Acid and Chemical Burn Injury Lawyer in Los Angeles
California Chemical Burn Injury Attorney
Chemical burns happen due to exposure to an acid, alkali, or other organic compounds. While chemical burns are less common than other types of burn injuries, occupational hazard and exposure can lead to accidental injury when paired with unsafe conditions. Chemical burns can cause immense ongoing pain and suffering. A survivor may face physical and psychological pain which is often additionalized by financial devastation from medical expenses.
Some accidental acid burns can be due to the victims own negligence, however, if another person’s reckless or intentional action has caused you or a loved one to suffer from a chemical burn injury, they may be held liable in a court of law. Contact us today to seek advice from our California burn injury lawyers. Paul Rosenbaum and Associates is dedicated to fighting for the rights of traumatic chemical injury victims.
Recover Losses With a Burn Injury Settlement
If the careless or malicious actions of another resulted in physical trauma, such as a severe acid burn injury, you likely have just grounds to seek financial restitution. Recovering financial Restitution for a chemical burn injury can compensate you for:
- Medical Expenses
- Loss of Wages
- Future Reduced Earning Ability
- Pain and Suffering
- Mental Anguish
- Loss of Consortium
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life
In addition, the court may also award punitive damages. Receiving these depends on the facts of your situation or case and are awarded in order to punish the responsible party while simultaneously discouraging others from similar egregious actions.
To pursue restitution, you will need an experienced, skilled, and knowledgeable catastrophic injury lawyer. With over 30 years of experience, Paul Rosenbaum is there to guide you through the litigation process to help you pursue damages for your losses.
Is There a Legal Deadline to File Chemical Burn Suit?
According to the California Code of Civil Procedure, an individual has 2 years from the time of injury to file suit. (CCP § 335.1) There are, however, several exceptions listed below:
Medical Malpractice
If you have been injured due to medical malpractice, you have 3 years from the date of injury, or 1 year after you discover the injury, whichever occurs first. (CCP § 340.5)
Exceptions to this may extend the statute of limitations and may include: Fraud, Intentional Concealment, or the presence of a foreign body which has no therapeutic or diagnostic purpose or effect, in the person of the injured person. (CCP § 340.5)
Personal Property
If a chemical burn occurred due to personal property left at property such as an apartment, a hotel, a boarding house, a hospital etc., a suit must be filed within 90 days of departing the premises. (CCP § 341a)
Known Patent Defects
Also referred to as apparent, this is when injury occurs from property improvement design, survey, construction, etc., (CCP § 337.1). This must be filed 4 years from the date of construction finish.
Unknown Latent Defects
Aso referred to as not apparent, this is when injury occurs from property improvement design, survey, construction, etc., (CCP § 337.15). This must be filed 10 years from the date of construction finish.
Government Agencies
If you are filing a suit against government agencies or offices for personal injury/death cases, you must file an administrative claim within 6 months of the date of injury. (Gov code 911.2) The government then has 45 days to respond to the claim. (Government Code section 912.4)
If they deny your claim, you then have six months from the day you were given the notice to file a suit in court. (Government Code sections 912.4, 912.6)
If they do not respond, you then have 2 years from the date of the incident to file in court. (Government Code section 945.6a)
Get in touch with us today and file your case on time. It is crucial to file your case well in advance of the statutory deadline(s) so that courts will review the claim and you can move forward with pursuing compensation.
Common Burn Injury Causes
A burn injury can occur at home, work, on the road or on another person’s property. Faulty or unsafe products, improper warning labels, and hazardous workplace conditions are all common examples of mistakes that can result in a burn injury.
Common Types of Chemicals that Burn
Exposure to chemicals that can cause traumatic injuries can be due to a profession, such as medicine, chemical fabrication, mining, sanitation and other related occupations. Some of the most common chemicals which may cause severe burns include:
- Hydrochloric acid
- Sulfuric acid
- Ammonia
- Chlorine
- Lye
- Lime
- Silver Nitrate
- Glycolic acid
- Muriatic acid
- Carbon monoxide
In addition to occupational hazards, many of these can be found in products including pool supplies, teeth whiteners, denture cleaners, car battery acid, bleach, household cleaners, skin products and more.
If you have suffered a chemical burn from a household product with improper warning or usage instructions, it is vital that you reach out to a professional injury attorney who can start the process of getting you the compensation you deserve.
While a negligent manufacturer can lead to an injury in the home, for an employer, the best way to prevent something like an acid burn injury is to ensure proper safety precautions are provided and followed. This includes protective equipment and adequate training. Additionally, if an accident in which a chemical acid burn occurs, it is key that the injured party receive immediate medical attention. Depending on the chemical involved, hesitation can result in a more serious injury with increased damage.
Regardless of if it was intentional or due to carelessness, traumatic injury victims are often able to file a lawsuit to receive compensation. Get a free consultation today and see if your case may qualify.
Other Types of Burn Injuries
Besides Chemical burns, other common accidental burn injuries can include electrical, thermal and scalding:
- Electric Burns: Caused by an electric current or electricity
- Thermal Burns: Caused by explosions due to gas
- Scalding: Caused by hot substances
Each is classified by severity, calculated in degrees:
- First Degree Burn: Causes damage to outer layer of skin
- Second Degree Burn: Damages a few layers of skin and can cause some nerve damage
- Third Degree Burn: Causes damage to deep layers of skin, including tissue and bone. Nerve damage is also common.
Third degree burns are particularly damaging and can require extensive medical treatment. This may include physical therapy, surgeries,skin grafts, and costly prescriptions. Depending on the extent of the damage caused, burn survivors may face the possibility that a full recovery is impossible. Nerve damage can cause loss of touch sensation on and near the site of the burn and in worst cases, even paralysis. Additionally, permanent scarring and disfigurement can lead to a lifetime of psychological suffering and struggling. This is why it is important for survivors to have an experienced attorney who is ready to secure justice for traumatic burn victims.
Call Our California Burn Injury Attorneys For Help
If you or a loved one has experienced a severe burn from a preventable traumatic injury, it’s important to seek experienced legal representation with a strong and extensive understanding of the laws and legal systems governing these claims. Our attorneys offer all of this and more, and will fight hard on your behalf to maximize your potential compensation.
Our attorneys will manage the entire process of your claim. They will see you through investigating to arguing your case to a judge and/or jury. Rest assured they will work tirelessly in their efforts to aid you in successful financial recovery. Contact us today to schedule a confidential consultation for your traumatic chemical burn injury case.