Injuries From Burning Structures

Fires can occur at any time without warning. While some fires are started intentionally, most fires are unintentional and are simply caused by the negligent acts of one or more persons. Burn injuries are often permanent, and can leave the injured individual with scars, disfigurement, and the overall inability to have the same quality of life. In addition to suffering burns, victims often suffer from respiratory issues as a result of smoke inhalation. While this may not seem like a serious injury to some people, smoke inhalation has the potential to cause damage to the lungs, requiring the use of medication to treat breathing-related problems.

When fires start in residential buildings, such as apartment complexes, or condos, there must be a way for residents to safely exit the building without being burned. Unfortunately, many residential buildings are not up to code, and residents may not have the necessary means of escaping safely. In such cases, the property owner may share some of the responsibility for any burn injuries suffered. Of course, if one resident started the fire by negligently leaving a cigarette lit, or leaving a stove unattended, that person may certainly share some of the responsibility.

If you or a loved one suffers a burn injury from a fire that occurs in a commercial building, the building owner would be responsible for your injuries, and you will most likely be dealing with an insurance company offering to settle your claim. When insurance companies are involved in personal injury matters, there’s always a chance that an innocent victim is going to receive much less than he or she deserves. This is especially true for those suffering from burn injuries, because such injuries are not reversible and can only be treated to help with discomfort. When a burn victim will suffer for years to come, that person deserves substantial compensation. Therefore, it is always a good idea to seek the advice and counsel of a qualified Maine burn injury attorney right away after the injury occurred.

After suffering burn injuries, you may be entitled to compensation to cover the cost of medical treatment from the time of the injury going forward. When injuries are likely to require continued care throughout the victim’s life, it is sometimes difficult to estimate what amount of compensation will be adequate to cover such future medical expenses. In addition to having your medical expenses covered, you may be entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering. The simple fact that you have a permanent injury in itself establishes that you are suffering in some way. Further, if the conduct in question that caused the structural fire was particularly egregious or intentional, you may be able to recover punitive damages if your case goes to trial, however, most claims are settled out of court. An experienced Main burn injury attorney will evaluate your case in detail to estimate what compensation you may be entitled to.

The skilled and dedicated injury attorneys of Peter Thompson & Associates have handled numerous cases involving injuries suffered as a result of burning structures, helping injured victims receive the compensation they deserve. Our law offices conveniently provide legal services to injured Maine residents from all over the state with offices located in Portland, which is our main office, Falmouth, and Bangor. To schedule a consultation with one of our injury attorneys, contact Peter Thompson & Associates today by calling toll-free at 1 800.804.2004, or you may contact us online and we will respond to you as soon as possible.