Skilled Quincy Burn Injury Lawyer For Catastrophic Burn Claims
A severe burn can change your life in an instant. Treatment may include surgery, skin grafts and long-term care. Burns can also cause lasting scars and pain that make work and daily tasks harder.
As a Quincy burn injury lawyer, attorney Stephen P. Rapp helps families in Adams County and West Central Illinois seek compensation after severe burns caused by another party’s carelessness. He has more than 30 years of experience helping people with these claims.
What Quincy Families Should Know About Severe Burns
Doctors group burns by how deeply they damage the skin and tissue below it. Deeper burns often need more care and take longer to heal. Severe burns may include:
- Second-degree burns: These burns damage the top layer of skin and part of the layer below it. They often cause redness, swelling, blisters and severe pain. Deep burns may need surgery.
- Third-degree burns: These burns damage all layers of the skin and reach deeper tissue. They may look dry, white, leathery or burned. Many require surgery and skin grafts.
- Fourth-degree burns: These burns reach through the skin and into muscle or bone. They may cause deep burns and loss of feeling. These injuries need urgent care, surgery and long-term treatment.
Serious burns may also result from motor vehicle accidents on I-172, U.S. 24 or other roads, industrial accidents involving electrical incidents, chemical exposure or explosions and defective products such as faulty appliances, machines or equipment. These accidents may lead to high medical bills, lost income and long-term care.
Calculating The Long-Term Costs Of A Burn Injury Claim
To calculate the long-term costs of a burn injury claim in Illinois, you need to account for all future medical care, lost earning capacity and non-economic impacts like permanent disfigurement. Common types of damages include:
- Economic damages: May cover medical bills, lost wages, therapy, future care and other financial losses
- Noneconomic damages: May cover pain, scarring, emotional distress and changes to your daily life
Illinois law does not cap compensatory damages in most personal injury cases, allowing you to seek full recovery for lifetime expenses.
Frequently Asked Questions About Burn Injury Claims
Below are answers to common questions about severe burn injury claims in Illinois, including claim value, future care costs and lasting effects.
How much is a severe burn injury claim worth in Illinois?
The long-term costs of a severe burn injury claim in Illinois are calculated by combining immediate medical bills with projected future expenses that can exceed $10 million over a patient’s lifetime. Three factors often affect the value of a claim:
- Lifetime economic costs: Include medical care, therapy, lost income and future support
- Life care plan: Estimates the care, treatment and support you may need for years to come
- Permanent disfigurement damages: May cover lasting scars and other changes that affect your daily life
The total value of a personal injury claim depends on the burn’s severity, its long-term effects and the costs of the care you may need.
What if my burn injury happened at work?
A burn that happens at work may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. You may also have a separate claim against a third party if that person or company helped cause the accident.
How long do I have to file a burn injury lawsuit in Illinois?
Illinois generally gives you two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. Some exceptions may change this deadline, including rules for minors. Acting early can give you time to gather records, review the accident and protect your legal rights.
A severe burn can affect your health, work and daily life for years. Our legal guidance may help you seek compensation for those losses.
Contact Our Quincy Burn Injury Lawyer For A Free Consultation
If a severe burn has changed your life in Quincy or West Central Illinois, contact the Law Office of Stephen P. Rapp for a free consultation to discuss your catastrophic injuries. We take these cases on a contingency fee basis, so you pay attorney’s fees only if we recover compensation. Case costs and expenses may still apply. Call 217-223-4570 today.