asked Questions About Burn Injuries in Tupelo, MS

What are the degrees of burn injuries?

Burns are usually classified by depth. A first-degree burn affects only the top layer of skin. A second-degree burn goes deeper and is more painful. A third-degree burn destroys all layers of skin and the tissue beneath, and a fourth-degree burn reaches muscle or bone. Second-degree burns and worse should always be treated by a doctor, and the deepest burns can be life-threatening.

How long do I have to file a burn injury claim in Mississippi?

In Mississippi, you generally have three years from the date of injury to file (Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49). Claims against a government entity can have much shorter notice deadlines. If a defective product caused the burn, it is important to preserve it, so talk to a Tupelo burn injury attorney as soon as possible.

Who can be held liable for a burn injury?

It depends on how the burn happened. It may be a negligent driver, the maker of a defective product, a property owner whose negligence caused a fire or scalding, or an employer. Sometimes more than one party is responsible. We investigate to find every liable party and every source of insurance.

What compensation can I recover for a burn injury?

You may recover economic damages, like emergency care, surgeries, skin grafts, future reconstructive procedures, rehabilitation, and lost income or earning capacity, along with non-economic damages, like pain, permanent scarring and disfigurement, and emotional suffering. For a severe burn, future medical care is often the largest part of the claim.

Does Mississippi cap damages in a burn injury case?

Mississippi generally caps non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, at one million dollars (Miss. Code Ann. § 11-1-60). It does not cap economic damages like your medical bills, future care, and lost earnings, which are usually the biggest part of a serious burn claim. How the cap applies can depend on your case, so confirm it with an attorney.

What if I was burned at work?

A burn on the job is usually covered by workers’ compensation, which pays medical care and a portion of your lost wages regardless of fault. If someone other than your employer helped cause the burn, like the maker of defective equipment, you may also have a separate third-party claim on top of your workers’ comp benefits. We can look at both.

What if I was partly at fault?

You can still recover. Mississippi follows a pure comparative fault rule, so you can collect compensation even if you were partly responsible, with your recovery reduced by your share of fault. Insurers often try to overstate your fault to pay less, and we push back with evidence to protect the value of your claim.

How much does a burn injury lawyer cost in Tupelo?

At Mama Justice, you pay nothing up front. We work on a contingency fee, which means our fee comes out of the recovery only if we win your case. If we do not win, you do not owe us a fee. Your first consultation is always free.

Call Your Mama Then Call Mama Justice

A burn injury case is likely to be complicated and frustrating. Save yourself the trouble when you have already been through so much by handing it over to our Tupelo burn injury attorneys at Mama Justice. We are standing by to hear your call and come to your rescue with compassionate, experienced, and respected legal counsel.

(833) 626-2587 or contact us online right away.