Walker County Burn Injury Lawyer

Burns have the potential to be excruciating and disfiguring. While no one expects an accident to lead to such a catastrophic event, these unfortunate instances do happen. Such a severe injury may leave you with ever-mounting medical expenses, time lost, and in the worst cases, total lifestyle changes.

If you have been severely burned in an accident, you may need a legal advocate to represent your rights under the law. A Walker County burn injury lawyer may be a support during this difficult period.

Time Limits for Walker County Burn Injuries Claims

For most personal injury causes of action, the statute of limitations is two years, as is stated in the Official Code of Georgia Annotated §9-9-33. However, there are exceptions to this limit. Personal injury claims that seek compensation for loss of consortium have an increased period for filing of four years and may only be filed by married persons in Walker County.

Loss of consortium is a remedy available for spouses who have lost companionship and service from their husband or wife because of a traumatic injury. Because of the life-changing nature of burns, spouses of victims may be able to apply for this type of compensation. A Walker County burn injury attorney could help victims identify if their case warrants compensation of this nature.

Comparative Negligence and Burn Injuries

In Walker County, victims of burns may recover from a negligent person who caused their burns, so long as claimants are not more negligent than the defendant. This rule of determining fault in Walker County is known as comparative negligence.

Under O.C.G.A. §46-8-291, claim holders must not be 50 percent or more responsible for the accident to recover. Moreover, claimants’ awards may be reduced by their percentages of contribution to their own harm. Because of the fickle nature of comparative negligence, it may be best to retain the services of a burn injury attorney in Walker County.

Fire Safety Regulations in Walker County

One way that claimants could prove a negligent party’s fault is by showing that he or she violated the fire code. However, disregard of the code does not by itself establish negligence. A claim holder would likely need to show that this failure to comply with the fire code was the cause of the severe burn injury.

Especially Hazardous Buildings

Some structures may be deemed to pose “special hazards to property”, as has been described in O.C.G.A. §25-2-13(b). These buildings, including those that are more than three stories high or that accommodate crowds, must exercise particular measures to prevent fires.

After inspection and an order from the fire marshal, owners of these types of buildings must often install fire-resistant walls and sprinkler systems. A burn injury lawyer in Walker County may be familiar with cases relating to fire code infringements.

Walker County Regulations for Explosives

As stated in O.C.G.A. §25-2-17(d), no one may manufacture, store, transport, or sell explosives without a permit. The purpose of requiring a license for explosives is to safeguard the public from unsafe practices.

An unpermitted individual or entity could be found liable in a lawsuit for burn injuries caused by explosives.

Burns at Work in Walker County

Dangerous conditions or a hazardous occupation may pose a threat of to workers of these jobs.

Per Georgia’s definition, catastrophic burns are second or third-degree burns on at least one-fourth of the body or third-degree burns on at least 5 percent of the face or hands. Victims with these critical types of burns may be eligible to receive workers compensation for an increased duration. A Walker County burn injury attorney may be able to advocate for clients with workers compensation issues.

However, the Georgia State Board of Workers Compensation limits the time in which a person could receive workers compensation payments. Fortunately, different rules regarding timelines might apply for extreme burn injury victims.

Contact a Burn Injury Attorney in Walker County

If you or a loved one has been severely burned, medical bills, rehabilitation, and changes to your lifestyle could make everyday life seem incredibly overwhelming. A Walker County burn injury lawyer may provide guidance on how you could file a personal injury lawsuit to recover the compensation you need.

Make an appointment at the law offices of a local attorney today. A legal professional may be able to answer some of your questions.