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Columbus, GA, Severe Burn Injury Lawyers

Helping You Get the Money You Need After a Severe Burn Injury in Columbus, GA

Severe burns cause life-threatening injuries that frequently result in severe pain and physical disability. Burns also cause emotional anguish and disfigurement. Victims of burn injuries may not be able to pursue activities they enjoyed before the accident.

Why Choose Us Over Other Burn Injury Lawyers in Columbus?

For over 35 years, Butler Prather LLP has been helping accident victims in Columbus, GA, which is home to many wonderful attractions, including the National Civil War Naval Museum, Springer Opera House, and Chattahoochee RiverWalk. We have won settlements and verdicts for clients in over 30 states. We’ve won ten verdicts that exceed $100 million and over 60 verdicts and settlements of over $10 million.

If you or a loved one is suffering from severe burns, contact Butler Prather LLP. Our experienced Columbus personal injury lawyers will file a claim or a lawsuit against anyone whose negligent behavior contributed to your injuries.

Call (706) 322-1990 to schedule a complimentary consultation with a Columbus burn injury lawyer today.

What Are Severe Burns?

Burns are classified by their severity, from first-degree to sixth-degree. Severe burns penetrate the deepest levels of the skin and beyond:

  • Third-degree burns destroy the dermis and epidermis, the top two layers of the skin. These burns result in deep scarring and the loss of hair and fingernails.
  • Fourth-degree burns harm all layers of the skin and damage hard and soft tissue, including muscles, tendons, bones, and internal organs.
  • Fifth-degree burns char the skin and damage hard and soft tissue and internal organs such as the heart, lungs, and kidneys. The harm may be so severe that it requires amputation of one or more limbs. These burns are often fatal.
  • Sixth-degree burns are almost always fatal, causing catastrophic injuries that extend to the bone and internal organs.

Injuries Caused by Severe Burns

People who suffer from severe burns require extensive medical treatment, and they may be forced to live with pain and disabilities for the rest of their lives. Burns cause scarring and disfigurement that may never completely go away, even after several rounds of reconstructive and plastic surgery.

Physical ailments caused by burns include:

  • Infections
  • Organ failure
  • Fluid loss
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Loss of mobility
  • Bone and joint damage
  • Scaring
  • Itching
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Amputation
  • Dismemberment
  • Difficulty sleeping

What Causes Severe Burns?

The most common type of burns are thermal burns, which occur when the skin comes into contact with a heat source. Thermal burns may be caused by fire, heated objects such as cooking utensils, and exposure to scalding water. Additional types of burns include chemical burns, electrical burns, and radiation burns.

There are various circumstances that cause severe burns, including:

  • Home and apartment fires
  • Motor vehicle collisions
  • Gas line explosions
  • Industrial accidents
  • Chemical plant accidents
  • Overheated pipes
  • Radiation leaks
  • Malfunctioning water heaters

Don’t Wait: The Statute of Limitations for Burn Victims in Georgia

Burn injury victims in Georgia must act fast. The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Georgia is typically two years from the date of the injury. That means you have only 24 months to file a lawsuit. After that, you may lose your right to seek compensation altogether.

There are some exceptions, however, such as when the injury wasn’t immediately discovered or when the injured person is a minor. But for most burn injury cases, the clock starts ticking the day the injury occurs.

Why does this matter?

  • Critical evidence can disappear.
  • Witness memories can fade.
  • Insurance companies begin building their defense immediately.

At Butler Prather LLP, we begin our investigation the moment you call us. We gather physical evidence, secure expert testimony, and build a compelling case designed for trial, even if a settlement is possible.

Do not delay. Every day counts when your health, your future, and your family’s well-being are at stake.

When Negligence Causes Fires

There are state and federal building codes and laws to prevent building fires, and anyone who violates these laws or fails to maintain a safe working environment may be held liable. People who own office buildings, apartments, and other buildings must make sure safety laws are being upheld.

The following types of hazards must be eliminated before tragedy strikes:

  • Lack of working fire extinguishers
  • Poorly marked emergency exits
  • Overcrowded buildings
  • Broken fire escapes
  • Faulty wiring
  • Broken or inadequate fire sprinklers
  • Poor building maintenance
  • Doors that aren’t fire-rated
  • Locked or obstructed exits

Who Is Liable for Severe Burn Injuries?

Everyone has a duty of care to take precautions to avoid behavior that may cause reasonably foreseeable harm to others. For example, a speeding or intoxicated driver who causes a collision that results in a fiery explosion may be held liable for another person’s injuries.

When a delivery or trucking company driver has an unsafe driving record, the business that employs them may be liable for negligent hiring. If a fire occurs at the workplace, employers and managers who fail to follow OSHA regulations may be held liable for injuries that result.

The following parties may be liable for burn injuries:

  • Landlords
  • Unsafe drivers
  • Property management companies
  • Business owners, managers, and employers
  • Trucking and delivery companies
  • Building inspectors
  • Contractors
  • HVAC companies
  • People who install and repair water heaters
  • Manufacturers of defective products

How Your Georgia Burn Injury Attorney Can Help

Industrial accidents, automobile crashes, building fires, and other events that cause severe burns frequently involve a lot of complex factors. It’s important to find a Columbus fire accident attorney who has the resources and experience to conduct a thorough investigation and guide your case to resolution.

Butler Prather LLP has won landmark legal verdicts and judgments against some of the most powerful interests in the nation. We know how to prove liability and explain complex information in a way that juries will understand.

Our expert witnesses include engineers, architects, fire investigators, forensics specialists, law enforcement professionals, and physicians. We will examine every shred of evidence, including:

  • Police reports
  • Fire Marshall reports
  • Surveillance camera video
  • Accident scene photos
  • Witness interviews
  • Internal company documents
  • Forensic evidence
  • Digital accident simulations

Frequently Asked Question

What types of burn injuries qualify for a personal injury lawsuit?

If your burns were caused by someone else’s negligence, such as a product malfunction, a building code violation, or an industrial accident, you may have a valid personal injury claim. This includes thermal burns, electrical burns, chemical burns (excluding those from asbestos or restricted chemical cases), and scalds from hot liquids.

How much compensation can I recover for a burn injury in Georgia?

Every case is different, but burn injury compensation can include:

  • Medical expenses (including reconstructive surgeries)
  • Loss of income and diminished earning potential
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress and PTSD
  • Permanent disfigurement
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • In some cases, punitive damages

We have a track record of securing significant results for seriously injured clients because we don’t settle for less than what you deserve.

How do you prove fault in a burn injury case in Georgia?

We work with engineers, product designers, safety experts, and medical professionals to determine what caused the burn and who is liable. Whether it’s a faulty gas tank or an unsafe workplace, our firm investigates every angle and holds negligent parties accountable.

Can I file a lawsuit if the accident happened at work?

If your burn injury occurred on the job, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation, but there are situations where you can file a separate personal injury claim, especially if a third party contributed to your injury.

Do all burn injury cases go to trial?

Many cases in Columbus are resolved through settlements, but at Butler Prather LLP, we prepare every case as if it will go to trial. Insurance companies know we don’t back down, and that pressure often results in more favorable outcomes. If your case does go to trial, we have the experience and track record to fight and win in the courtroom.

How soon should I contact a lawyer after a burn injury?

Immediately. The sooner we can begin investigating, the better your chances of building a strong case. Don’t wait until the medical bills pile up or the insurance company pressures you into a low settlement offer.

What does it cost to hire Butler Prather LLP?

We offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis. That means you don’t pay anything unless we win your case. There are no hidden fees or upfront costs. Our priority is helping you to recover and rebuild your life—not billing you hourly.

Damages Available for Burn Injury Victims

After suffering burn injuries, you may require hospitalization followed by a long period of convalescence. Severe burn victims may spend the rest of their lives contending with intense physical and emotional suffering. The Georgia burn injury lawyers at Butler Prather LLP will file a Columbus burn injury claim or lawsuit that includes the following types of damages:

  • Current and future medical expenses
  • Pain and suffering
  • Ambulance transport
  • Lost income
  • Emergency room treatment
  • Medical devices
  • Surgeries
  • Doctor’s office visits
  • Reduced quality of life
  • Occupational therapy
  • Rehabilitation
  • In-home nursing care
  • Reduced earning capacity
  • Physical therapy
  • Wrongful death

You Deserve Top-Tier Representation

At Butler Prather LLP, we’ve dedicated our legal practice to getting justice for people with catastrophic injuries. We understand how important your case is to you, and we always fight to win.

Butler Prather LLP treats all our clients and their families with respect and compassion, and you can count on us to answer whenever you have questions about your case. Contact our Columbus burn injury attorneys at (706) 322-1990 to learn more today with a free consultation.

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Columbus Office:
105 13th Street
Columbus, GA 31901

Mailing address:
P.O. Box 2766
Columbus, GA 31902

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Columbus Personal Injury Attorneys

I was in a complex premises liability case involving a multinational corporations. Mr. Butler & his associates were always three steps ahead of these defendants. When they say they are "exceptional trial lawyers," this is not just a slogan but it is a way of life.”
- Zack Hendon