Few injuries in your life can be as psychologically traumatic and physically catastrophic as a burn injury. These injuries often result in permanent scarring, nerve damage, severe mental damage, as well as physical damage. You may not be prepared to handle the fallout of such an injury alone, depending on the degree of your burn. If the burn injury was caused by someone’s negligent behavior, you should speak with an Albuquerque burn injury lawyer as soon as you can.
The legal team at Berenson & Associates, PC, understands how difficult it can be to move past such a terrible incident. Holding the right people accountable for their part in causing it can be a good first step towards seeking justice. An experienced and skilled personal injury lawyer in Albuquerque can assist you in making sure you are heard. We can help you gather evidence, launch our own investigation, and build a solid case to obtain maximum compensation for you.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are an estimated 180,000 burn-related deaths every year across the world. Such injuries can happen at any time and in any place. Burns are often preventable, and most tend to occur in either your home or your workplace. Non-fatal burn injuries can lead to other chronic conditions, ongoing medical care, and a complete change of your lifestyle that you never asked for. You may be counting on your settlement to pay for these changes.
If you have survived a burn and have had to make serious adjustments for your injuries, it is understandable to be struggling. You may want to consider reaching out to an Albuquerque burn victim support group, such as the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors or UNM Health System. Surrounding yourself with a dedicated support system can be greatly beneficial for you. Your lawyer may be able to recommend more options to support you during this difficult time.
Throughout the world, burn injuries can be classified into one of four degrees. The lowest possible burn is a first-degree burn, which can hurt but rarely results in permanent damage beyond a surface-level redness. It may not even blister, but it can be very painful. With each level, the potential for pain and damage increases dramatically. The worst is a fourth-degree burn, which can result in death or scarring down to the bone.
If you decide to move forward with a legal claim for your burn injury, you need to ensure that your case adheres to the state of New Mexico’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims, which includes burn injury claims. Unfortunately, if you do not file your claim fast enough, you may lose out on the opportunity to seek compensation for what happened to you. In New Mexico, you will generally have three years to build your case with a burn injury lawyer’s help.
If you are unable to establish grounds, build a strong case, gather all the evidence, speak with a burn injury lawyer, and file your claim for compensation before three years have passed, that will likely be the end of your claim. Your case will be dismissed, and your chance to pursue legal action for your injury will disappear if no legal action is taken. Building a strong burn injury case can take time, so you should start building yours as soon as you can.
If you are concerned that your case may not be strong enough and you need more evidence, you should consider reaching out to an injury lawyer for an evaluation. They can look through everything you have and help you determine if your case is worth pursuing as is or if you need more documentation. You don’t have to abide by their recommendation, but it can be a good place to start for your case.
A: There is no way to determine the average settlement for a burn injury. Every burn injury case is different, with every case having its own details and specifics that are going to influence the ultimate settlement you will receive. Some of the contributing factors that will determine that amount include the severity of your injuries, the evidence you have of negligence, and the stance of the insurance companies involved.
A: Ultimately, it is up to you to decide if you want to hire an injury lawyer for your case in Albuquerque, NM. It is highly recommended that you always retain legal counsel any time you are going through some sort of legal trouble. If you are also dealing with the aftermath of a burn injury, you should consider hiring someone to manage your case while you deal with your recovery. While you technically do not need a lawyer, hiring one can be extremely beneficial and lead to a maximized settlement.
A: In New Mexico, you will have three years to file a claim for a burn injury since such a case would be considered a personal injury claim. In that time, you have to establish your case, gather the evidence, talk to a lawyer, and file the claim. If you cannot do all of that within three years, your case will be dismissed and no longer considered. Building a burn injury case can take a lot of time, so you may want to get started sooner rather than later.
A: The recovery process will look different for everyone, as recovery after a burn injury is going to be unique to the nature of your burn injury. Your recovery will largely depend on how severe your burn injuries were. Some people may go through years of physical therapy, surgeries, and rehabilitation to overcome their injuries. Even then, there are never any guarantees that you will fully recover the way you expect.
It’s important to manage your expectations and follow the guidelines and treatment plan of your medical staff.
At Berenson & Associates, PC, we can help you figure out a path forward in your case. Our compassionate attorneys can advocate aggressively for you so you can recover with the full compensation you are entitled to. Contact us to speak to a valued team member about a consultation
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