Burn injuries rank among the most severe and life-altering personal injuries. The physical pain, emotional trauma, and financial burden of recovery can overwhelm victims and their families. At Travis & Brann, PLLP, we understand the devastating impact burn injuries have on your life. Our Kalispell burn injury lawyer fights to secure the compensation you deserve for medical treatment, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Whether your burn injury resulted from a workplace accident, residential fire, vehicle crash, or defective product, we investigate thoroughly to identify all responsible parties. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case. Contact us today to schedule a complimentary consultation.
Why You Need a Burn Injury Attorney in Kalispell
Burn injuries demand immediate medical attention and often require ongoing professional care. The costs accumulate rapidly—emergency treatment, surgery, skin grafts, infection prevention, and rehabilitation can total hundreds of thousands of dollars. Beyond medical expenses, burn victims face lost wages during recovery, permanent scarring, reduced mobility, and psychological trauma.
Insurance companies recognize the significant value of burn injury claims and often employ aggressive tactics to minimize payouts. They may dispute liability, question the necessity of certain treatments, or offer settlements far below what your case warrants. An experienced burn injury attorney levels the playing field.
Montana law provides a three-year statute of limitations to file a burn injury claim. This deadline is critical—waiting too long eliminates your right to pursue compensation. Our attorneys act quickly to preserve evidence, interview witnesses, and build a strong case on your behalf.
What Makes Burn Injuries Different from Other Personal Injuries?
Burn injuries create unique legal and medical complexities. Unlike many injuries that heal within months, severe burns require years of treatment and often result in permanent disfigurement. Courts and juries recognize this reality and award substantial damages for burn cases. Additionally, burn injuries often involve multiple liable parties—property owners, contractors, manufacturers, or employers—requiring a thorough investigation to identify all sources of recovery.
Types of Burn Injuries We Handle
Burn injuries vary in cause and severity. Understanding the type of burn you sustained helps determine liability and potential compensation.
Thermal Burns result from contact with fire, hot liquids, steam, or hot surfaces. These represent the most common burn type and occur in residential fires, workplace accidents, and vehicle crashes. According to the American Burn Association, thermal burns account for approximately 85% of all burn injuries.
Chemical Burns occur when skin contacts corrosive substances. Workplace exposure, improper product labeling, and defective consumer products cause chemical burns. Chemical burns penetrate unpredictably, depending on the chemical type. Alkaline chemical burns often penetrate deeper than thermal burns, while acid burns typically cause less penetration. Chemical burns may also cause delayed or progressive damage not immediately evident. These injuries require immediate medical attention and professional treatment.
Electrical Burns result from contact with electrical current. Faulty wiring, inadequate workplace safety measures, and defective appliances cause electrical burns. These injuries damage internal tissues and organs, not just surface skin. Workplace electrical hazards are a leading cause of occupational burn injuries.
Radiation Burns are rare but serious, resulting from prolonged sun exposure or occupational radiation exposure. Medical professionals and industrial workers face this risk.
Burn severity is classified by degree. First-degree burns affect the outer skin layer and typically heal without scarring. Second-degree burns penetrate deeper, causing blistering and potential scarring. Third-degree burns destroy all skin layers and require skin grafts and extensive rehabilitation. Fourth-degree burns extend into muscle and bone, often resulting in permanent disability or amputation.
Burn Classification: First-degree (superficial), second-degree (partial thickness), third-degree (full thickness), fourth-degree (deep tissue damage)
Common Causes of Burn Injuries in Kalispell
Burn injuries occur in diverse settings, each presenting unique liability questions.
Residential Fires cause significant burn injuries in Kalispell and throughout Montana. Property owners have a legal duty to maintain functioning smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and clear emergency exits. Landlords must ensure rental properties meet fire safety codes. When property owners neglect these responsibilities, they bear liability for resulting burn injuries. Learn more about premises liability claims in Kalispell, including slip and fall incidents that may involve fire hazards.
Workplace Accidents expose employees to burn risks. Industrial workers, construction crews, and hospitality staff face elevated burn injury risk. Employers must provide proper safety equipment, training, and hazard warnings. Workplace burn injuries may support both personal injury claims and workers’ compensation benefits. Additionally, you may pursue claims against third parties such as product manufacturers or other negligent parties. Our construction accident attorneys have extensive experience with workplace burn claims.
Vehicle Accidents sometimes result in fires and burn injuries. Defective fuel systems, electrical failures, or fires caused by collisions can trap occupants. Vehicle manufacturers bear liability for design defects that increase fire risk. Car accident victims injured by fire may recover damages for product liability.
Defective Products cause burn injuries when manufacturers fail to warn consumers of fire hazards or design products with inadequate safety features. Flammable clothing, malfunctioning appliances, and electronics with fire risk create product liability claims.
Premises Liability arises when property owners fail to maintain safe conditions. Inadequate fire suppression systems, blocked emergency exits, or failure to warn of known hazards create liability for resulting burn injuries.
Common Burn Injury Scenarios: Residential fires, workplace accidents, vehicle crashes, defective products, premises liability incidents
Compensation Available for Burn Injury Victims
Burn injury victims recover both economic and non-economic damages through settlement or trial verdict.
Economic Damages compensate for quantifiable financial losses. Medical expenses include emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, skin grafts, infection treatment, and ongoing wound care. Rehabilitation costs cover physical therapy, occupational therapy, and psychological counseling. Lost wages compensate for income lost during recovery and ongoing disability. Future medical care addresses anticipated treatment needs, including reconstructive surgery and scar revision.
Non-Economic Damages compensate for pain, suffering, and life impact. Pain and suffering damages reflect the physical agony of burn injuries and recovery. Emotional distress damages address anxiety, depression, and trauma. Loss of enjoyment of life compensates for reduced ability to participate in activities you previously enjoyed. Scarring and disfigurement cause damage to the psychological impact of visible burn scars.
Punitive Damages apply in cases involving gross negligence or intentional conduct. These damages punish defendants and deter similar future conduct. Montana law permits punitive damages when a defendant acts with deliberate or reckless disregard for others’ safety.
Damages Categories: Medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, future care, emotional distress, scarring and disfigurement, punitive damages (when applicable)
How Travis & Brann, PLLP Handles Your Burn Injury Case
Our approach to burn injury representation combines thorough investigation, expert collaboration, and aggressive advocacy.
We begin by thoroughly investigating the incident. Our team visits accident scenes, photographs conditions, and identifies evidence. We obtain police reports, fire department investigations, and medical records. We interview witnesses while memories remain fresh and locate expert witnesses who can testify about burn injury causation and severity. Expert witnesses play a critical role in establishing liability and damages.
We collaborate with medical experts, including burn specialists, to understand your injuries and treatment needs. These experts help establish the connection between the defendant’s conduct and your injuries. They project future medical needs and associated costs, strengthening your claim for future damages.
We negotiate aggressively with insurance companies and present evidence of liability, medical causation, and damages to support our claims. We demand fair compensation and refuse to accept lowball offers. When insurance companies refuse a reasonable settlement, we prepare for trial. Learn how personal injury settlements are paid out in Kalispell.
We prepare every case for trial, even though most settle. This preparation demonstrates our commitment to your case and strengthens our negotiating position. We develop a trial strategy, prepare witnesses, and anticipate defense arguments. If a trial becomes necessary, we present your case persuasively to a jury.
We work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing up front and nothing unless we win your case. Our fee comes from the recovery we obtain, aligning our interests with yours.
Frequently Asked Questions About Burn Injuries
How long do I have to file a burn injury claim in Montana?
Montana law provides a three-year statute of limitations to file a personal injury claim, including burn injury claims. This deadline runs from the date of injury. Missing this deadline eliminates your right to pursue compensation. Contact our office immediately to ensure your claim is filed promptly. Learn more about how long after an accident you can sue in Montana.
What if I were partially at fault for the burn injury?
Montana follows comparative negligence law. You may recover damages even if you were partially at fault, provided you were not more than 50% responsible for the injury. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you recover $100,000 but were 20% at fault, you receive $80,000.
How much is my burn injury case worth?
Burn injury case values vary dramatically based on injury severity, medical costs, lost wages, age, and long-term impact. Minor burns may settle for thousands of dollars, while severe burns causing permanent disability settle for hundreds of thousands or millions. We evaluate your specific circumstances to estimate your case value. Understanding your rights as a burn injury victim is essential.
Do I need to go to trial for my burn injury case?
Most burn injury cases settle before trial. However, we prepare every case for trial to maximize your leverage in settlement negotiations. If the insurance company refuses fair compensation, we take your case to trial and present it to a jury. Learn about what happens if mediation fails.
Can I afford a burn injury attorney?
We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no upfront fees and no attorney fees unless we win your case. Our fee comes from the recovery we obtain. This arrangement ensures we have every incentive to maximize your compensation. Benefits of hiring a personal injury lawyer include our contingency fee structure.
What should I do immediately after a burn injury?
Seek medical attention immediately, even if the burn seems minor. Some burn injuries worsen over time. Document the scene with photographs if it is safe to do so. Gather contact information from witnesses. Report the incident to property owners, employers, or product manufacturers as appropriate. Contact our office to discuss your legal options.
Contact Travis & Brann, PLLP for Your Free Consultation
Burn injuries demand immediate legal attention. The sooner you contact our office, the sooner we begin investigating your case and working toward a resolution. We offer a free, confidential consultation to discuss your burn injury and explore your legal options.
Call Travis & Brann, PLLP today to schedule your free consultation. We serve burn injury victims throughout Kalispell and the state of Montana. Contact us online or call us at (406) 752-7550 to speak with our legal team. Our about page provides information about our firm and experienced attorneys.