Burn Injury Lawyer Chicago, IL

A serious burn is one of the most painful injuries a person can suffer, and recovery can take months or years. Treatment may involve a stay in a burn unit, skin grafts, and long-term therapy, and many burns leave permanent scars. A burn injury lawyer in Chicago, IL can find out what caused the fire, explosion, or exposure, identify who is responsible, and pursue compensation for the full cost of recovery. Jacobson Injury Firm represents burn victims throughout Chicago. Contact the firm for a free consultation.

How Burn Injury Claims Work in Illinois

A burn injury claim seeks compensation from the person or business whose actions or failures caused the burn. Most of these claims fall into one or more of these categories:

• Negligence:someone failed to use reasonable care, such as a driver who caused a crash that led to a vehicle fire.
• Premises liability:a property owner or landlord failed to fix a dangerous condition, such as faulty wiring or a broken heating system.
• Product liability:a defective product, such as a battery, appliance, or heater, caught fire or exploded. Illinois recognizes these claims under strict liability, which focuses on whether the product was defective rather than on whether the maker was careless.

More than one party can share responsibility. A single apartment fire, for example, may involve a landlord, a maintenance contractor, and the maker of a faulty device.

Burns at Work

Many serious burns happen on the job, in kitchens, factories, and construction sites, and from electrical work. Under 820 ILCS 305/5, a worker covered by the Workers’ Compensation Act generally cannot sue their own employer and receives workers’ compensation benefits instead. The same section allows a lawsuit against a third party, such as an equipment manufacturer or a subcontractor, whose negligence caused the burn.

Where Burn Victims Are Treated in Chicago

The Chicago area has several specialized burn centers, which provide intensive care, surgery, and rehabilitation for serious burns:

• John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County:The burn unit within the hospital’s Trauma, Burn and Rehabilitation Unit has a six-bed intensive care unit and up to 12 convalescent beds. It treats thermal, chemical, and electrical burns, from minor to life-threatening.
• UChicago Medicine:The Burn and Complex Wound Center in Hyde Park is accredited by the American College of Surgeons and the American Burn Association. It has an eight-bed intensive care unit dedicated to adult and pediatric burn patients.
• Loyola Medicine:The Loyola Medicine Burn Center in Maywood holds verification from the American College of Surgeons and the American Burn Association. The center reports that it treats over 4,000 patients each year, and about 40% of them are children.

Treatment at a burn center is often only the beginning. Burn survivors may need follow-up surgeries, scar care, and physical and occupational therapy long after they leave the hospital.

Common Causes of Burn Injuries

Jacobson Injury Firm handles burn injury claims arising from many types of incidents, including:

• Apartment and house fires caused by faulty wiring, heating equipment, or missing safety devices
• Vehicle fires after car and truck crashes
• Gas leaks and explosions
• Defective products, such as batteries, e-bikes, space heaters, and appliances
• Scalds from hot liquids, steam, or water heaters
• Chemical burns from industrial or cleaning products
• Electrical burns at construction sites and workplaces

What Compensation Can a Burn Victim Recover?

Burn injuries often bring high medical costs and lasting physical and emotional effects. A claim may include compensation for:

• Emergency care, burn unit stays, and surgery, including skin grafts
• Future reconstructive surgery and scar treatment
• Physical and occupational therapy
• Lost wages and reduced ability to work in the future
• Pain and suffering and emotional distress
• Scarring, disfigurement, and loss of a normal life

The value of a burn claim depends on the depth and size of the burns, the need for future treatment, and the available insurance. Because some burns need treatment for years, the claim should account for future care, not only current bills.

What If the Burn Victim Was Partly at Fault?

Illinois follows a modified comparative fault rule under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116. An injured person found more than 50% responsible for their own injury cannot recover damages. The rule applies to negligence claims and to product liability claims based on strict liability.

A person who is 50% at fault or less can still recover, but the award is reduced by their share. For example, a tenant found 10% at fault with $400,000 in damages could recover $360,000. Property owners, manufacturers, and their insurers often argue that the injured person misused a product or ignored a warning. A burn injury lawyer in Chicago, IL can investigate the cause and answer those arguments with evidence.

What Should You Do After a Burn Injury?

The first priority is getting proper medical care. Once that is underway, an injured person or their family should:

• Get medical care right away.Serious burns can worsen, and infection is a risk. Follow all treatment and wound care instructions.
• Preserve the evidence.Keep the product, device, or clothing involved, and do not throw anything away or return it to the seller.
• Take photos.Photograph the injuries throughout healing, along with the scene and any damaged property.
• Get official reports.Fire department, police, and workplace incident reports can help show what happened.
• Avoid recorded statements.Insurers for a landlord, employer, or manufacturer may ask for a statement early. Speaking with a lawyer first can protect the claim.

How Long Do You Have to File a Burn Injury Claim in Illinois?

Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, most personal injury lawsuits in Illinois must be filed within two years after the cause of action accrued, usually the date of the injury.

A shorter deadline applies when a local government body is responsible. Under 745 ILCS 10/8-101, most lawsuits against a local public entity, such as the City of Chicago, must be filed within one year. Burned products and fire scenes can be cleaned up or discarded quickly, so it helps to involve a lawyer early.

No Fee Unless We Win

Jacobson Injury Firm handles burn injury cases on a contingency fee basis. There is no upfront cost, and no attorney fee is owed unless the firm recovers compensation.

The firm represents plaintiffs only. Clients work directly with attorney Adam Jacobson, who is licensed in Illinois, Florida, New York, and Connecticut and prepares each case as if it may go to trial. The firm’s practice areas cover a wide range of personal injury claims.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can be held responsible for a burn injury?

Depending on the facts, a negligent driver, landlord, property owner, contractor, or product manufacturer may be responsible. In some cases, several parties share responsibility.

Can I sue if I was burned at work?

An Illinois worker generally cannot sue their own employer and receives workers’ compensation benefits instead. If a third party, such as the maker of defective equipment, caused the burn, the worker may also bring a lawsuit against that party.

What if a defective product caused the burn?

Illinois recognizes product liability claims based on strict liability, which focus on whether the product was defective and caused the injury. Keeping the product is important, because it is often the most important piece of evidence.

How long does a burn injury case take?

It depends on the severity of the burns and how long treatment lasts. Many cases wait until doctors can predict future surgeries and care, and cases that go to trial take longer.

How much does a burn injury lawyer cost?

Jacobson Injury Firm works on a contingency fee basis. Clients pay nothing upfront, and there is no attorney fee unless money is recovered.

Contact a Burn Injury Lawyer in Chicago, IL

Jacobson Injury Firm’s Chicago office is listed on its Google Business Profile: Jacobson Law Offices, 1 E Erie St Ste 525, Chicago, IL 60611. A serious burn can affect a person’s health, appearance, and ability to work for years. A burn injury lawyer in Chicago, IL can investigate the cause, preserve the evidence, and pursue compensation for both current and future needs. Contact Jacobson Injury Firm today to schedule a free consultation.