Atlanta Burn Injury Lawyer

Our experienced burn injury attorneys can help you get the settlement you deserve.

Burn injuries are incredibly painful. Recovery can be long and difficult, and your life may never be the same. The medical and rehabilitation processes associated with burns are often costly, and your earning potential can be negatively impacted. You may never be able to work in the same capacity again. Burn injuries can also have devastating effects on mental health and your personal relationships.

While you may have insurance coverage for burn injuries, insurance often doesn’t come close to covering your expenses, leaving you under further financial and emotional stress. This is when you need a burn injury lawyer to fight on your side.

REQUEST FREE CONSULTATION

What Can a Burn Injury Attorney Do for You?

Our Atlanta Burn Injury Lawyer Can Help You Get Rightful Compensation for Your Losses

Severe burns can be extremely painful, disfiguring, and expensive to treat. An Atlanta burn injury lawyer can help you get the compensation you need and deserve.

All burns hurt! However, while the small first-degree burns that most of us have experienced may cause only temporary (albeit painful) damage, a severe burn can be devastating. Severe burns can result in unrelenting pain, scarring, disfigurement, disability, the inability to work, emotional distress, preventing meaningful connections, the need for long-term care, and even death.

According to the American Burn Association, 486,000 people receive treatment for burns in hospitals each year. Of those 486,000 patients, 40,000 of these are serious enough to require hospitalization, and a significant number of people die of their injuries.

Almost 73% of burns occur in people’s homes, and 8% happen in the workplace. According to Stanford Health, burns from an electrical source are the most common in adult males.

If you or a loved one has been severely burned and the negligent actions of another caused the injury, whether it happened in your workplace or by a third party, an Atlanta burn injury lawyer at The Stoddard Firm can help you get the compensation that you deserve through insurance or a personal injury lawsuit.

Personal injury lawsuits can be complicated and overwhelming, especially if the defendant denies responsibility. Our Atlanta burn injury attorney knows the courts and the legal system in Atlanta and will aggressively fight for a settlement covering your financial losses and the pain and suffering you endure.

We understand that it can be overwhelming to deal with a lawsuit at this difficult time when you or your loved one is suffering from unrelenting pain. When you contact us, our experienced Atlanta burn injury lawyer can take the burden off you. By letting us fight for you, you can focus on your recovery, and we will manage all negotiations and legal complexities involved with your case.

Why Work with The Stoddard Firm?

The Stoddard Firm is a catastrophic injury and wrongful death law firm well-versed and highly experienced in handling burn injury cases. We have both the knowledge and experience you want and need on your side.

The experienced burn injury attorney at our Atlanta firm will take the time to carefully examine the details of your case, uncover the truth, and ensure that you are justly compensated for your losses.

Every case is unique, so we give your case personalized attention.

Our team of knowledgeable attorneys is owned and run by Atlanta burn injury lawyer Matt Stoddard, who is known by clients and colleagues alike as hardworking and ethical. Our clients trust our burn injury lawyers to fight against some of the nation’s largest companies and insurers to make sure you get proper compensation for your injuries.

Our knowledge of the law and experience aggressively negotiating and litigating, combined with our focus on empathic and personal attention, gets results for our clients. We do this by using a simple three-step formula:

  1. Maintain a small caseload to ensure each case is given personalized attention.
  2. Spend extensive time and resources on fact-finding to uncover the truth about why your accident happened.
  3. Invest energy and money to show both how the injury happened and how the injury has changed the client’s life financially, physically, and emotionally.

Atlanta Injury Lawyer

Contact Our Atlanta burn injury lawyer today.

If you or your loved one has a serious burn injury, you need a serious injury lawyer. At The Stoddard Firm, we can support and help you get the compensation you deserve. Call us today at 470-467-2200 for your free, no-obligation consultation with an Atlanta burn injury attorney.

We Get Results

At the Stoddard Firm, our knowledgeable Atlanta burn injury lawyer will not settle for anything less than you and your loved ones deserve. This is because we are comfortable in the courtroom and will only settle when our client is satisfied with the compensation offered.

Our results speak for themselves.

Atlanta burn injury lawyer Matt Stoddard recovered $2,350,000 in compensation for a land developer who had suffered very serious burns from a blast while using a defectively designed multimeter.

To get compensation for his client, Mr. Stoddard had the meter manufacturer hand over all servers, including email and computer, to search for evidence. What really helped the case was that Mr. Stoddard recreated the incident by renting the same electrical equipment and re-creating the blast.

Client Testimonial

Here’s what one of our clients said about The Stoddard Firm.

I would never have won my case without Keith and Matt. They work hard for you and ensure you understand what is happening. My accident was an ordeal, but they stood behind me every step of the way. If you ever need to call them or email, they will get back to you quickly. My case has ended, and I feel like I have lost my family.” – Cassie (Google Review)

Our Atlanta Burn Injury Attorneys Can Review the Compensation You Can Expect to Receive

Knowing what to expect can take away the uncertainty and anxiety you may experience during this difficult time. An Atlanta burn injury lawyer can review all the possibilities with you.

A wide range of settlement amounts can be awarded in a successful burn injury case. In fact, severe cases may be worth hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars.

Your compensation award amount will depend upon several factors, including:

  • The severity of the burns and whether there is scarring or disfigurement
  • The effects on your life and whether you will be able to work as you could prior to the incident
  • Your age, earning capacity, and family circumstances
  • Whether you will need continuing care like rehab or future surgeries
  • The insurance and assets available
  • The generosity of the jury
  • The skill of your attorney.

Having a skilled attorney will influence the generosity of the jury. Your attorney will persuade the jury to the best of their ability on why you deserve compensation. This is why you need a skilled burn injury lawyer.

Georgia law states that burn injury victims are allowed to be compensated for both their economic (monetary) losses and non-economic damages (those which do not have a specific dollar value) as follows:

Economic damages:

  • current and future medical and rehabilitation expenses like medical bills, medications, medical equipment
  • past and future lost wages
  • any property-related damage.

While no amount of monetary compensation can alleviate their pain and suffering, burn victims can also claim compensation for non-economic damages. This is because burn injuries not only cause physical pain but also emotional harm.

Non-economic damages:

  • pain and suffering
  • mental and emotional anguish such as PTSD
  • disfigurement
  • loss of the ability to make meaningful connections
  • loss of enjoyment of life.

Additionally, Georgia Code Section 51-12-5.1 provides for the possibility of assessing punitive damages. In some rare cases where there was gross negligence or deliberate intent to harm, the jury may also impose punitive damages.

Unlike other compensation, punitive damages are meant to punish the defendant and deter such behaviors in the future rather than just awarding the victim compensation. Therefore, awarding punitive damages is quite rare.

The skilled Atlanta burn injury lawyers at The Stoddard Firm will evaluate your case to determine what it may be worth. Call us today at 470-467-2200 for your obligation-free consultation.

How Our Burn Injury Attorneys in Atlanta Can Help You

At The Stoddard Firm, we have extensive experience recovering large sums of money for victims of burn injuries. The key to a full verdict in a burn injury case is being able to accurately illustrate the severity and impact of the injury to the jury.

For example, at The Stoddard Firm, our Atlanta burn injury lawyer asks clients to photograph their injuries every two weeks. We then enlarge the photos for use at trial and have the injured victim walk through each stage of the recovery with the jury. The combination of the photos and the personal testimony provides the jury with a clearer understanding of the impact that burn injuries have on victims and their families.

This is how we get results.

Showing images to the jury is not enough. We also know how to explain your medical and rehabilitative treatment to the jury. Burn injuries are typically treated with multiple surgeries. The Stoddard Firm hires expert medical illustrators to create videos and diagrams that depict each step of every surgery. The injured person’s treating physicians approve these medical illustrations and they are presented to the jury. They are an invaluable tool, helping to clearly communicate the incredible level of pain that you were forced to endure.

The Stoddard Firm will also interview your treating physicians and have them explain the extent of your injuries, the work done to improve your health, any lifelong conditions (such as keloid scarring or debilitating contractures), and the cost of future care.

At The Stoddard Firm, we ensure your physicians are well-prepared for these under-oath interviews that will be shown to the jury. We take the time to help them. It’s merely an issue of patiently sitting down with the doctor before the deposition, reviewing your medical records, asking detailed questions, and reminding the doctor to avoid medical jargon.

When testifying, plain and simple language (terms that all can understand) is best. The jury will find it difficult to relate to medical jargon they do not understand. What makes The Stoddard Firm different from many others is that few burn injury attorneys in Atlanta take the time to do this. We do – and it often makes a huge difference.

Understanding Fault

What Happens When Your Burn Injuries Are Caused by Another’s Negligence?

Accidents happen, but our Burn injury attorney in Atlanta believes that those who are negligent can and should be held accountable for their actions or lack thereof. This is to discourage this from happening in the future.

Atlanta Injury Lawyer

We can file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit in cases where your burns were caused by someone else’s negligence.

Once your immediate medical needs are met, take a moment to consider what circumstances led to your injury. Don’t immediately assume that you were at fault, particularly if you were burned in a space where you did not control the determination and enforcement of safety precautions. In such cases, it’s important to consult with a brain injury law firm in Atlanta, GA to understand your rights and legal options.

If your burn might have been prevented had someone else behaved more responsibly – such as if a company had installed machinery differently, designed a product more appropriately, or properly inspected its facility – you’ll need to contact a legal expert like the burn injury attorneys at The Stoddard Firm. They understand the ins and outs of negligence laws in Georgia and can help you determine how to proceed.

How Do You Prove Negligence?

If your burn injuries were the fault of another’s negligence, and you can prove this to be true, you may be entitled to significant compensation. In order to prove that another party or entity was negligent and at fault for causing your injuries, our attorneys will:

  • investigate how your burn injuries happened
  • interview eyewitnesses and gather evidence, such as photos and videos from surveillance cameras
  • examine police, medical, and therapy records, and documents
  • hire experts to testify in court on your behalf.

Our burn injury lawyers know that burns are complex and that a one-size-fits-all approach will not work.

What Are the Different Burn Degrees?

There are several types of burns, all of which can vary in severity or “degree.”

The terms first-, second- and third-degree burns refer to how much damage is done to each layer of the skin. A third-degree burn, also known as a “full-thickness” burn, is a burn that has destroyed the outer skin layers — the epidermis and dermis — and penetrates deeper tissue.

Fourth-degree burns are the most serious of all. These burns go deep enough to damage the muscles, tendons, and bones. This type of burn often results in destroyed nerves, which can tremendously affect the ability to function normally.

The most common burns are thermal burns caused by direct exposure to fire, steam, or other extreme heat sources. However, chemical, radiation, and electrical burns can also reach first-, second-, third-, or even fourth-degree damage.

Third-degree burns may have a leathery texture, with patches of white, brown, or black discoloration. Because the nerves in the upper layers of skin have been destroyed, the burn may be numb instead of painful, or pain may be limited to shallower burns surrounding the most heavily affected area. Third-degree burns never heal completely; recovery is often a years-long process at best.

Severe burns depress the immune system, often leading to life-threatening infections. Other common complications include dehydration, hypothermia, and joint problems caused by the shortening of damaged muscles and tendons. Severe burns can also result in wrongful death.

Treatment for third-degree burns will typically include surgical skin grafts. Depending on the size and location of the burn, you may need occupational therapy to recover the use of complex, affected joints. The medical expenses can stack up quickly, especially if the damage prevents you from returning easily to your former job.

What Are the Costs of Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Life After a Burn?

The costs of recovering from a burn injury can most accurately be described as astronomical. Burns described as moderate can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to treat. More severe burn care costs come in at over $1.5 million and when complications arise, which they often do, costs can exceed $10 million. If you cannot work from the injury, these expenses can be overwhelming.

Frequent complications from severe burns can include scarring and disfigurement, fragile skin, psychological issues, infection and organ failure, and even skin graft failure. Each complication adds significant healing time and a considerable increase in the cost of associated medical care. Additional treatments for these complications range from tens of thousands of dollars to over $100,000.

And these are just a few of the issues experienced most often. Other burn victims face a host of issues that often extend beyond their initial treatment. Infections are commonplace, and the treatment can be painful and necessary medication expensive. Internal organs can be damaged from smoke inhalation — and some never fully recover, which can limit any work in the future.

Some burn victims experience long-term effects such as severe scarring, sensation sensitivity, and the inability to sweat. And the emotional impact is considerable. Burns and their treatment are traumatic. When injuries are severe, many are unable to consider living life as they had in the past. The changes they need to make can be emotionally challenging and, depending upon the level of care required, incredibly expensive.

How Do Severe Burns Happen?

Children have an elevated risk of burn injuries, particularly at home due to cooking accidents, excessively hot running water, or house fires. These kinds of accidents cause two deaths and 300 emergency room visits among American children daily. According to Stanford Medicine, almost 75 percent of burns in children are preventable.

While adults can better assess and avoid the danger of burns, the workplace can add a plethora of additional burn hazards, especially for food-service workers. In fact, the Burn Foundation notes that most workplace burns serious enough to require hospitalization are related to food preparation.

Teens are at particular risk, being inexperienced and frequently employed in high-capacity fast-food restaurants with deep fryers that can reach temperatures of up to 500 degrees.

Workplace burns commonly happen when safety rules are not properly taught or enforced or when employees are tired, sick, under the influence, or under pressure to work faster.

Attorney Matt Stoddard

Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyer Matt StoddardMatt Stoddard is a professional, hardworking, ethical advocate. He routinely faces some of the nation’s largest companies and some of the world’s largest insurers – opponents who have virtually unlimited resources. In these circumstances, Mr. Stoddard is comfortable. Mr. Stoddard provides his strongest efforts to his clients, and he devotes the firm’s significant financial resources to presenting the strongest case possible on their behalf. Matt understands that his clients must put their trust in him. That trust creates an obligation for Matt to work tirelessly on their behalf, and Matt Stoddard does not take that obligation lightly. [ Attorney Bio ]

free consult

Tell us about your concern and request a free, no obligation, confidential legal consultation.

    Atlanta Lawyer Reviews

    Georgia Lawyer VideoGeorgia Lawyer Video

    TESTIMONIAL: MY ACCIDENT CASE

    What is the Average Cost of a Traumatic Brain Injury?

    Devastating traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can mean months of rehabilitation, memory loss, impaired motor function, and disability. They result in expensive medical bills, possibly a lifetime of diminished earnings, and serious emotional distress. Whether caused by a car accident, fall, or other incident, if you have sustained a traumatic brain injury, it is not only your physical and mental he...

     

    get help

    Contact a Skilled Burn Injury Lawyer in Atlanta

    At The Stoddard Firm, our Atlanta burn injury attorneys understand that the cost to victims extends far beyond medical bills. We know that life changes; we can help calculate future costs and factor these into your settlement request.

    Whether your severe burns happened on the job, in an accident, or were caused by faulty equipment or wiring at home, the Atlanta burn injury lawyer at The Stoddard Firm can help.

    Contact us at 470-467-2200 for an obligation-free review of your case.

    request free consultation