Houston Burn Injury Lawyer

Seeking Fair Compensation For Burn Victims

A serious burn injury changes life in an instant. Beyond the immediate pain, burn victims often face months of treatment, repeated surgeries, permanent scarring, and financial strain that arrives while they are least able to work. According to the American Burn Association, hundreds of thousands of people receive medical treatment for burns in the United States every year. When your injury happened because someone else was careless, you should not have to carry those costs alone.

The Houston burn injury lawyers at Goldenzweig Law Group, PLLC bring nearly four decades of combined experience to catastrophic injury claims, and our founder spent years defending insurance companies before switching sides to represent the people those companies underpay. That background matters. We know how insurers value burn claims, which tactics they use to minimize payouts, and what it takes to push back. If you or a loved one suffered a serious burn in a car accident, a workplace incident, or any situation caused by another party’s negligence, we are ready to help you pursue the full compensation you are owed. Hablamos español.

Common Causes of Burn Injuries in the Houston Area

Houston’s economy puts a large number of people near the exact hazards that cause severe burns. The region’s petrochemical corridor along the Houston Ship Channel, refineries in Pasadena and Deer Park, and the constant industrial and construction activity across Harris County mean that workplace burns from fires, explosions, chemical exposure, and electrical contact are a recurring reality here. Many of our clients are injured on the job in exactly these settings, and workers in these industries are protected by federal safety standards enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Burn injuries in and around Houston commonly arise from industrial and refinery accidents involving flammable gases and chemicals, workplace explosions and flash fires, electrical accidents on job sites, truck and 18-wheeler crashes where fuel ignites, motorcycle wrecks that leave riders with severe friction and thermal burns, apartment and building fires tied to negligent property maintenance, defective products and appliances that overheat or catch fire, and scalding from unsafe equipment or improperly maintained water systems. Chemical burns are especially common in a city with this much industrial activity, and they often involve questions of employer safety compliance, third-party contractor liability, or a manufacturer’s defective product.

Pinning down how a burn happened is the first step in identifying who is responsible, because the at-fault party may be an employer, a property owner, a product manufacturer, a contractor, or more than one of these at once. In the most devastating cases, where a burn injury proves fatal, surviving family members may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim.

Types of Burn Injuries 

There are several different types of burn injuries, each of which are categorized according to severity, or “degree.” 

The different types of burn injuries include: 

• Thermal Burns: Thermal burns are the most common type of burn injury. They are caused by contact with hot items, surfaces, liquids, and substances. 
• Friction Burns: Also known as “road rash,” a friction burn is a combination of a heat burn (or thermal burn) and an abrasion (or scrape). 
• Electrical Burns: Electrical burns occur when an individual is electrocuted or otherwise comes into contact with live electrical currents. 
• Radiation Burns: Various forms of radiation, including x-rays and other medical treatments, as well as solar radiation, can cause radiation burns. A sunburn is a type of radiation burn. 
• Chemical Burns: These types of burn injuries are caused by contact with harsh and abrasive solvents, detergents, dyes, paint thinners, and other chemicals. 
• Cold Burns: Also known as “frostbite,” cold burns refer to skin damage and the destruction of other tissue due to exposure to extreme cold. 

These burn injuries are categorized according to the following degrees: 

• First-Degree Burns: First-degree burns are relatively mild injuries. They affect only the outer layer of skin (epidermis) and typically do not require professional medical attention. First-degree burns may result in pain, redness, and mild scarring. 
• Second-Degree Burns: Also known as partial-thickness burns, second-degree burns affect both the outer and lower layers of skin (epidermis and dermis, respectively). They may result in redness, swelling, blisters, pain, and a shiny appearance to the skin, as well as scarring. 
• Third-Degree Burns: Third-degree burns are also known as full-thickness burns because they result in destruction of both the epidermis and dermis, as well as damage to surrounding tissues and nerves. Third-degree burns often lead to “charred” skin, which may be black, brown, white, or yellow in appearance. 
• Fourth-Degree Burns: Fourth-degree burns are the most severe of all burn injuries in that they are the deepest and cause the most damage. These burn injuries destroy both the epidermis and dermis, as well as surrounding tissue, muscles, tendons, bones, and nerves. Fourth-degree burns may be fatal. 

It is not uncommon for the severity of a burn injury to change over time. This could happen if the damage caused by the initial burn continues to spread or if the injury itself becomes deeper. Because of this, you should always seek medical treatment for a serious burn injury. 

How Are Burn Injuries Treated? 

The appropriate treatment depends on the type and severity of the burn injury. First-degree and milder second-degree burns can be treated with basic first aid, such as running cool water over the affected area or applying a cool, damp compress. More serious burns generally require medical intervention, and severe burn injuries may necessitate treatment in specialized burn treatment centers. 

Generally speaking, the goal of burn injury treatment is to address the initial injury, prevent infection, and help victims regain function. Treatment also focuses on managing pain, limiting scarring, and removing damaged tissue (if necessary). 

Some common burn treatments include: 

• Dehydration prevention, often through intravenous (IV) fluids
• Ultrasound mist therapy for wound cleaning and stimulation 
• Topical ointments and creams to assist in healing and pain management
• Infection prevention, often with the use of antibiotics 
• Tetanus prevention, via a tetanus shot 
• Anxiety and pain management, often medically assisted 
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation 
• Occupational rehabilitation (if necessary) 
• Skin grafts, plastic surgery, and other surgical procedures 

These are just some of the various types of treatments used to address different types of burn injuries. The exact treatment you may need will depend on the type of burn you have suffered, the location and surface area of the burn, and its severity, among other factors. 

Preventing Burn Injuries: Tips for Home and Workplace Safety

At Goldenzweig Law Group, PLLC, we believe that prevention is always better than cure. That’s why we want to provide you with some helpful tips to prevent burn injuries in your home and workplace. By following these safety measures, you can reduce the risk of burn accidents and protect yourself and your loved ones:

Home Safety Tips:

• Always supervise children in the kitchen and keep them away from hot surfaces and appliances.
• Install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home and test them regularly.
• Keep flammable objects such as curtains, towels, and clothing away from open flames and heat sources.
• Use caution when cooking with hot oil and never leave the stove unattended.
• Set your water heater temperature to a safe level to avoid scalding.

Workplace Safety Tips:

• Follow all safety protocols and guidelines provided by your employer.
• Wear appropriate protective clothing and equipment when working with heat or chemicals.
• Ensure that fire extinguishers are easily accessible and regularly inspected.
• Report any potential fire hazards or faulty equipment to your supervisor immediately.
• Participate in fire safety training and know the evacuation plan for your workplace.

By implementing these safety measures, you can create a safer environment for yourself and those around you. However, accidents can still happen, and if you or a loved one has suffered a burn injury due to someone else’s negligence, our team of Houston burn injury lawyers is here to help. 

Your Legal Rights as a Texas Burn Injury Victim

Two features of Texas law shape almost every burn injury claim, and understanding them early can protect your case.

First, the deadline. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code section 16.003, you generally have two years from the date of your injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. Miss that window and a court will very likely dismiss your case no matter how strong it is. Some situations change the clock, such as injuries to minors or injuries that were not immediately discoverable, and claims against a government entity can carry much shorter notice deadlines. Because these exceptions are narrow and fact-specific, it is worth speaking with an attorney well before the two-year mark.

Second, shared fault. Texas follows a modified comparative negligence rule, also called proportionate responsibility, found in Chapter 33 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code. You can still recover damages if you were partly at fault for what happened, but your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault, and if you are found more than 50 percent responsible, you recover nothing. Insurance companies know this rule well and routinely try to shift blame onto burn victims to cut what they owe. Countering that requires evidence and a lawyer who can build the fault picture in your favor. These same rules apply across our personal injury practice, from vehicle crashes to workplace incidents.

Compensation for Burn Injury Victims 

Many burn injuries are the result of preventable accidents and incidents that occur only because someone else behaved negligently or wrongfully. When this is the case, burn victims and/or their loved ones may be entitled to financial compensation for their economic and non-economic damages.

Some examples of common damages for which a burn injury victim may be compensated include:

• Medical expenses, including future care costs
• Lost income, wages, and employment benefits 
• Loss of future earnings 
• Loss of or diminished earning ability 
• Physical and mental pain and suffering 
• Scarring and disfigurement 
• Emotional distress and anguish 
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 
• Anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions
• In-home assistance and care
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation
• Prescription and over-the-counter medications

To bring a personal injury claim against another person or party, you must prove that the other person or party breached a duty of care (or legal responsibility) owed to you. You must also show that the breach of the duty of care was the cause of your injuries and your resulting damages.