Trusted US Burn Injury Attorneys

What Burn Injury Attorneys Do?

Burn injury attorneys play a critical role in supporting victims who have suffered from severe burns due to negligence or wrongful acts. Even more than typical essential legal work, burn injury attorneys prepare for the distinct challenges that these specific cases often present. With their specialized knowledge, they provide a pathway to justice and compensation for individuals and families affected by life-altering injuries.

Understand Attorney’s Role

Beyond the immediate legal battles, burn injury attorneys become advocates for their clients, working tirelessly to raise awareness about fire safety and prevention measures. They work to establish liability by gathering detailed evidence, such as medical records, accident reports, and expert testimonies, to build a compelling case. Firms such as Abel Law Firm and Ryan Bisher Ryan & Simons investigate these cases vigorously. Our burn injury attorneys won’t stop until we reach accountability—be it an employer, manufacturer, or property owner. Knowing burn injury laws and regulations is equally important. Attorneys evaluate cases based on legal standards, such as negligence or product liability, and ensure clients’ claims comply with statutes of limitations. In Oklahoma, for example, victims typically only have two years in which to file a claim, so pursuing legal action quickly is crucial.

Explain Legal Responsibilities

Effective representation means getting skilled advocates who are capable of clear, ethical, and vigorous legislative support. Firms like Nix Patterson understand the importance of protecting our clients’ confidential communications and information. Consistent communication on the progress of their case will prevent clients from feeling left in the dark, which will relieve pressure during an especially stressful period. In addition, attorneys are held to rigorous ethical constraints, requiring their practice to reflect the utmost professionalism and reliability.

Navigate Complex Burn Cases

Burn injury cases are usually extremely complicated legal and medical matters. Attorneys will calculate your burn injuries, from first-degree burns to fourth-degree burns to find the compensation needed. This often involves determining the cost of medical bills, lost income, and other costs, including the emotional pain and suffering associated with life-altering injuries. Attorneys at Ryan Bisher Ryan & Simons have more than 30 years of experience. They fight tooth and nail to get victims damages that make sense with the extent of their injuries. Having this specialized knowledge is especially important when facing special circumstances, like burns suffered in the workplace or due to a defective product. Abel Law Firm has more than 130 years of combined experience. Their results speak for themselves with dozens of multimillion dollar settlements and jury awards, including the largest verdict ever recorded in Oklahoma.

What Causes Burn Injuries?

It is important to know what causes burn injuries to help find out who is responsible and seeking the right legal action toward them. Burn injuries can result from multiple situations, most commonly associated with a lack of care or hazardous conditions. From domestic accidents to occupational dangers, understanding these causes informs better, more effective advocacy for burn injury victims.

1. Common Causes of Burn Injuries

Burn injuries are very common in people’s daily lives. Contact with hot cooking grease, boiling water, or steam make up some of the most common household accidents which result in burn injuries. Workplace accidents are the second most common cause, especially in industries with high levels of machinery use, chemicals, or anything with a heat source. Burns caused by defective products are another common cause of burn injuries. Defective, dangerous products like malfunctioning appliances or badly designed or inadequately tested electronics contribute significantly to this issue. Additionally, environmental considerations such as open flames and inadequately serviced heating mechanisms play a role. Thermal burns, caused by fire or hot surfaces, account for a significant number of cases, underscoring the need for awareness and precautions.

2. Burns from Fire and Explosions

Fires and explosions are one of the most serious causes of burns. For example, residential fires are frequently the result of defective wiring or cooking that isn’t monitored. Commercial fires often originate from safety code violations. Both types are extremely dangerous. Each year in the United States, over 414,000 burn injuries are treated in emergency departments. A significant portion of these injuries are caused by burn-related incidents. Those responsible for disregarding fire safety codes are often held legally responsible. This is especially true for landlords, employers, and manufacturers of defective or dangerous equipment.

3. Chemical Burn Injury Scenarios

Chemical burns occur when you come into contact with harmful chemicals such as acids, solvents, or cleaning products. In fact, many injuries occur due to improper handling or storage of these hazardous materials. This is particularly the case in environments like laboratories, manufacturing plants, and construction sites. Commercial victims rue the day with deep devastating injury from lack of training and protection to avoid hazards. If you’ve suffered an injury caused by someone else’s carelessness, you may be entitled to significant compensation. This includes accidents due to inadequate warnings or missing safety gear.

4. Electrical Burn Injury Scenarios

Electrical burn injuries often happen while using equipment with direct exposure to live wires, faulty electrical equipment, or unsafe installations. These injuries are especially common in industrial and construction workplaces, where following safety procedures are of the utmost importance. When employers or contractors fail to take these safety precautions, they can be held responsible for any injuries caused under federal and state workplace safety laws.

5. Scalding Accidents and Injuries

Hot liquids and steam represent a major scalding risk, especially in kitchens or bathrooms. As a result, vulnerable populations — especially children and the elderly — suffer the most. Thermal burns from scalding water or steam can be avoided with adequate supervision and regulation of home water heating units or appliances. Victims of negligence in these circumstances can hold the at-fault party accountable through a burn injury lawsuit.

6. Radiation Burns and Exposure

Radiation burns are less common, but can happen as a result of medical treatment including radiation therapy or from extended exposure to the sun. These burns can cause long-term impacts, such as permanent skin damage or risk for developing cancer. Therefore healthcare providers and employers in radiation-heavy industries should do everything in their power to reduce avoidable harm from unnecessary radiation exposure. They have a legal duty to warn people of the dangers they may encounter.

7. Negligence and Preventable Burns

In fact, negligence is a leading factor in most burn injury claims. Cutting corners, a lack of care for maintenance, or mismanagement of hazardous locales all result in avoidable injuries and deaths. Unless negligent parties are held appropriately accountable, bringing justice to victims cannot be accomplished. It requires more stringent safety standards across residential, occupational, and public sectors.

Unique Challenges of Burn Injury Cases

Although burn injury cases present unique challenges, with the right approach, these cases can be extremely rewarding. For these cases, the legal claims aren’t the only aspect. They address the profound physical, emotional, and financial impact of these injuries on victims and their families. It’s important to understand unique challenges of burn injury cases. It focuses on every detail of a victim’s reclamation and future—the entirety of life that deserves legal protection and redress.

Long-Term Medical Needs

These serious medical conditions usually require extensive treatments, including multiple surgical procedures, skin grafts, and rehabilitation therapy. Some victims will need lifetime medical care, especially as complications such as infections or loss of mobility set in after treatment. The financial pressure might seem insurmountable. Burn cases require extensive rehabilitation and treatment costs often average $200,000 or higher and in some cases even surpass $1 million. So when negotiating your compensation, accurately estimating these future medical expenses is key. Attorneys work directly with medical experts. Then, they collaborate to calculate future costs of care and get them accounted for in claims. Securing this funding means victims can access the treatments they need without the burden of financial insecurity.

Emotional and Psychological Trauma

The psychological impact of burn injuries is significant. Victims are regularly dealing with anxiety, depression, or PTSD, and families deal with the emotional turmoil of watching their loved one suffer. Emotional distress is an often-overlooked aspect of damages. It’s vital to include emotional distress in damages claims to accurately portray the injury’s total impact. Attorneys play a critical role in documenting these traumatic experiences and connecting clients to mental health support services. Counseling and therapy support groups provide survivors and their loved ones with important coping tools to address trauma. These resources help build resilience and promote recovery.

Scarring and Disfigurement Impact

Scarring and disfigurement as a result of severe burns significantly lessen the burn victim’s enjoyment of life. This impacts their self-image, social interactions, family life, and more. Legally, permanent injuries such as these carry a lot of importance when it comes to the awarding of damages. Attorneys strive to make sure these claims take into consideration the emotional and physical effects of scarring and disfigurement. Reconstructive surgery makes a tremendous difference in functionality and artistry. It can be prohibitively expensive to obtain, requiring significant financial outlay, that’s only guaranteed with legal firepower.

Complex Liability Issues

Burn injury cases often have several parties who can be held liable— including employers, property owners, or manufacturers of defective products. It can be quite difficult to figure out whom to hold accountable, particularly when defendants argue that they are not responsible. In-depth investigations by talented plaintiff’s attorneys can go a long way towards establishing liability by unearthing evidence. Getting these very complicated cases fairly compensated is crucial for the victims and their families.

How to Determine Long-Term Costs?

Estimating the long-term costs of burn injuries is a complex process that takes into account medical, financial, and emotional aspects. Burn injuries—especially the more serious ones—frequently lead to shocking costs that go well beyond immediate medical care. Attorneys are an integral part of the process to make sure these costs are figured in and properly reimbursed.

Future Medical Expenses

Burn injuries often necessitate years—and sometimes a lifetime—of expensive medical attention. For devastating burns, care can cost more than $10 million, particularly for patients with third- and fourth-degree burns and serious burn complications. Even modest burns can accumulate costs in the hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Between skin grafts, specialized wound care, and inevitable follow-up surgeries, costs start accumulating very quickly. Factors such as the location and severity of the burns—on areas like the face, hands, or major joints—significantly influence treatment needs. Attorneys work hand in hand with medical professionals to calculate costs long term. It’s this collaborative effort that allows maimed victims to obtain the damages necessary for long-term care.

Lost Earning Capacity

Lost earning capacity is the decline in a victim’s earning potential as a result of their injuries. Severe burns can result in permanent, life-altering disabilities that restrict physical or cognitive abilities, directly affecting employability and career paths. Permanent visible disfigurement or loss of mobility may not allow an individual to go back to their former occupation. It further limits their options to move into new positions. Keeping track of these monetary damages is essential in any claim involving burn injuries. Attorneys collaborate with vocational experts to calculate the income a victim would have earned if not for the injury, ensuring fair compensation for diminished earning potential.

Rehabilitation and Therapy Costs

Rehabilitation, including occupational and physical therapy as well as psychological counseling, is an important aspect of recovery for those who survive burns. These services help heal both physical challenges, such as getting mobility back, and psychological trauma, like depression or PTSD. Depending on the severity of an injury, rehabilitation costs can become exorbitant in a hurry. Attorneys understand just how important these treatments are. They thoroughly vet them to allow them to be included in settlement negotiations upfront, putting vital resources into victims’ hands to help them rebuild their lives.

Pain and Suffering Compensation

Pain and suffering covers both the physical pain and emotional distress caused by burn injuries. In legal claims, this includes elements like chronic pain, scarring either on the body or mind, or other differences in the quality of life. Attorneys present compelling evidence, like medical records and expert testimony, to establish the severity of the pain and its impact. This effort secures fair compensation for these intangible yet significant damages.

Evidence and Expert Testimony

Creating the best burn injury case starts with offering the most compelling evidence and using expert testimony to your advantage. All three are critical to establishing causation of the injury, the severity of the injury, and damages suffered. From rich documentation to expert testimony, it’s all about developing a logical, persuasive story that lays out the basis for your claim.

Medical Records and Documentation

Medical records that are both accurate and recent can be some of the most important factors in any burn injury case. These documents represent irrefutable proof of the injuries you’ve sustained and serve as the bedrock of a potential legal claim. They describe different types of burns, explaining the difference between first, second, and third degree burns and their severity. They provide a description of the involved structures, the extent of tissue injury, and possible complications including infections or nerve injury. Further medical records provide evidence of maintenance care, needing multiple surgeries, skin grafts, rehabilitation and psychological support. Detailed documentation, with clear images of how the injury appears and changes over time, provides a visual aide that enhances medical testimony. Photos of the burn scene immediately following the event show some key clues. This picture shows the crash scene which contributed to the injury sustained. Medical professionals, such as physicians and nurses, are key actors in processing, collecting, and protecting these records. Most importantly, they make sure that information is not only comprehensive but trustworthy. These records not only establish the injury’s extent but help quantify compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and emotional distress.

Expert Witness Testimony

Never underestimate the value of expert witnesses in burn injury litigation. They offer expert insight that can distill confusing or complicated medical or technical information into meaningful understanding for the court. Medical specialists, such as doctors and others, can illuminate how the injury happened, what specialized treatment the plaintiff will need, and what the lasting impacts will be. Their testimony can further support claims for future expenses, like reconstructive surgeries or long-term therapy. Psychologists will address the psychological impacts of disfigurement. At the same time, occupational therapists will provide testimony on how the injury limits your capacity to work. The credibility of these experts goes a long way toward making your case. Their objectivity and strong reputation increase its overall credibility in court.

Accident Reconstruction Analysis

Accident reconstruction specialists use physical evidence from the burn accident to recreate exactly how the burn injury happened and who’s at fault. They rely on photographs, witness statements and inspections of the scene to re-create events. This procedural step allows them to lay a more illustrative context surrounding events. After an industrial accident, the plaintiffs’ expert promptly finds clear violations of safety protocols or malfunctioning equipment. These conditions are factors that usually cause injury. This recent analysis has helped to define liability—the key to obtaining full and fair compensation. A thorough reconstruction often uncovers negligence like lack of adequate safety warnings which can bolster your case.

Navigating Regulatory and Insurance Issues

Burn injury cases present multifaceted challenges. Yet they entail navigating policy, regulatory, and insurance issues, which require a keen familiarity with state policies and industry norms. In Pennsylvania, burn injury victims must overcome specific hurdles. They have to contend with unique regulatory, insurance, and safety challenges that severely hamper their recovery. Each piece is immensely important to the success or failure of claims and lawsuits that arise, but they make professional legal expertise essential.

Dealing with Insurance Companies

Insurance companies are usually at the heart of any burn injury case, but dealing with them isn’t always cut and dry. Though adjusters can act friendly and helpful, their main interest is in reducing payouts. They can minimize or dismiss the severity of the injuries. They may ridiculously dispute liability for the accident or provide on-the-scene settlements that are far too low to resolve the claim. If you’ve experienced a burn injury on the job, workers’ compensation can cover your medical bills as well as partial lost wages. The real disputes come over the actual value of the coverage you’re entitled to. Attorneys serve as effective advocates in these negotiations. They manage all communications with insurance adjusters and use hard evidence such as medical records and specialist witness testimony to refute lowball settlement offers. For patients with serious catastrophic burns, survivors typically need ongoing care or to adjust to a disability. This is where the role of securing fair compensation becomes more important than ever. Since 80% of burn injury insurance claims can be complicated, hiring an experienced attorney means you’ll have someone looking at every detail.

Understanding Regulations

Burn safety and liability are not carefully regulated. In Pennsylvania, employers are responsible for providing and maintaining safe workplace environments. They’re obligated to supply protective gear and file reports of injuries with the state’s workers’ compensation bureau. Like the theme parks, property owners have a duty to keep their premises safe for invitees. Adherence to these procedural requirements can make or break the success of a claim. If a property owner chooses to ignore basic safety standards, they need only have themselves to blame. They might be liable for any injury a guest incurs. Attorneys provide invaluable regulatory expertise in these cases. They determine if safety regulations were breached and the impact of compliance or noncompliance on liability. This perspective is instrumental in crafting a winning argument and traversing the legal landscape in the most effective way.

Filing Claims and Lawsuits

Filing a burn injury claim can be a long and complicated process, starting with having to gather all evidence and filing a well-documented claim. Stringent deadlines, like Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations, need to be honored or a victim risks forfeiting the right to any compensation. Attorneys help simplify this process by making sure that every step is done the right way without taking the focus away from the client’s recovery. They prepare for possible litigation if a deal cannot be struck. Most importantly, their expertise helps them to craft the best case possible before heading into a court battle.

Establishing Causation and Liability

Burn injury claims must establish both causation and liability by a preponderance of the evidence in order to allow victims to pursue just compensation for their injuries. This is a delicate process that requires understanding what caused the injury, who is at fault, and providing irrefutable evidence to prove fault. Attorneys are forensically instrumental in breaking down these complicated facets, advocating for the victims’ rights every step of the way.

Proving Negligence

Negligence in burn injury cases, like most personal injury cases, means that a party did not take reasonable precautions for the safety of others and caused an injury. Attorneys must establish four key elements: duty of care, breach of that duty, causation, and damages. For example, in employer negligence in workplace accidents, an employer has a duty of care to ensure safe working conditions. If unsafe equipment ignited burns, they might have violated this duty. Attorneys will gather medical records, accident reports, and expert testimony to show how this negligence directly caused the injury. Often a case can be strengthened by testimonies from safety inspectors or burn specialists, making the case even more compelling and providing a sturdy foundation.

Identifying Responsible Parties

Establishing liability can be complicated, requiring identification of everyone whose actions or failure to act played a role in the injury. In the majority of instances, liability is joint and several. For instance, in the case of a burn from a defective product, a manufacturer, distributor, and retailer may each share liability. Attorneys file detailed lawsuits after intensive investigations, long examinations of product designs, testing records, safety warnings, and more. In premises liability cases as well, property owners can be found liable along with a hired contractor if the contractor’s bad electrical work resulted in burns. This all-encompassing strategy leaves no potentially liable party behind, allowing you to obtain the fairest and highest compensation possible.

Gathering Evidence of Causation

Evidence is the lifeblood of any burn injury case. Attorneys gather all types of evidence, such as eyewitness testimony, medical records, and expert testimony. Eyewitness accounts of what transpired prior to the injury, together with the medical history directly connecting the burns to the incident at hand, are crucial. Experts, like fire investigators or design engineers, help us understand the mechanics of the accident’s cause. For instance, an investigator might determine defective wiring started an electrical fire. By compiling this evidence, attorneys build a robust case that establishes a clear connection between the injury and the responsible party.

Finding a Burn Injury Lawyer Near Me

In the process of recovering from a serious injury that a burn injury might entail, the right legal representation can make all the difference. At the same time, burn injuries typically require extensive medical care, rehabilitation, and trauma, often leaving victims devastated. A qualified burn injury lawyer provides extensive benefits beyond legal assistance. They fight for you, they become your advocate and navigate you through the complexities of pursuing compensation. Whether through negotiating favorable settlements or vigorously advocating for you in trial, their experience is invaluable to crafting a successful case.

Check for Experience

The first thing you want to look for when hiring a burn injury attorney is their experience. Burn injury lawsuits are complex, requiring extensive medical documentation, expert witness testimony, and complex liability claims to address at times. An experienced burn injury attorney knows how to push past these obstacles to win your case. For instance, at The Wilhite Law Firm, our legal team has extensive experience managing burn injury claims, from minor burns to severe, life-altering injuries. Your unique expertise in this field allows you to catch even the smallest things. That attention to detail can make all the difference in your case’s result. Checking an attorney’s past performance can help you gauge their likelihood of bringing you a positive outcome. Seek out proven results, like settlements and verdicts, especially in the context of burn accident cases.

Read Reviews and Testimonials

Client reviews and testimonials can provide you with helpful information about an attorney’s reputation and specific practice. Reviews from past clients will show you how well your burn injury attorney near me communicates with clients, works on cases, and delivers results. Our managing partner Jeff Benton has the highest possible AVVO rating of 10. As a result, he has received many accolades for his compassionate advocacy and superior legal skill. This means that consumer-friendly online platforms or the attorney’s own website easily showcase this information, putting it front and center for potential clients to see. A prospective lawyer with high reviews demonstrates they are reliable. This track record of happy clients matters when you require legal representation for something as severe as a burn injury.

Schedule Consultations

Scheduling consultations is a practical way to evaluate potential attorneys. These meetings provide an opportunity to discuss your case, understand the lawyer’s strategy, and clarify their fee structure. For example, many firms, like J. Alexander Law Firm, offer free consultations, making it easier to explore your options without financial pressure. Use this time to ask detailed questions about their experience with burn injury cases, their approach to communication, and how they plan to handle your claim. Assessing compatibility during these meetings ensures you choose an attorney who aligns with your needs.

Settlements vs. Trial Strategies

Choosing between settling a burn injury case or going to trial is a significant decision, and each option comes with distinct advantages and considerations. While settlements are often quicker and less stressful, trials may offer the opportunity for a larger award in certain cases. Attorneys play a critical role in evaluating these options, ensuring their clients understand the potential outcomes of each path.

Negotiating Settlements

The settlement process typically involves presenting evidence, calculating damages, and negotiating with the opposing party or their insurance company to reach an agreement. Attorneys focus on building a strong case by documenting all medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages to advocate for fair compensation. Strategies like highlighting the long-term impact of burn injuries, such as ongoing medical care or diminished quality of life, help strengthen the client’s position. Settling provides one very important benefit — it’s less stressful. That’s because this process is usually faster and less expensive than taking a case to trial. At Kitchel Law, we settle roughly 90% of our cases. This strategy usually spares our clients months or years of unnecessary delay. Settlement negotiations often involve mediation, which is the most effective and most common form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR). It involves a neutral outside party to mediate conversations and guides both parties to an appropriate settlement. Insurance firms, for instance, often seek to avoid paying out as much as possible, making it critical to prepare in-depth for negotiations.

Preparing for Trial

When settlement isn’t a viable option, attorneys shift their focus to trial preparation. This task requires collecting copious evidence, working with expert witnesses, and crafting the best possible trial strategy to tell the client’s story. Such careful preparation ensures that you leave no stone unturned in presenting the best case possible. That means effectively conveying the reason for the injury as well as the economic and emotional impact on the jury. Trials can also be long and emotionally draining, even if successful. Plaintiffs may suffer continued economic hardship during that time. In addition, attorneys should think strategically about trying a case vs. Settling a case. Through compelling proof and a strategic approach to opposing positions, trial lawyers work to emerge victorious on behalf of their clients.

Understanding Legal Options

Knowing the full range of legal options is vital for victims of burn injuries. Attorneys guide their clients by explaining the implications of each choice, from settlement to trial or ADR methods like mediation. This collaborative decision-making process ensures that clients have a strong understanding of their options and feel confident in their path moving forward. That’s why having experienced legal counsel is key when pursuing burn injury cases. More importantly, they make sure that every step is in the best interests of the client.

Conclusion

Though burn injuries pose significant adversities, skilled legal representation can truly make an impact. Your experienced burn injury lawyer will walk you through difficult legal questions. They sidestep insurance issues and assist you in crafting a powerful case with substantial evidence. They work to cover medical costs, future care, and personal losses, aiming for fair compensation that reflects the full impact on your life. By taking that first step in search of an experienced burn injury attorney, you place yourself on the path toward recovery and justice. Don’t wait to act—doing so will help protect your rights and strengthen your case. Whether through a successful trial or settlement, the right legal representation helps you get your life back—safe and secure to look toward the future. Contact us today and start moving toward a brighter future.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do burn injury attorneys do?

Burn injury attorneys help victims recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering caused by burn injuries. They negotiate legal claims and collect evidence. They aggressively negotiate with insurance companies and represent clients in court to defend their rights and interests.

What are the most common causes of burn injuries?

Burn injuries frequently occur due to fires, electrical accidents, chemicals, scalding liquids, or hazardous products. Workplace accidents and vehicular accidents are other common causes. Knowing the source is key in establishing a firm legal foundation.

Why are burn injury cases more challenging?

Burn cases are particularly complicated because of the severity and permanence of the injury, extensive and sometimes lifelong medical care, and emotional scarring. Because these burn injuries frequently need expert testimony to determine future costs and prove liability, legal representation is critical in these cases.

How do attorneys calculate long-term costs of burn injuries?

Attorneys then work hand-in-hand with medical experts, economists, and life-care planners. Together, they calculate anticipated future medical costs, rehabilitation expenses, lost earning potential, and a loss of quality of life. This ultimately allows for equitable damages that meet present and future needs.

What role does evidence play in burn injury cases?

Documentation such as photographs, medical records, accident reports, and witness accounts are all crucial pieces of evidence. Expert testimony can be critical to the case as well, particularly in explaining the cause of the injury and its long-term impact.

How do burn injury lawyers handle insurance issues?

Experienced burn injury attorneys understand the ins and outs of insurance claims and will use this knowledge to protect victims from settling for underwhelming offers. They are tough negotiators, fierce interpreters of policy, and competitive crusaders against insurance companies to achieve the most money possible.

How can I find a burn injury lawyer near me?

Look on the internet for local experienced burn injury attorneys. Look at reviews, case results, and their credentials. Most burn injury attorneys work on contingency and will provide an initial free consultation, allowing you to discuss your case at no risk before committing.

How Can You Seek Compensation?

Burn injuries often require extensive medical care, including surgeries, skin grafts, therapy, and long-term rehabilitation. Compensation can help cover these costs and ensure you get the treatment you need.

However, pursuing a claim can be complex. Factors such as proving liability, negotiating with insurance companies, and determining the full extent of damages require legal expertise.

Find Out If You Qualify

If you or a loved one suffered a burn injury, it’s important to understand your options as soon as possible. Our quick and confidential quiz can help determine if you may be eligible for compensation. Answer a few simple questions, and we’ll connect you with a legal professional experienced in burn injury cases.