How Much Is My Burn Injury Claim Worth in Greenville, SC? Factors That Determine Your Settlement

How much your burn injury claim is worth in Greenville, SC, depends on several factors. Our experienced Greenville personal injury lawyer at Bobby Jones Law explains burn settlement amounts and what things may influence your award.

Understanding Burn Claim Amounts

A burn is the destruction of the skin and other tissue from heat. When a person suffers a burn injury, they may qualify for monetary compensation. A burn alone can be a qualifying injury, or a burn may accompany other injuries.

When a person has a qualifying personal injury claim, they may seek damages. In Greenville, South Carolina, damages are valued individually in each case.

What Types of Burn Injuries Qualify for a Personal Injury Claim in SC?

Types of burn injuries that may qualify for a personal injury claim in SC are:

• Thermal: Caused by external heat like fire, boiling water, steam, or contact with a hot object.
• Chemical: Contact with corrosive chemicals.
• Friction: Rubbing the skin, causing heat and physical abrasion.
• Radiation: From an X-ray or sun exposure.
• Electrical: When electricity or lightning creates internal heat.

When skin is burned, the cells are damaged. Damage may cause bleeding and inflammation. Whether the skin can heal depends on the severity of the injury.

In addition to classification by the mechanism causing the burn, burn injuries are also classified by severity.

How Burn Injury Severity Affects Your Settlement Value in Greenville

The more severe a burn injury is, the greater the burn settlement amount. Important questions include:

• What medical care was required? What did it cost?
• How much time has the person needed to recover from injuries?
• Has the person experienced pain and suffering? How severe?
• Are there lasting scars? Are they visible to others, or usually covered with clothing?
• Is there lasting impairment?
• Did the person miss work? Has their career been harmed?
• What mental injury does the person have, like depression, anxiety, or grief?
• Has the burn affected the person’s life activities, social relationships, or life expectancy?

Greenville burn injury claims are governed by South Carolina law. Claims in Greenville are usually heard in the Greenville County Circuit Court.

First, Second, and Third Degree Burn Injury Settlement Ranges in South Carolina

Burn injury settlements in South Carolina depend on the severity of the burn. First-degree burns are the least serious. Third-degree burns are the most serious.

First-degree burn settlement ranges

A first-degree burn is a mild burn that only damages the outer layer of skin. There may be some swelling and pain, but usually, the skin heals completely. Alone, they are rarely severe enough to be the basis of a personal injury claim. A first-degree burn claim may be worth $500-$5,000, or more if the person has other injuries and damages.

Second-degree burn settlement ranges

A second-degree burn damages the epidermis and dermis, the outermost two layers of skin. The person will experience pain, blisters, and skin discoloration. There is an elevated risk of infection. Surgery may be necessary. A second-degree burn claim may be worth $25,000 to $200,000+. There is significant variation in the possible claim amount because second-degree burns vary widely in scars, complications, and appropriate medical response.

Third-degree burn settlement ranges

A third-degree burn claim may be worth $100,000+ to $1 million or more. Third-degree burns require extensive medical care to minimize impairment, scars, and complications. The person may have a visible disfigurement. Significant pain and suffering accompanies physical injury.

The Lifetime Cost of Burn Injuries, and Why Initial Settlement Offers Fall Short

Too often, burn settlement amounts don’t fairly compensate for the long-term impact.

For example, visible disfigurement may impact a person’s long-term employment. The change in appearance may cause grief and anxiety. Medical care needs should be fully explored because complications may arise unexpectedly in the future.

The insurance companies want to settle burn claims for as little as possible. Claim representatives are not going to volunteer the value of a case. Having an experienced attorney to fully value your claim can be critical to getting the compensation you truly deserve.

How Long Do You Have To File a Burn Injury Claim in South Carolina?

Burn injury claims in South Carolina are subject to a statute of limitations. Usually, the time limit is three years from when the burn occurs. But there are some important exceptions, so don’t wait to talk to a lawyer.

A lawyer can guide you through medical care to document your injuries. They can build a case showing how the injury has affected your life. They can handle your claim, including talking to witnesses and negotiating your burn claim settlement.

Why Burn Injury Victims in Greenville Are Frequently Undercompensated

Burn injury victims in Greenville are frequently undercompensated because:

• No claim: They don’t bring a claim for compensation.
• Stalled negotiations: They don’t know what to do next if the insurance company doesn’t offer a fair settlement amount.
• Deadlines: The injured person misses the deadline to file a claim.
• Missing documentation: A claim lacks documentation, such as medical records, employment records, lack of photos and wound care treatment, and other information to verify losses.
• Valuation errors: The injured person is unaware of how to value non-economic damages.
• Future damages: Future damages aren’t included in the claim.
• Evidence not developed: Evidence of personal injury liability, such as proof of negligence or causation of injuries, is lacking.
• Settling too early: Accepting a settlement too early can mean being undercompensated.

How the injured person pursues their claim can directly impact their award. When you have an attorney, you have a professional handling all the steps of the claim. Plus, the defense knows that you’re serious about getting your compensation.

Why Serious Burn Injury Cases Require Legal Representation in Greenville

While you’re healing, you have limited time to secure evidence and protect your rights. The legal process is complex. An attorney can represent you to maximize your compensation.

Robert “Bobby” Jones of Bobby Jones Law is an attorney representing burn injury victims in Greenville, SC. He can evaluate how much your burn injury claim is worth and is currently accepting new burn injury cases. Call or message us now.