Burn and electrical injuries are among the most painful and potentially harmful injuries you may ever suffer and they are very common in Orange County, Los Angeles and San Diego County accidents. Some burn victims never completely recover from these types of injuries, and many are left with permanent scarring, disfigurement, loss of use and nerve damage. In some cases, victims suffer the partial or complete loss of the use of the injured body part. In other cases, death is the end result of serious burn injuries.
When these injuries happen in accidents that occur due to the negligence of another person, victims are entitled to seek full and fair compensation for their losses. At The Cifarelli Law Firm, located in Orange County, we have helped countless burn accident victims across California who have suffered severe burn or electrical injuries.
Burn Injury And Electrocution Lawyers
Our Orange County burn injury attorneys have experience resolving all types of these cases. We are prepared to represent you in claims against building contractors, utility companies, product manufacturers, and other businesses or individuals whose negligence has resulted in serious injuries to you or your loved ones.
How can a serious burn or electrical injury claim be proven?
When personal injury cases proceed to trial the burden of proof falls on the plaintiff who has to prove “by a preponderance of the evidence” that the defendant is liable. The plaintiff will have to prove that the defendant is responsible for his or her injuries.
These are the basic elements of an electrocution or serious burn injury claim:
- Duty of care — This means proving that the defendant legally owed the plaintiff protection from preventable and unreasonable harm.
- Breached duty of care — This is proof that the defendant breached their duty of care or their legal obligation to protect the plaintiff from unreasonable harm.
- Cause of injury — This proves that there is a causal link between the breach in the defendant’s duty of care and the event that led to the electrical or burn injury. This could be an unsafe workplace, a defective product, or similar causes.
- Damages — This area proves that the defendant has suffered damages as a result of the injury. These can be monetary damages, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other impacts.
To prove these claims, our team at The Cifarelli Law Firm will work to compile all the available evidence to satisfy those four basic elements. We compile these possible items:
- Medical records
- Expert medical testimony
- Video surveillance footage
- Photographs
- Eyewitness testimony
- Accident reconstruction through expert testimony
- Deposition testimony
- Written or recorded communications (email, text messages, phone calls)
How long does it take to resolve a serious burn or electrocution injury case?
These lawsuits vary depending on the circumstances involved. We work as fast as possible to get you the settlement you deserve and need, so that you can get on with your life. However, sometimes the opposing side seeks to draw out the process to gain more in their hourly billings and to, in effect, wear down the plaintiff.
Who can file a lawsuit in a serious burn or electrocution injury case?
In California, a person can file a personal injury lawsuit for these reasons:
- Negligence — This means negligence of an individual, group, or company resulted in harm to the defendant. For this level, the plaintiff will have to prove that the defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care; that the defendant breached that duty; and that the defendant’s breach was a substantial factor in causing the plaintiff’s harm.
- Product defect — When a product causes a serious burn injury or electrocution, the company that produced or sold the product may be liable for damages. Here the plaintiff will need to prove manufacturing defects, design defects, or warning defects.
- Premises liability — If the injury happened on another person’s property, the property owner may be liable for damages if the burn injury or electrocution was caused by a hazard on the property. The property owner is expected to keep the property in a reasonably safe condition.
If the serious burn or electrocution occurred at work, the employee does not have to file a lawsuit or prove negligence. Recovery in these cases is handled through filing a workers’ compensation claim.
How is compensation for a serious burn injury or electrocution claim determined?
In California, personal injury law permits recovery for the following types of damages:
- Medical bills
- Long-term care
- Physical or occupational therapy
- Lost earning capability
- Lost wages
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Pain and suffering
- Negligent infliction of emotional distress
- Injury to reputation
- Wrongful death
- Punitive damages
There are also future expenses to be considered. These include future medical treatment, in-home care, insurance payments and coverage (sure to increase), and how much the plaintiff would have earned if he or she was not injured in the accident.
When deciding upon a settlement all of these damages are taken into account. There is no limitation.
If I was injured in a serious burn or electrocution injury, how long do I have to file my lawsuit?
These cases typically can be filed for up to two years after the injury occurred. The statute of limitations can be longer, but it can also be shorter, depending on the circumstances involved. That’s just another reason you need The Cifarelli Law Firm behind you to ensure you’re within the proper time frame.
How are the attorney fees for a serious burn or electrocution injury determined?
In these cases, The Cifarelli Law Firm works on a “contingency fee” basis. This means our fees for representing you will be deducted from the final personal injury settlement in your case. We charge a 33 percent fee for representing you through this complicated process.
Our firm has successfully represented victims in serious burn and electrical injury claims arising from a wide variety of causes, including the following:
- Damaged or exposed wiring and electrical outlets
- Unmarked electrical fences
- Downed power lines
- Defective appliances or power tools
- Chemical burns
- Burns from smoke inhalation
- Defects or insufficient warnings on charcoal and gas grills
- Burns from overheated laptop batteries
- Fires started by defective products or personal negligence
- Car fires
- Fires due to broken or insufficient smoke detectors
- Scalding due to a defective water heater and other causes
- Defective flame-retardant fabric or materials
Contact The Cifarelli Law Firm