JacksonBurn Injuries Lawyer

Severe Burn Injury Claims

If you suffered a severe burn injury in Jackson, Mississippi, you generally have three years to file a claim (Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49). Burn injuries often mean surgeries and permanent scarring. A Jackson burn injury lawyer at Mama Justice can pursue full compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and suffering. Call 24/7 for a free consultation.

Burns are among the most painful, debilitating, and devastating of all injuries. Severe burns often lead to significant disfigurement and lasting physical and emotional scars. Sadly, many victims suffer life-altering burn injuries simply because someone else — whether another person, a manufacturer, or some other entity — was negligent.

At Mama Justice – MW Law Firm, we believe in helping victims of catastrophic injuries seek the fair compensation and justice they are owed. Led by our founding attorney, Missy Wigginton, or Mama Justice, our team of burn injury lawyers in Jackson can help you fight for your right to fair financial recovery. We are committed to maximizing our clients’ settlements, allowing them the resources they need to obtain proper medical treatment, manage unexpected and everyday expenses, and move forward with their lives.

If you or your loved one suffered severe burn injuries as a result of someone else’s negligent or wrongful conduct, contact us at (833) 626-2587 for a free consultation.

What Are the Different Types of Burn Injuries?

The American Burn Association tracks burn injury treatment and outcomes across the country, and its research underscores just how serious even a moderate burn can be.

There are several different types of burn injuries, including:

• Thermal Burns: These are burn injuries caused by contact with hot or heated items, objects, surfaces, or substances, such as steam, flames, and boiling liquids.
• Chemical Burns: A chemical burn is a type of burn caused by contact with abrasive or harsh chemicals, detergents, solvents, and similar substances.
• Electrical Burns: Electrical burns are caused by contact with live electrical currents and frequently result from touching electrical wires or outlets.
• Radiation Burns: These burn injuries result from various forms of radiation, such as solar radiation (sunburns) and radiation used to treat certain medical conditions.
• Friction Burns: A friction burn, also known as road rash, is technically an abrasion caused by scraping or rubbing against rough surfaces, such as asphalt.
• Cold Burns: Also known as frostbite, cold burns occur when the skin is exposed to extreme cold, whether through direct contact or otherwise.

All types of burn injuries can be incredibly serious. If you or someone you love suffered any type of significant burn, seek immediate medical attention.

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

In Mississippi, you generally have three years from the date of your injury to file a burn injury claim (Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49). If a government building or vehicle was involved in the fire or explosion that hurt you, you may face a much shorter notice deadline, sometimes only a matter of months.

Burn cases often involve evidence that changes fast, like a damaged electrical panel that gets replaced or a recalled product that gets thrown away. The sooner you speak with a Jackson burn injury lawyer, the easier it is to preserve that evidence and protect your rights. Deadlines vary by the facts of your case, so confirm yours with an attorney as soon as you can. If a burn injury has taken a loved one’s life, our Jackson wrongful death lawyers can help your family understand your options.

How Are Burns Classified?

In addition to having various types, burn injuries are classified according to severity. Essentially, the more severe the burn, the higher the degree.

Burn injuries of all types are classified in the following ways:

• First-Degree Burns: First-degree burns are the mildest type of burn injury. Typically, these injuries result in localized pain, as well as some redness or discoloration of the skin. First-degree burns may leave scars, but they are generally not considered medical emergencies. Rather, they can be effectively treated at home with basic first aid, as well as prescription and over-the-counter topical ointments and pain medications.
• Second-Degree Burns: Second-degree burns are generally considered moderate in severity, but they can pose serious risks to victims. Second-degree burn injuries affect the upper layer of skin (epidermis) and may penetrate to the lower layer (dermis), as well. They often result in significant pain, damaged skin, redness, swelling, blistering, and scarring. Those who sustain second-degree burns should seek prompt medical attention.
• Third-Degree Burns: Third-degree burns are severe and are generally considered medical emergencies. These types of burn injuries affect both layers of skin (the epidermis and dermis) and are frequently characterized by “charred” skin that is either white or black in appearance. Unlike milder burn injuries, third-degree burns often do not result in pain due to considerable nerve damage.
• Fourth-Degree Burns: The most serious of all burn injuries, fourth-degree burns typically affect the epidermis, dermis, and surrounding tissues, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and bones. Without immediate professional medical attention, victims face significant risks, including shock, extremely low blood pressure, infection, and death.

The severity of a burn plays a major role in its effects. Victims of milder burn injuries may heal completely, whereas those who suffer moderate or severe burns may face months, years, or even a lifetime of ongoing medical care. Severe burn injury victims may never be able to return to a once-normal life and may be forced to adjust to significant limitations and disabilities.

What Is the Most Common Cause of Burn Injuries?

When we think of burn injuries, we often think of spilled hot liquids, building fires, and other similar accidents. While these are among the most common causes of burn injuries, the real issue at hand is negligence.

These incidents most often stem from the careless, reckless, or downright wrongful conduct of others. For example, a house might catch on fire due to improperly installed electrical systems, or a defective product might cause a spill or even an explosion, leaving victims with devastating injuries. A property manager may fail to conduct routine maintenance or inspections, or a vehicle might be constructed with a faulty gas tank, leading to a deadly car fire.

At Mama Justice – MW Law Firm, we believe that negligent individuals, business owners, property managers, manufacturers, and other entities should be held accountable when their careless and reckless conduct causes harm to others. If your burn injuries could have — and should have — been prevented, reach out to our team to learn how we can help you fight for justice.

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Burn Injury in Jackson?

The Mayo Clinic notes that even second-degree burns can require professional medical treatment to prevent infection and scarring. Depending on how your burn injury happened, one or more of the following may be responsible:

• A property owner or landlord, if faulty wiring, a gas leak, or poor maintenance caused a fire
• A manufacturer or retailer, if a defective product, appliance, or vehicle part caused a fire or explosion
• An employer, if the burn happened on the job, such as in a kitchen, factory, or outdoor work site (see our page on Jackson workers’ compensation claims)
• A driver or vehicle manufacturer, if a car fire caused your burns
• A business or event organizer, if unsafe conditions led to your injury

If your burns came from a vehicle fire, our Jackson car accident lawyers can help you understand your options. Because burn injuries so often involve product defects or property conditions, these cases can require detailed investigation. Our team works with fire investigators and engineers when needed to determine exactly what went wrong and who should be held accountable.

How Do You File a Burn Injury Claim in Jackson?

As is the case with most personal injury claims, to have grounds for a burn injury claim or lawsuit, you will typically need to prove that someone else was at fault for your injuries. You will also need to prove that the other person or party owed you a duty of care, meaning they had some legal responsibility to act reasonably and/or take certain measures to prevent you (and others) from being injured, but they failed to uphold this duty.

Our Jackson burn injury attorneys can assist you with every legal aspect of your case. We are here to handle the details, from collecting evidence to negotiating with the insurance company to litigating your case if necessary, so that you do not have to. Your focus should be on getting the medical treatment and rest you need — not spent fighting with the liable party’s insurance company for a fair settlement. Instead, let our team handle your financial recovery.

We are ready to fight for the maximum compensation you are owed. Our firm offers free initial consultations and provides legal services on a contingency fee basis. This means that you do not pay any upfront or out-of-pocket expenses when you work with us. Instead, we only collect attorney fees if/when we win your case.

What Is a Jackson Burn Injury Claim Worth?

A severe burn is often treated as a catastrophic injury under Mississippi law, which can significantly affect what your claim is worth. Burn injury claims can be worth a great deal, because these injuries so often require multiple surgeries, skin grafts, and long-term treatment, on top of permanent scarring and disfigurement. There is no set number, and anyone who quotes you one before reviewing your medical records is not being straight with you.

Some of the factors that drive value include:

• The degree and size of the burn, and whether it required surgery or skin grafts
• Permanent scarring or disfigurement, and how it affects your daily life and self-image
• Ongoing medical needs, including future surgeries, physical therapy, and pain management
• Lost wages and lost earning capacity, especially if the injury limits the work you can do
• Emotional and psychological effects, including anxiety, depression, or trauma related to the injury

Past results, like the case values shown on this page, can give you a sense of what is possible, but they do not guarantee any particular outcome in your case. The best way to get a real answer is a free case review with our team.

What Should You Do After a Burn Injury in Jackson?

What you do after a burn injury can protect both your health and your case:

1. Get medical attention right away. Even burns that look mild at first can worsen or become infected.
2. Follow every treatment recommendation, including wound care, physical therapy, and any recommended surgeries.
3. Photograph the scene, the cause of the fire or burn, and your injuries as they heal.
4. Keep the damaged product, clothing, or equipment involved, if it is safe to do so, since it can be important evidence.
5. Get the names of any witnesses to the fire, explosion, or accident.
6. Avoid giving a recorded statement to an insurance company before speaking with a lawyer.
7. Call a Jackson burn injury lawyer as soon as you reasonably can, so evidence can be preserved while it still exists.

How Long Does a Jackson Burn Injury Case Take?

It depends on the severity of your burns and how long your treatment takes. A minor burn case with clear liability can sometimes resolve in a few months. A serious burn requiring multiple surgeries and skin grafts usually takes longer, because we do not want to settle before we know the full, long-term cost of your care. Once you accept a settlement, you cannot go back and ask for more later.

If your case involves a product defect, a dispute over liability, or a lawsuit that goes to trial, it can take a year or more. We keep you informed at every step and move as quickly as we responsibly can without shortchanging what your case is worth.

Do You Need a Lawyer for a Jackson Burn Injury Claim?

You are not legally required to have one, but burn injury claims often involve more than one potentially liable party, technical evidence like fire investigation reports, and high medical costs that insurance companies will fight to minimize.

A Jackson burn injury lawyer at Mama Justice can investigate the cause of your burn, identify every responsible party, and fight for compensation that covers your scarring, your future medical care, and your pain, not just your immediate hospital bill. We work on a contingency fee basis, so there is no upfront cost, and you owe nothing unless we win.

What If You Were Partly at Fault for Your Burn Injury?

Insurance companies and property owners often try to argue that you caused your own burn injury, for example by claiming you misused a product or ignored a warning. Mississippi follows a pure comparative negligence rule, which means you can still recover compensation even if you were partly at fault.

Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault, but it is not eliminated, even if you are found more than half responsible. It helps to have a Jackson burn injury lawyer pushing back on comparative fault arguments from the very beginning.