Burn injuries are among the most painful and life-altering injuries anyone can experience. Beyond the initial trauma, severe burns often require years of medical treatment, multiple surgeries, physical therapy, and emotional support. Treatment costs can easily reach hundreds of thousands of dollars, and permanent scarring or disfigurement can affect every aspect of a survivor’s life.
If you or a loved one has suffered a burn injury in Pennsylvania because of someone else’s negligence, you have the right to pursue compensation. At Gieg & Jancula, our attorneys have represented injured Pennsylvanians for more than 80 years, and we understand what it takes to build a successful burn injury case. Call us today at 814-946-1606 for a free consultation.
Common Causes of Burn Injuries in Pennsylvania
Burn injuries happen in countless settings, and the responsible party depends on the circumstances. Our personal injury attorneys handle burn cases arising from a wide variety of accidents.
Residential and Apartment Fires
Fires in rental properties often involve landlord negligence. Missing or inoperative smoke detectors, faulty wiring, defective appliances supplied by the landlord, and lack of required fire extinguishers can all give rise to premises liability claims. Pennsylvania’s Landlord and Tenant Act and local fire codes set minimum safety requirements that landlords must meet.
Workplace Burns
Industrial workers, kitchen staff, electricians, roofers, and construction workers all face elevated burn risks. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, thousands of workplace burn injuries occur every year. These injuries typically trigger workers’ compensation coverage, and in many cases, a third-party claim as well.
Chemical Burns
Chemical burns can occur in laboratories, cleaning jobs, agricultural settings, and even salons. Exposure to acids, bases, solvents, and industrial cleaners can cause severe tissue damage within seconds. Manufacturers who fail to warn users of dangers, employers who provide inadequate protective equipment, and property owners who allow hazardous spills can all be held liable.
Electrical Burns
Electrical injuries range from minor contact burns to catastrophic arc flash injuries. Faulty wiring, unmarked live equipment, and electrical code violations are common causes. Utility companies, electricians, and property owners can face liability.
Vehicle Fires and Explosions
Vehicle fires following crashes often involve defective fuel systems, battery issues, or post-collision electrical failures. These cases frequently involve both the negligent driver and the vehicle manufacturer. If you have been in a car accident or truck crash resulting in a fire, product liability may be a key component of your claim.
Scalding Injuries
Hot liquids are the leading cause of burn injuries to young children. Restaurant spills, defective hot water heaters set too high, and unsafe daycare conditions can all lead to serious scalding injuries.
Understanding Burn Classifications and Treatment Costs
Burn severity is classified by degree, and the degree largely determines treatment costs and long-term impact.
First-Degree Burns
Affect only the outer layer of skin, cause redness and pain, and usually heal within a week. Treatment is typically limited to pain management.
Second-Degree Burns
Extend into the deeper layers of skin, cause blistering, and require medical treatment. Healing takes two to three weeks and may leave scarring.
Third-Degree Burns
Destroy both outer layers of skin and often damage underlying tissue. These burns require specialized burn-center care, skin grafts, and extended hospitalization. Treatment often exceeds $200,000 in the first year alone.
Fourth-Degree Burns
Extend through all skin layers into muscle, bone, and connective tissue. These are life-threatening injuries that require amputation in many cases. Lifetime care costs can exceed $1 million.
The American Burn Association reports that serious burn injuries often require years of reconstructive surgeries, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and mental health treatment. Severe burn survivors frequently face permanent scarring and disfigurement that affect their ability to work, their relationships, and their quality of life.
Compensation Available in a Pennsylvania Burn Injury Case
Pennsylvania law allows burn injury victims to recover compensation for the full range of losses they have suffered. In serious cases, these recoveries can be substantial. Our case results include multiple seven-figure recoveries in catastrophic injury cases.
Economic Damages
- Past and future medical expenses, including surgeries, skin grafts, and reconstructive procedures
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy costs
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Home modifications for accessibility
- In-home nursing care
- Prescription medications and medical devices
Non-Economic Damages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium for spouses
Punitive Damages
When a defendant acted with reckless disregard for safety, such as a landlord who knowingly ignored repeated fire code violations or a manufacturer who concealed a known defect, Pennsylvania juries can award punitive damages on top of compensatory damages.
For burns that cause death, surviving family members may pursue a wrongful death claim along with a survival action.
Pennsylvania Legal Rules That Affect Burn Cases
Two-Year Statute of Limitations
Most Pennsylvania personal injury claims must be filed within two years of the date of injury, under 42 Pa.C.S. § 5524. Different deadlines apply to claims involving government entities and minors, so prompt legal consultation is critical.
Comparative Negligence
Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence rule. As long as you are 50 percent or less at fault, you can recover damages, reduced by your percentage of fault. Insurance companies in burn cases frequently try to argue that the victim was partly to blame for not evacuating faster or recognizing a hazard.
Workers’ Compensation and Third-Party Claims
If you were burned on the job, you likely have a workers’ compensation claim regardless of fault. In many cases, you may also have a separate personal injury claim against a third party (another contractor, an equipment manufacturer, a utility company). Coordinating these claims correctly can dramatically increase your total recovery.
Why Burn Cases Need an Experienced Attorney
Burn cases are challenging to prove and expensive to litigate correctly. They typically require:
- Fire investigators to determine origin and cause
- Medical experts to document the full extent of injuries
- Life-care planners to project lifetime medical costs
- Vocational experts to calculate lost earning capacity
- Economists to reduce future losses to present value
Insurance companies know how expensive these cases are to prepare and often use that leverage to push for low settlements before the full scope of injuries becomes clear. One of our partners spent years defending insurance companies before joining Gieg & Jancula, which gives our team insider knowledge of exactly how insurers evaluate and defend burn cases.
Frequently Asked Questions About PA Burn Injury Claims
How much is a burn injury case worth in Pennsylvania?
Case value depends on burn severity, medical costs, lost wages, scarring, pain and suffering, and available insurance coverage. Minor burns may settle for tens of thousands of dollars, while catastrophic burn cases frequently reach seven figures. An experienced attorney can evaluate your specific case during a free consultation.
What if the burn happened in my rented apartment?
Landlords in Pennsylvania have a duty to maintain reasonably safe premises. If working smoke detectors were missing, electrical systems were defective, or the landlord ignored known fire hazards, you may have a strong premises liability claim in addition to any workers’ comp or insurance coverage.
How long will my burn injury case take?
Timelines vary. Minor cases may settle within months, while serious burn cases often take one to two years to resolve, especially when medical treatment is ongoing. We generally recommend waiting until you reach maximum medical improvement before settling so your long-term costs can be accurately calculated.
Talk to a Pennsylvania Burn Injury Lawyer Today
If you or a loved one has suffered a serious burn, call Gieg & Jancula at 814-946-1606 or reach us through our contact page. Free consultations. No fees unless we win your case.