A serious burn is one of the most painful and life-altering injuries a person can suffer. Severe burns can require years of surgeries, skin grafts, and rehabilitation, and they often leave permanent scarring, disfigurement, and loss of function. At Collins Law Group, our Illinois burn injury lawyers represent people and families when someone else's negligence caused a catastrophic burn, and we are part of our broader catastrophic injury practice.
Doctors describe burns by depth and by how much of the body they cover. The deeper the burn and the larger the area, the more dangerous it is.
Severe burns are also measured by the total body surface area affected. Large burns can cause infection, fluid loss, breathing problems from smoke inhalation, and a long, painful recovery.
Burn injuries are expensive to treat and their effects last a lifetime. A claim can seek the cost of emergency care, surgeries, skin grafts, and future reconstructive procedures, along with lost income, reduced earning capacity, and compensation for pain, disfigurement, and the emotional toll of permanent scarring. When a burn results in death, we pursue an Illinois wrongful death claim for the family.
Most Illinois personal injury claims must be filed within two years of the injury under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, though different deadlines can apply, for example when a government entity is involved or the injured person is a minor. Illinois also follows modified comparative negligence under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116, meaning you can recover as long as you were not more than 50 percent at fault, with your recovery reduced by your share of fault. Because these rules are fact-specific, you should speak with a lawyer promptly.
We take a limited number of serious injury cases so we can give each the resources it demands, from fire-origin and product experts to life-care planners who document the full cost of a lifetime of treatment. If you or someone you love suffered a catastrophic burn, contact us for a free, confidential consultation. There is no fee unless we recover for you. Contact Collins Law Group today.
There is no fixed figure. Value depends on the depth and size of the burn, the surgeries and rehabilitation required, permanent scarring and disfigurement, lost income and earning capacity, and the pain involved. Severe burns that require lifelong care can support very substantial claims.
Depending on how the burn happened, responsible parties can include property owners, manufacturers of defective products, employers or third parties at a worksite, utility or gas companies, or a driver whose crash caused a fire. We investigate the origin and cause to identify everyone at fault.
Most personal injury claims must be filed within two years of the injury under 735 ILCS 5/13-202. Shorter deadlines can apply when a government entity is involved, and different rules apply to minors, so it is important to consult a lawyer promptly.
You can still recover under Illinois modified comparative negligence as long as you were not more than 50 percent at fault. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault.
We handle burn injury cases on a contingency fee. You pay no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you, and the consultation is free.
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