Raleigh Fire and Burn Injury Lawyers
If you were injured in a fire or suffered burn injuries, you have the right under North Carolina law to receive compensation for your injuries from the at-fault or responsible parties. Our experienced Raleigh fire and burn injury lawyers can help.
Our compassionate team helps clients with medical care, medical bills, lost wages, and dealing with the stress of their physical recovery. We provide support, care, and concern in the aftermath of tragedies.
As former insurance defense attorneys, we know how to fight for every penny you deserve.
Fire and Burn Injury Lawyers Serving North Carolina
Our Raleigh Fire and Burn Injury Settlements and Verdicts:
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In 2023, we represented a client who was severely burned and suffered permanent injuries after a fire and reached a confidential settlement with the alleged responsible parties for $4,750,000. Other details about the incident, including the location of the incident, the venue, the names of the parties, and the names of the attorneys for the defendants, were withheld due to a confidentiality agreement. Read the case summary.
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In 2022, we represented an 49-year-old client who suffered catastrophic burn injuries when a cleaning product caught fire and exploded in the commercial kitchen where he was working. It was a complex case that involved defective products claims as well as premises liability claims. Our team of defective products attorneys in Raleigh reached a confidential settlement with the product manufacturer, the product distributor, and the owner of the commercial kitchen for $2,500,000.00. Read the case summary.
What Is a Fire or Burn Injury Claim in Raleigh, NC?
Fires and burn injury accidents can lead to devastating consequences, resulting in property damage, injuries, and even loss of life. In cases where negligence or liability is suspected, fire investigation plays a critical role in determining the cause and origin of the fire. Expert testimony from qualified professionals is often crucial in liability lawsuits to establish accountability and assess the damages incurred.
Burn injuries are among the most painful and potentially life-threatening traumas individuals can experience. When these accidents occurs, there are questions related to liability and responsibility in North Carolina, causes of burn and fire accidents, and their potential consequences.
Common Burn Injuries in Raleigh, NC
Various factors can lead to burn injuries in North Carolina, ranging from accidents at home to workplace incidents and car accidents. The most common kinds of burn injuries in the state include:
Thermal Burns:
Thermal burns result from exposure to high temperatures, such as flames, hot liquids, steam, or hot objects. These types of burns are commonly seen in residential fires, kitchen accidents, or industrial mishaps.
Scalds:
Scalds are a specific type of thermal burn caused by hot liquids or steam. They are particularly prevalent among children and the elderly and can occur in situations such as spills of hot beverages or bathwater.
Electrical Burns:
Electrical burns occur when a person comes into contact with an electrical current. These burns can be deceiving, as they may not show significant external damage, but they can cause severe internal injuries to tissues and organs.
Chemical Burns:
Chemical burns result from contact with strong acids, bases, or other corrosive substances. They can occur at home, in workplaces, or industrial settings and can have long-lasting effects on the skin and underlying tissues.
Radiation Burns:
Radiation burns are caused by exposure to ionizing radiation, often seen in medical treatments or industrial settings involving radioactive materials.
Damages Our Raleigh Fire and Burn Injury Lawyers Can Help You Recover
The personal injuries you suffered in your fire or burn injury accident may entitle you to monetary payments and compensation. Some of the most common types of damages (explained in more detail here) recovered in the cases handled by our Raleigh fire and burn injury lawyers are:
Medical bills paid/reimbursed
Future medical expenses
Lost wages and income for time you missed at work
Pain and suffering/mental anguish
Loss of consortium if your accident affected your relationship with your spouse
Permanent disability, scarring, or disfigurement
Punitive damages to punish the other party for particularly bad, reckless, or outrageous conduct that caused your injuries
A Guide to North Carolina Fire and Burn Injury Accident Claims
In North Carolina, fires and burn injuries can have serious legal implications for those involved. Depending on the circumstances of the burn injury or fire, liability may fall on a variety of parties, including machine operators, property owners, and equipment manufacturers. Fires and burn accidents can occur anywhere: workplaces, after a car accident, propane grills, kitchens, garages, private clubs, and community centers.
Unfortunately, there is little reliable or correct information about fire and burn injury accident claims that is available to the public, which causes confusion about the accident process and hurts injury victims’ chances for recovery. Here’s what our team of Raleigh fire and burn injury lawyers believe you should know:
1. What Should I Do If I’m Involved in a Fire or Burn Injury Accident in Raleigh, NC?
The initial moments and days after your burn accident are critical, not only for your well-being but for your chances for compensation as well. These are the most important steps to take after your injury accident:
Take photos of your injuries
Take photos of the area where you were injured
Visit a doctor if you haven’t already
Follow the doctor’s recommendations and attend all follow-up appointments
Write down a narrative of what happened while it’s still fresh in your head
Make a list of witnesses and their contact information if you know it
Follow any additional instructions from your attorney
2. How Do I File a Fire or Burn Injury Accident Claim in Raleigh, NC?
A fire or burn injury accident case begins when you file legal documents called a “summons” and “complaint” in the appropriate North Carolina court, usually in the county where you live or where the accident occurred. The specific details are outlined in Rule 4 of the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure. Filing a case is as simple as taking the summons and complaint to the court clerk of the court where you’re filing the case.
The clerk accepts the filing and returns your copies so that you can serve the defendant with their copy of the filing documents. “Serving” a defendant means providing them with a copy of your file-stamped summons and complaint in a very specific, formal way, which is explained in Rule 5 of the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure. Your complaint must include all of the grounds to bring your case and all of your demands for compensation.
3. Will My Fire or Burn Injury Accident Claim Go to Trial in Raleigh, NC?
95% of fire and burn injury accident cases, according to government statistics, resolve before needing to go to trial. The vast majority of pool or drowning accident cases will settle before the trial date arrives (sometimes even before a lawsuit is filed), and others will settle in the middle of trial. The most common reasons cases go to trial are:
The defendant’s insurance adjuster and company believes they will win the case, so they offer a very low settlement or none.
The insurance company doesn’t want to set a precedent for settling your type of fire or burn injury accident lawsuit.
The monetary amount demanded by your attorney is too high for the insurance company to settle without fighting the claim.
Liability (meaning who is at-fault) or the injured person’s damages are too contested or questionable to find a middle ground.
The more time spent in preparation and building the case, the more likely your case will reach an appropriate settlement. But there are a lot of variables, and if your case is in the small percentage that go to trial, a Raleigh fire and burn injury attorney can help prepare you for what to expect.
4. How Much Will My Fire or Burn Injury Accident Claim Settle for in Raleigh, NC?
There’s no way to precisely value your claim, but an experienced Raleigh pool or drowning accident injury attorney may be able to give you an approximate value based on their experiences and prior results in other cases. The value of your claim includes your economic damages like costs for medical treatment, lost wages, future medical care, paying for help you need around the home, and physical therapy.
To approximate a total case value, you can add up your total economic damages and then multiply that figure by 1.5 or 2 (for moderate injuries) to account for pain and suffering, which will give you a rough range of what a jury might award might be or how an insurance company could value your claim. For serious injuries with significant permanent injury, you might multiply your total economic damages by 4 or 5 for those severe cases.
Our team of Raleigh fire and burn injury accidents lawyers have recently settled burn cases for $4,750,000 and $2,500,000. Burn cases typically settle for large sums of money because the extent and nature of burn injuries is so severe and permanent.
5. What If I’m Partially At-Fault for Causing My Fire or Burn Injury Accident in Raleigh, NC?
Whether it’s true or not, you are likely going to be blamed for causing your accident or injuries, even if just partially. You might even believe that you are responsible for the accident. However, there is a big difference between what regular people think about fault and what the law says. For instance, you might think a man spraying an aerosol cleaning product in a commercial kitchen near open flames would be at-fault for his injuries.. But the $2,500,000 settlement our team of Raleigh fire and burn injury lawyers secured in that case in 2022 suggests otherwise.
Unlike other types of motor vehicle accidents, fire and burn injury accident cases are often hotly contested because most defendants will blame the injured victim. Not only is that not fair, but we also know that it is also not true.
North Carolina does follow the doctrine of contributory negligence, which could prevent you from recovering damages from your accident if a jury believes you are partially to blame. However, an experienced Raleigh pool or drowning accident lawyer understands that defense and how to work around it.
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6. How Long Does a Fire or Burn Injury Accident Claim Take to Reach a Settlement in Raleigh, NC?
A small of number of cases resolve very quickly before a lawsuit is even filed. It may take 3-4 months to obtain your medical bills and records and 1-2 weeks to negotiate with the claims adjuster. However, these cases are in the minority and are usually limited to very specific circumstances (like when liability is clear and the damages are so severe that they clearly are worth more than the limits of available insurance). Fire and burn accident cases in particular require extensive investigation and engineering analysis to determine the cause (code violations, product assessments, chemical analysis) etc) that lead to the accident.
In most other cases, litigation can last for a year or more. The more complicated or contested your case, the longer you can expect it to take. You do have some control over the length of your case because it’s up to you to accept or reject settlement offers.
7. How Long Do I Have to File a Fire or Burn Injury Accident Claim in Raleigh, NC?
There is limited amount of time you have to file a claim, also known as the statute of limitation. In North Carolina, for most fire and burn injury accident cases, you have 3 years from the accident or injury to bring a claim. For accidents that resulted in death, you have 2 years from the date of the death. There is no wiggle room or do-overs when it comes to deadlines to file a pool and drowning accident claim, so it is in your best interest to get a Raleigh fire and burn injury attorney involved as early as possible after your accident.
8. What Is the Process for a North Carolina Fire or Burn Injury Accident Claim?
Fire and burn injury liability in North Carolina is determined by the state's laws and regulations, which outline the rules and guidelines for fire prevention. That includes state and local regulations for fire safety, inspections, and enforcement of fire safety requirements. The North Carolina Department of Labor also has a set of fire safety requirements and plans for workplaces.
Once you file the case, you serve the other side with a copy of the paperwork. Then you wait for them to file an Answer, which is just a legal document that admits or denies the allegations in your Complaint. At the time same, you have time to build your case by contacting witnesses, gathering medical evidence, and collecting evidence from the other party. This is known as “discovery.” At that time, you may be asked to give a “deposition,” which is sworn testimony under oath. An experienced fire and burn injury accident lawyer in Raleigh can help, guide, and prepare you through this process.
In North Carolina, it is mandatory for the parties to also participate in “mediation” before the case goes to trial. Mediation is simply a meeting (either via Zoom or in a conference room) that all of the parties are required to attend, along with a professional mediator, to see if the case can be settled and resolved. A representative of the insurance carrier who decides how much money the carrier will offer will also be present. A majority of cases resolve through mediation.
9. How Much Does a Fire or Burn Injury Lawyer in Raleigh, NC Charge?
Many Raleigh fire and burn injury attorneys will agree to work on your case with no money up front or out-of-pocket. If you succeed in your case, they will take a percentage of the compensation you receive either in your settlement or judgment from a jury verdict. This is also known as a contingency fee. In most of our cases, we charge a contingency fee equal to 1/3 of the amounts we recover on your behalf. That means we have a financial incentive to help you recover every amount you’re owed, not one penny less.
10. How Can a Raleigh Fire or Burn Injury Lawyer Help?
Hiring an experienced Raleigh fire and burn injury lawyer can provide you with numerous benefits. Burn injury attorneys know how to conduct initial investigations and save important evidence (before it could be destroyed) that might be needed for your case. They are able to work with experts, law enforcement, and first responders to prove what happened in your accident. They can assist with getting you the appropriate medical care and treatment.
Good North Carolina fire and burn injury attorneys can also negotiate with the at-fault parties, their lawyers, and insurance adjusters to get you fair compensation for your injuries. But perhaps most importantly, an injury lawyer can take the weight and burden of the legal aspects of your case off your shoulders so you to focus on your recovery.
11. What Happens After I File a Fire or Burn Injury Accident Claim in Raleigh, NC?
In a North Carolina fire or burn injury lawsuit, the injured party (victim) files a formal demand for compensation called a Complaint. Once you file the case, you serve the other side with a copy of the paperwork. Then you wait for them to file an Answer, which is just a legal document that admits or denies the allegations in your Complaint. At the time same, you have time to build your case by contacting witnesses, gathering medical evidence, and collecting evidence from the other party. This is known as “discovery.” At that time, you may be asked to give a “deposition,” which is sworn testimony under oath. An experienced North Carolina fire and burn injury accident lawyer, like our team in Raleigh, NC, can help, guide, and prepare you through this process.
12. What Is the Statute of Limitations in North Carolina for Fire or Burn Accident Claims?
There is limited amount of time you have to file a claim, also known as a statute of limitation. In North Carolina, for most fire and burn accident cases, you have 3 years from the accident or injury to bring a claim. For accidents that resulted in death, you have 2 years from the date of the death.
13. What is the Average Settlement for a Fire or Burn Accident Claim in Raleigh, NC?
There’s no way to precisely value your claim, but an experienced Raleigh pool and drowning accident attorney may be able to give you an approximate value based on their experiences and prior results in other cases. The value of your claim includes your economic damages like costs for medical treatment, lost wages, future medical care, paying for help you need around the home, and physical therapy. Most fire and burn accidents result in catastrophic damages and potentially the loss of life. Wrongful death claims are evaluated under an entirely different metric than regular personal injury claims.
Our team of Raleigh fire and burn injury accidents lawyers have recently settled burn cases for $4,750,000 and $2,500,000. Burn cases typically settle for large sums of money because the extent and nature of burn injuries is so severe and permanent.
14. Why Are Fires and Burn Injuries So Common in Raleigh, NC?
Household appliances and devices can ignite the gas causing it to explode
Mechanical and electrical equipment are often poorly maintained leading to injuries
Caustic chemicals and products don’t always include adequate warnings
Aging or improper electrical installation can degrade over time and result in electrical fires
15. Does Pain and Suffering Include Medical Bills (and What’s the Difference)?
No, pain and suffering is different from economic damages like medical bills and lost wages. Pain and suffering relates to the hassle, anxiety, stress, actual pain, and trauma you suffered as a result of the injury. But you have a right to claim full compensation for your injuries, which means medical bills, other economic damages, permanent disability, AND pain and suffering. Pain and suffering is on top of and in addition to your economic damages, like medical bills.
16. What Is Fair Compensation for Pain and Suffering for a Fire or Burn Accident in Raleigh, NC?
There is no magic formula for determining what amount of pain and suffering is fair in your injury on property case. In general, pain and suffering is proportional to the injuries you suffered. If your injuries are severe and/or caused permanent disability, the more pain and suffering compensation would be fair to award in your case. In a case with severe injuries and lifelong suffering, you might be awarded pain and suffering that is 5x or more of your economic damages (medical bills, lost wages, etc). In minor injury cases, your pain and suffering may be slightly less or equal to the amount of your medical bills.
However, sometimes there is a disconnect between what is just and fair in your case vs. what an insurance company or at-fault party will actually pay. A good Raleigh pool and drowning accident lawyer has experience and even tools that can investigate recent judgments and settlements in your area to give you the best leverage in settlement negotiations so you can recover what is fair.
17. How Are Fire or Burn Injury Claims Investigated and Proven in Raleigh, NC
Fire investigation is the systematic process of determining the cause, origin, and spread of a fire. Most investigations follow the procedure outlined by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 921. It involves collecting and analyzing physical evidence, examining witness statements, and reconstructing the sequence of events leading to the fire to do the following:
Establishing Liability
Fire investigations aim to identify the party or parties responsible for the fire's occurrence. This is particularly crucial in cases involving property damage, injuries, or wrongful death, as it helps to determine who may be legally liable for the damages.
Supporting Insurance Claims
For insurance claims related to fire accidents, thorough fire investigation reports provide evidence of the cause and extent of damages, aiding the insurance companies in determining appropriate compensation.
Ensuring Safety and Prevention
By understanding the factors contributing to a fire, fire investigators can make recommendations to improve safety measures and prevent similar incidents in the future.
18. How Can I Be At-Fault for My Fire or Burn Injury Claim in Raleigh, NC?
There are several defenses that property owners or equipment manufacturers may raise in a fire or burn injury case in North Carolina. Having these defenses available to them can make a burn accident claim difficult to win, which is why we recommend hiring an experienced fire and burn injury lawyer to help.
CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE
One defense is contributory negligence, which means that the injured person's own actions contributed to the injury. If the injured person was partially at fault for the injury, they may be barred from recovering damages or their damages may be reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to them. For example, using a product that is commonly known to be flammable around an open flame or ignition source could prevent an injured person from recovery in a lawsuit.
OPEN AND OBVIOUS
Another defense is that the danger was open and obvious, which means that the injured person knew or should have seen the dangerous condition on the property before being injured. For example, if a person is knowingly playing around an open flame or using equipment that is known to get hot enough to burn but continues to do anyway, that may prevent them from recovery in a lawsuit.
19. Can I File a Fire or Burn Injury Claim Without a Lawyer in Raleigh, NC?
Yes, you can file a fire or burn accident lawsuit without a lawyer. However, if you bring your case on your own, you’re subject to the same rules and standards as you would be if you had an injury attorney. You are required to follow the same formalities and rules when filing court documents. The rules of discovery, admission of evidence, and civil procedure will still apply to you in your case. If you make a mistake, there is a chance that you case will be dismissed or thrown out. While you can file a civil lawsuit without an attorney, your best chance to recover the maximum amount possible is working with an experienced fire and bur injury.
20. How Do I Find the Best Raleigh Fire and Burn Injury Lawyer for My Case?
Like every profession, injury lawyers vary in experience, skills, style, dedication, and levels of customer service so “best” can mean different things to different people. It’s a good idea to see if the injury lawyers you are considering have positive client testimonials, good (and recent) case results, and are passionate about helping others. It depends on whether you want to hire a law firm that works with thousands of clients every year or a smaller firm that only focuses on a limited number of cases. The relationship between lawyer and client requires a significant amount of trust and communication over an extended period of time, so the most important factor is choosing a lawyer that “feels right” to you.
Raleigh Fire and Burn Injury Statistics
In North Carolina, like any other state (statistics here), burn injuries pose significant challenges for victims, healthcare professionals, and the legal system. Fortunately, fire-related deaths are improving with less than 150 reported deaths statewide as a result of a fire. However, North Carolina continues to suffer from more fire-related injuries and deaths than nationwide averages, which is concerning and should be a reminder of the vigilance necessary on our parts to prevent fire and burn injuries and death.
Burn injuries are also a common work injury in North Carolina that our Raleigh work injury lawyers handle. Roughly 1000 workers in North Carolina suffer burn injuries each year significant enough to file a work claim.
Classifying the Severity of Burn Injuries in Raleigh, NC
Burn injuries are typically classified based on the depth of tissue damage they cause. This classification system divides burns into four categories:
First-Degree Burns:
First-degree burns, also known as superficial burns, are the least severe type of burn injury. They affect only the outer layer of the skin, known as the epidermis. Common symptoms include redness, mild swelling, and pain. While painful, these burns usually heal within a few days without causing any long-term damage.
Second-Degree Burns:
Second-degree burns, also called partial-thickness burns, penetrate deeper than first-degree burns and affect both the epidermis and the underlying layer, known as the dermis. These burns cause blistering, severe pain, redness, and swelling. Healing may take several weeks, and they can result in scarring or permanent skin discoloration.
Third-Degree Burns:
Third-degree burns, also known as full-thickness burns, are the most severe type. They extend through the entire epidermis and dermis, reaching the underlying tissues and sometimes even bones and muscles. Third-degree burns often appear charred, white, or leathery, and they can be relatively painless due to the destruction of nerve endings. Treating third-degree burns requires specialized medical attention, and extensive skin grafting is often necessary to aid in healing.
Fourth-Degree Burns:
In some cases, burns are classified as fourth-degree burns, which extend beyond the skin, affecting deep tissues, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. These burns are exceedingly severe and can lead to significant disability or even death.
Common Injuries Caused By Burn Accidents in Raleigh, NC
The consequences of burn injuries can vary widely depending on their severity, the area affected, and the promptness and effectiveness of medical treatment. Some potential consequences include:
Physical Scarring:
Severe burns, especially third-degree burns, can lead to extensive scarring and disfigurement, affecting the victim's physical appearance and self-esteem.
Emotional and Psychological Trauma:
Burn injuries can result in significant emotional and psychological trauma, leading to anxiety, depression, or even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Long-Term Disability:
Burn injuries that cause damage to muscles, nerves, or other tissues may result in long-term or permanent disabilities, impacting the victim's ability to perform daily activities or work.
Infections and Complications:
Burn injuries make the skin more susceptible to infections, which can further complicate the healing process and potentially lead to life-threatening conditions such as sepsis.
Amputation:
In severe cases, burn injuries can cause damage so extensive that amputation of affected limbs or body parts becomes necessary.
Raleigh Fire and Burn Cases We Handle
We can help with any burn injury claim, but the accidents listed below are the most common personal fire and burn claims we handle in North Carolina:
Thermal Burns
Scalds
Electrical Burns
Chemical Burns
Radiation Burns
Accidental fires
Gas leaks and explosions
Aerosol fires
Electrical fires
malfunctioning equipment
Gasoline and gas can fires
Static electricity fires
Steam and vapor burns
Nitrogen burns
Raleigh Fire and Burn Injury Lawyer Cost
For transparent, upfront pricing on what our trial attorneys charge to help you with your Raleigh fire or burn injury case, please click below.
Raleigh Fire and Burn Injury Lawyer FAQs
Areas Our Raleigh Fire and Burn Injury Lawyers Serve:
The Best Raleigh Fire and Burn Injury Lawyers Will:
THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATE YOUR ACCIDENT
EXPLAIN YOUR OPTIONS
GUIDE YOU THROUGH THE CLAIMS PROCESS
NEGOTIATE WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANY
FILE A LAWSUIT IF NECESSARY
ABOVE ALL ELSE, FIGHT FOR YOU
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Even if the at-fault party’s insurance company blames you for the accident, our Raleigh fire and burn injury attorneys can help you recover the maximum amount of compensation that you deserve for your damages.