California Burn Injury Lawyer

Burn injuries can be devastating. Many victims face intense pain, emergency treatment, surgeries, infections, scarring, and long-term rehabilitation. Severe burns can lead to permanent disfigurement, disability, emotional trauma, and major changes to daily life.

The Law Office of Norman Gregory Fernandez represents burn injury victims and families throughout California. Our firm focuses on proving fault, preserving evidence, and pursuing full compensation for medical care, future treatment, lost income, and the lasting impact of a serious burn injury.

If you or a loved one suffered a burn because someone failed to act safely, you may have the right to pursue compensation under California personal injury law.

Burn Injury Cases Require Immediate Action

Burn cases often involve evidence that can disappear quickly, such as unsafe wiring, defective appliances, hazardous chemicals, poor building maintenance, missing safety warnings, or code violations. In many cases, insurers and responsible parties move fast to repair, replace, or dispose of key evidence.

Early investigation can make a major difference. We focus on identifying the cause of the burn, documenting the injuries, and building a claim that accounts for the full cost of treatment and long-term consequences, including scarring, disability, and psychological harm.

When the injuries are severe, the legal case should be built with long-term medical needs in mind, not short-term settlement pressure.

Common Causes of Burn Injuries in California

Burn injuries can happen in many settings, including homes, apartments, hotels, workplaces, restaurants, construction sites, and public property. Common causes include:

• Fires caused by unsafe conditions, faulty wiring, or lack of safety measures
• Electrical burns from exposed wiring, defective outlets, or equipment failures
• Scalding burns from hot water, steam, spills, or defective temperature controls
• Chemical burns from cleaning agents, industrial chemicals, or hazardous substances
• Explosions involving gas leaks, propane, or defective products
• Defective appliances, heaters, batteries, or chargers that overheat
• Premises liability hazards, including poor maintenance or code violations
• Workplace and construction accidents involving heat, electricity, or chemicals

Types of Burn Injuries

Burn severity is often described by degrees and depth of tissue damage. Even smaller burns can lead to serious complications depending on location, infection risk, and scarring.

• First-degree burns (surface burns that may still be painful and require treatment)
• Second-degree burns (deeper burns that can blister and scar)
• Third-degree burns (full-thickness burns that may destroy nerves and require surgical care)
• Fourth-degree burns (deep burns affecting muscle or bone, often catastrophic)

Burn Injuries Often Cause Serious Long-Term Harm

Severe burns can lead to long-term complications that go beyond the initial injury. These may include:

• Skin grafts, reconstructive surgery, and ongoing wound care
• Permanent scarring and disfigurement
• Loss of mobility or function when burns affect joints or limbs
• Infections, nerve damage, and chronic pain
• Psychological trauma, anxiety, depression, or PTSD

Who May Be Liable for a Burn Injury

Liability depends on the cause of the burn and the location where it occurred. Potentially responsible parties may include:

• Property owners, landlords, and property management companies
• Businesses that created unsafe conditions or failed to fix hazards
• Manufacturers of defective products, appliances, batteries, or safety equipment
• Contractors or maintenance companies responsible for wiring, plumbing, or safety systems
• Employers and jobsite supervisors in workplace burn incidents
• Restaurants or commercial kitchens responsible for unsafe conditions

Compensation Available in California Burn Injury Cases

Burn injuries can create major expenses and long-term losses. Compensation may include:

• Emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgeries, and specialist care
• Skin grafts, burn unit treatment, rehabilitation, and therapy
• Future medical care, reconstructive procedures, and ongoing treatment
• Lost wages and loss of future earning capacity
• Pain, suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life
• Scarring, disfigurement, disability, and long-term impairment
• Out-of-pocket expenses and medically necessary home accommodations

What To Do After a Burn Injury

• Get medical care immediately and follow treatment instructions
• Document the scene with photos or video if it can be done safely
• Preserve the product or device involved if it caused the burn
• Request incident reports and identify witnesses
• Avoid recorded statements to insurers before speaking with a lawyer
• Keep records of treatment, time missed from work, and daily limitations

Frequently Asked Questions

Are burn injuries considered catastrophic injuries?
Severe burns can be catastrophic, especially when they involve permanent scarring, disfigurement, loss of function, or the need for multiple surgeries and long-term care.

What if the burn happened in an apartment or rental property?
Landlords and property managers may be responsible when unsafe wiring, missing smoke detectors, code violations, or poor maintenance contributed to a fire or burn injury.

Can I sue a manufacturer for a burn caused by a defective product?
Yes. If a defective product, battery, charger, appliance, or safety device caused the burn, a product liability claim may apply under California law.

How long do I have to file a burn injury claim?
Deadlines depend on the facts. Many injury claims have a limited time to file, and claims involving government entities can have shorter notice requirements. It is best to get legal advice early.

Speak With a California Burn Injury Lawyer

Burn injuries are painful, complex, and often life-changing. The right legal strategy focuses on identifying the cause, preserving evidence, and proving the full cost of medical care and long-term harm, including scarring, disability, and emotional trauma.

The Law Office of Norman Gregory Fernandez is here to help. With nearly 30 years of California personal injury experience, our firm handles serious burn injury claims with a focus on results and long-term security for injured people and families.

Call for a free consultation: 800-816-1529

Visit: thepersonalinjury.com

No fee unless we win.

You can download our California Accident App for iOS and Android by clicking here and visiting our California Accident App page. This application will allow you to record and transmit all information related to your burn injury case to our office.