Springfield Burn Injury Lawyer & Fire Accident Attorney

Burn injuries are surprisingly common and can be caused by chemicals, water, fire, electricity, steam, explosions, or molten materials.  Each year, 180,000 deaths occur because of burn accidents, and nearly half a million people are treated for burn injuries in emergency rooms.¹

Victims of fires and other burn injuries are often left with physical and psychological scars that leave them with mounting medical bills, lost wages, significant pain and suffering, and disfiguring scars.  When someone else’s negligent actions cause a burn injury – such as a landlord failing to follow fire safety guidelines – victims deserve full compensation for their injuries and losses.

Liable insurance carriers, companies, landlords, and others will do everything in their power to minimize payouts to burn injury victims.  That is why, if you or a loved one suffered a debilitating burn injury, it is vital to contact an experienced burn injury lawyer as soon as possible.  At Alekman DiTusa, we can help hold negligent parties accountable for their actions and help seek the compensation you rightfully deserve.

Call our office at 413-781-0000 to schedule a free consultation!

When you visit our Springfield or Northampton law offices, Massachusetts, you will find attorneys and staff who seek to provide personalized and caring service for all clients and believe that every client is important.

How Much Does a Massachusetts Burn Injury Lawyer Cost?

At Alekman DiTusa, we accept burn injury cases on a contingency fee basis (no fees for us unless compensation is recovered), and we advance all litigation costs and expenses.  (Typically, these costs and other lawsuit expenses are repaid through a settlement or jury award).  As a result, you will not need to come out of pocket for any expenses or legal fees while your case is ongoing, so you can focus on treatment and healing during this time.

What Experience Do You Have in Burn and Fire Injury Lawsuits?

We handle all types of burn injury cases and have access to reputable experts for testimony in burn injury lawsuits. Our experience in burn cases includes:

• Electrical Burns— When electricity contacts skin, significant damage to tissue and organs can result as it travels through the body, resulting in painful electrical burns.  We were able to help a laborer who hit an improperly marked underground electric line and suffered electrical burns. We also represented a woman who plugged in her alarm clock, and the resulting shock catastrophically burned her arm.

• Chemical Burns— Chemical burns can be caused by a variety of substances, including acids, lye, drain cleaners, lacquer thinner, gasoline, and other toxic and abrasive substances.²  We helped our client who was burned by lime in a home remodeling accident recover thousands of dollars in compensation.

• Gas and Other Explosions— Auto accidents often result in burns from a gasoline fire or explosion.  Gas explosion accidents cause some of the most severe and life-changing injuries.  These types of accidents regularly result in third-degree burns, the most serious level of damage.

• Radiation Burns. Radiation burns are caused when the skin or other tissue is damaged due to exposure to radiation.  The most dangerous radiation types are thermal radiation, radiofrequency energy, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and ionizing radiation.

• Hot Water Heater and Scalding Water Burns—Defective water heaters or a mistake by a plumber or technician could cause hot water to reach dangerously high temperatures.  By default, water heaters are set too hot for human contact.  One wrong adjustment and a person can suffer severe burns.

For example, our client stepped into a shower that had been installed by a previous homeowner.  The shower’s scald valve was missing, causing the temperature to spike and inflicting third-degree burns to our client from the waist down.  We negotiated a $400,000 settlement for these injuries.

In addition to the types of cases above, our burn injury lawyers also handle claims involving (but not limited to):

• Apartment Fires
• Truck or Tanker Explosions
• Workplace Injuries
• Automobile Accidents
• Electrical Cord Fires
• Defective Products
• Locked Fire Exits
• Recreational Fires (in hotels, retail stores, clubs, etc.)
• Hot coffee 

What Is the Difference Between First-Degree, Second-Degree, and Third-Degree Burns?

According to the Mayo Clinic, burns consist of tissue damage resulting from heat, overexposure to the sun or other radiation, or exposure to chemicals or electricity.³  Burns are classified as first-, second-, or third-degree, depending on how deep skin is damage.  The following are the differences between each type of burn:

• First-degree Burn.  This is a minor burn that only affects the outer layer of the skin (epidermis).  Typically, individuals with first-degree burns will experience some redness and mild to medium pain.

• Second-degree Burn.  This type of burn affects the top two layers of the skin, the epidermis and dermis.  It can cause excruciating swelling, red or white splotchy skin, and blisters.  Deep second-degree burns can result in scarring.

• Third-degree Burn.  Burns that reach the fat layer beneath the skin are referred to as third-degree burns.  Singed areas can be black, brown, or white and have a leathery appearance.  This severe burn destroys nerves, causing numbness.⁴

I Was Burned in my Apartment Fire.  Can I Sue My Landlord?

The risk of fires and burn injuries are significantly higher for those individuals living in apartment complexes.  Landlords generally must follow city, state, and federal regulations designed to keep tenants safe from harm.  These regulations can include:

• Making sure electrical wiring is in good condition and properly installed;
• Having safe fire escapes;
• Making sure smoke detectors are installed and properly located;
• Keeping fire escapes clear;
• Installing fire-resistant doors;
• Having regularly serviced fire extinguishers onsite;
• Scheduling periodic safety inspections;
• Keeping escape routes free from obstructions.

When landlords and apartment management companies neglect these duties, residents can sustain severe or even life-threatening injuries.  If fire safety precautions are not adequate or are non-existent at your apartment or rental property, you may be able to file a lawsuit against your landlord if you sustained burn injuries.

Give Yourself the Best Chance for Compensation for Your Burn Injuries.  Contact Our Experienced Burn and Fire Accident Injury Lawyers Today!

Burns are one of the most traumatic and costly injuries to treat.  Even a simple first-degree burn can become infected, requiring medical treatment.  Third-degree injuries can take years of treatment and often have a permanent impact on a victim’s functional capacity, ability to work, and quality of life.

In many cases, burns result in horrendously painful treatment and surgeries.  As experienced burn injury lawyers, a key aspect of our representation is to show juries (if a case goes to trial) the full extent of the pain and suffering that our clients have endured, as well as the pain and suffering likely to be endured in the future based upon their injuries.

If you or a loved one suffered a burn injury due to someone else’s negligence or carelessness, it is critical to hire an experienced injury lawyer who can protect your rights.  At Alekman DiTusa, we can tenaciously fight to hold all responsible parties accountable and seek to recover the full and fair damages to which you are entitled.  Do not miss out on your chance to potentially collect significant compensation – call today to schedule a free case evaluation.