Good settlements for burn injuries vary, depending on the severity of a victim’s injury and the extent of its impact on the victim’s life. Fourth-degree burns may yield much larger settlements than first-degree burns, but you may still recover a sizable amount for a minor burn injury.
Our lawyers can tell whether a burn injury settlement is good by assessing whether it covers all medical expenses, lost wages, and other economic damages associated with your injury. A good settlement should also include compensation for pain and suffering, which is typically high for burn injury victims. We can help you get a strong settlement as quickly as possible and keep you from settling for less than you deserve.
Call Basch, Keegan & Spada’s Hudson Valley, NY personal injury lawyers at (845) 303-2748 for your free case evaluation.
What Kinds of Damages Should a Good Burn Injury Settlement Cover?
A good settlement for a burn injury should cover all of the economic and non-economic losses you have incurred as a direct result of the injury and the defendant’s negligence. These are known as “compensatory damages,” and seek to make you whole again after an accident.
What’s a Good Settlement for a First-Degree Burn Injury?
A first-degree burn injury most likely still deserves some compensation for medical treatment and pain and suffering. Compared to other burns, first-degree burn injuries may heal relatively quickly and require the least amount of medical attention, so a good settlement for first-degree burn may be lower than that for other injuries, but still may be thousands of dollars.
What’s a Good Settlement for a Second-Degree Burn Injury?
Second-degree burns can cause permanent scarring and contribute to greater non-economic damages, potentially leading to a larger settlement than a victim would recover for a first-degree burn injury.
What’s a Good Settlement for a Third-Degree Burn Injury?
A good settlement for a third-degree burn injury should cover all of the medical expenses related to the injury, such as reconstructive surgery, as well as the severe physical pain and mental suffering that often accompany such severe injuries, and may equate to hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not more.
What’s a Good Settlement for a Fourth-Degree Burn Injury?
Good settlements for fourth-degree burn injuries are significantly larger than others due to the traumatizing and permanent nature of such injuries. Fourth-degree burns can be fatal, and survivors may seek compensation for their pain and suffering after losing a loved one, which can increase the value of a claim.
For a settlement for a fourth-degree burn injury to be good enough and cover all of your medical bills, lost wages, and non-economic damages, it may have to be millions of dollars.
What Evidence Do You Need to Get a Good Settlement for a Burn Injury in New York?
To get a good settlement for a burn injury in New York, you need evidence of your damages and the defendant’s negligence. Medical bills and income records help us prove your most consequential economic damages from a burn injury, while your statements and own descriptions of your pain and suffering can be strong evidence of your non-economic damages.
We may also use the following as evidence of liability to get a good settlement:
- Photos
- Videos
- Eyewitness statements
Will You Have to Give a Deposition to Get a Good Burn Injury Settlement?
To get a good settlement for a burn injury, you need to convince the opposing side that they will most likely be found liable if the case were to go to court. You might be able to achieve by giving a deposition.
What Happens During a Deposition for a Burn Injury Settlement?
During a deposition, you may be asked questions about yourself, the accident, and your injuries, and must answer these questions honestly. You don’t necessarily have to give a deposition to get a good settlement, though it is likely in a personal injury case, especially if you want the settlement to cover non-economic damages.
What Future Damages Should a Good Burn Injury Settlement Cover?
Burn injuries, especially third- and fourth-degree burns, can cause lifelong damages that victims should not have to cover themselves and should be covered by a settlement.
Economic Damages
For example, a good settlement for a burn injury should cover damages from future reconstructive surgeries or other procedures that are part of your treatment plan, as well as future lost wages if you can never work at the same earning capacity again.
Non-Economic Damages
Severe burns often cause permanent disfigurement and scarring, which can cause lifelong pain and suffering that is also compensable in an out-of-court settlement.
What Kinds of Damages Are Not Available form a Burn Injury Settlement?
You can only get compensatory damages in a settlement, and cannot get punitive damages if you resolve your case outside of court in New York.
Punitive damages only come from trials when plaintiffs prove gross negligence through clear and convincing evidence.
How Long Can it Take to Get a Good Settlement for a Burn Injury in New York?
It can take any amount of time to get a good settlement for a burn injury in New York. Some cases settle within weeks, while others take months, sometimes even years to resolve. The length of your case depends on many factors, and our Middletown, NY personal injury lawyers can help evaluate them to estimate how long it may take.
Do You Need a Lawyer to Get a Good Settlement for a Burn Injury in New York?
Victims with serious burn injuries should prioritize getting a lawyer as soon as possible. Without an attorney by your side, getting a good settlement becomes much harder. Furthermore, you could be more likely to sign a bad settlement agreement that leaves too many of your damages uncovered if you don’t get an attorney.
Get Our Help with Your Burn Injury Case in New York
Call Basch, Keegan & Spada’s Kingston, NY personal injury lawyers at (845) 303-2748 for your free case evaluation.