What Kind of Settlement Can I Get for Burn Injuries From My Car Accident?
October 18, 2023
On average, burn settlements tend to be higher than those in other personal injury cases. The reason is that burn injuries are more severe in the short term and the long run. Since you are eligible to be paid for all of the harm you have suffered, both in the past and the future, you may be eligible for substantial financial compensation.
Your personal injury settlement may consist of the following:
- Medical costs
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Embarrassment and humiliation
Your Settlement Will Vary Based on Your Circumstances
You may read about the “average” medical costs for treating a burn injury, but it may not apply to your case. If your car accident burn injury is severe, you could count on high costs for treatment. These costs usually top $100,000, and they can be far more. Then, your costs could escalate substantially if your burn injury becomes infected. You may need multiple skin grafts that cost between $10,000 and $30,000.
Your Compensation Is More Than Just Your Actual Costs
Your burn injury could either keep you from working or reduce your earnings capacity. Some injuries cause severe nerve damage that can cost you the use of limbs or extremities. In other cases, scarring and disfigurement could make it hard for you to get or keep a job.
Pain and suffering can significantly increase your burn injury damage. Burns are painful injuries. You would likely need to go through a long period of healing and rehabilitation. Each skin graft can be painful and require significant recovery time. You may need several procedures over the years to fully treat your injuries. There may come a point where the doctors have done all they can do for you, although it could take years to reach that point.
You may be eligible for even more compensation if left with permanent scarring and disfigurement. Many burn injuries can cause a prominent change in your appearance. If your scarring is prominent, you can receive even more money.
An Attorney Can Help Maximize the Value of Your Claim
Ultimately, your case may be worth whatever you can get from the insurance company. If you get less than you deserve, your actual settlement check reflects the value of your settlement to you. There is only one chance to settle a personal injury case because you have to sign over your legal rights to further compensation as a condition for getting your check.
Trying to maximize the value of your burn injury case is up to you. Your lawyer can help with that by doing the following:
- Working with experts to understand the value of your case and how your injury has affected you.
- Negotiating with the insurance company to get them to raise their offer when they are trying to give you too little.
- Filing a lawsuit if your claim is denied or the insurance company will not give you enough money.
- Not only are burns painful, but they are also time-consuming. You may not have the knowledge or capacity to fight independently, making a lawyer’s help more critical.
Contact Our Baltimore Car Accident Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton to Learn More
If you have suffered severe burn injuries in a crash, our Baltimore car accident lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton can provide legal assistance. Call 800-547-4LAW (4529) or contact us online for a free initial consultation to discuss your case with a lawyer.
We have offices in Baltimore, Glen Burnie, Lanham, and Owings Mills, allowing us to represent clients in Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Prince George’s County, Queen Anne’s County, Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood, and Elkridge.