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Houston Burn Injury Lawyer

Representing Burn Victims Throughout Texas

If you or a loved one has suffered a serious burn injury, you understand how life-changing these injuries can be. Severe burns often cause excruciating pain, prolonged medical treatment, and emotional trauma. Victims may endure surgeries, skin grafts, rehabilitation therapy, and the psychological toll of scarring and disfigurement. Beyond the physical pain, burn survivors frequently struggle with anxiety, depression, and a loss of independence. The financial burden can also be overwhelming with mounting hospital bills, medication costs, and lost income during recovery.

At Joel A. Gordon & Associates, we are dedicated to helping burn injury victims in Houston and throughout Texas rebuild their lives. Our Texas burn accident law firm has represented injured clients for over 30 years. We understand the challenges you face, and we know how devastating a severe burn can be for both victims and their families.

Our team approaches every burn injury case with compassion, personalized attention, and a commitment to seek justice. We handle the legal complexities and fight to hold the responsible parties accountable, so you can focus on healing. If someone’s negligence or a unsafe product caused your burn injuries, you have the right to seek compensation and our Houston burn injury lawyers are here to help make sure you receive the financial support you need to move forward.

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Common Causes of Burn Injuries

Burn injuries can happen in many different ways, often due to accidents or negligence. Some common causes of serious burn injuries include:

Fires

House fires, apartment fires, car fires, and other fires can lead to severe burns. These may result from accidents, electrical problems, cooking fires, or negligence such as unattended candles.

Workplace Accidents

Industrial accidents, refinery explosions, construction site fires, and other on-the-job incidents frequently cause serious burns. Workers in factories, oil and gas facilities, kitchens, and construction sites face higher risks for burn injuries if proper safety measures are not in place.

Explosions

Gas explosions, tank explosions, and other blasts can result in catastrophic burn injuries to anyone nearby. Explosions may occur due to faulty gas lines, unsafe handling of flammable materials, or vehicle collisions.

Chemical Exposure

Contact with dangerous chemicals, acids, or other corrosive substances can cause severe chemical burns. These injuries often happen in laboratories, industrial settings, or even at home with household chemicals. Chemical burns can penetrate the skin and cause serious tissue damage.

Electrical Burns

Electrocution or contact with live electrical wires and faulty electrical systems can lead to deep burns and internal injuries. Electrical burns often occur in workplace settings or due to defective wiring, downed power lines, or malfunctioning appliances.

Scalding Incidents

Hot liquids and steam can scald the skin. Boiling water spills, hot coffee spills, or steam from machinery can cause second-degree or third-degree burns, especially in young children or the elderly.

Defective Products

Faulty appliances, electronics, or other products that overheat, catch fire, or explode can cause burn injuries. For example, a defective space heater, a malfunctioning kitchen appliance, or a car with a fuel system defect could start a fire. In these cases, the product manufacturer or seller may be liable for the injuries caused.

No matter the cause, burn victims often face long and difficult recoveries. Our legal team has seen it all from severe burn trauma claims involving industrial explosions to injuries caused by unsafe consumer products. If your burn injury was caused by someone else’s negligence or a dangerous product, you should not bear the consequences alone.

We will investigate the cause of your accident, whether it was an electrical accident, chemical exposure, fire, or any other scenario, and work to hold the responsible parties accountable. Our goal is to secure the compensation you need to pay for medical care, regain financial stability, and move forward after such a traumatic event.

Client Testimonial: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I was very pleased with the outcome of my case. Joel Gordon was never hard to reach and always had an answer to any question. He did a good job at keeping you updated with anything that went on. He goes out of his way to make sure his client is satisfied. I would definitely recommend him to anyone who has been in an accident.

– Kimberly Colindres

Types and Degrees of Burn Injuries

Burn injuries are classified by degrees, which describe how deep and severe the damage is to the skin and underlying tissue. Understanding the types and degrees of burns helps illustrate the injury’s seriousness and the kind of treatment that may be needed:

First-Degree Burns

First-degree burns are the least severe type of burn injury. They affect only the outer layer of skin (the epidermis). A first-degree burn typically causes redness, minor swelling, and pain on the surface of the skin. A common example is a mild sunburn or briefly touching a hot object. While first-degree burns can be painful, they usually heal within a week or so with basic first aid and rarely result in permanent scarring. Medical attention might not be necessary for a small first-degree burn, but it should be sought if a large area is affected or if the victim is an infant or elderly.

Second-Degree Burns

Second-degree burns (also known as partial-thickness burns) damage both the outer layer of skin and the layer beneath it (the dermis). These burns often cause blistering, intense pain, redness, and wet or shiny-looking skin at the burn site. Second-degree burns can range from mild to severe. A smaller second-degree burn might heal with proper wound care over a few weeks, but more severe second-degree burns may require medical treatment. There is a risk of infection with second-degree burns, and they can cause scarring or permanent changes in skin color, especially if not treated properly. Victims with second-degree burns should usually see a doctor, and larger or deeper second-degree burns might even need surgical treatments like skin grafts.

Third-Degree Burns

Third-degree burns (full-thickness burns) are extremely serious. These burns destroy all layers of the skin, going through the epidermis and dermis and affecting the tissues underneath. The burned area may look charred, white, blackened, or leathery. Surprisingly, a third-degree burn might not be as painful at first, because it can destroy nerve endings in the skin – but this does not lessen the severity of the injury. Third-degree burns often require emergency medical care and hospitalization. Treatment typically involves surgeries such as skin grafts (transplanting healthy skin to the burned area) and long-term rehabilitation. These burns almost always leave permanent scars and can cause loss of sensation or function in the affected area. Victims of third-degree burns often face a long, difficult recovery and may suffer complications like infections, dehydration, or shock when the injury first occurs.

Fourth-Degree Burns

Fourth-degree burns are the most severe and devastating type of burn injury. In a fourth-degree burn, the damage extends beyond the skin into the underlying fat, muscle, and even bone. These burns can occur in situations like high-voltage electrical accidents or being trapped in a fire for an extended time. A fourth-degree burn is a life-threatening injury. The burned area may appear black or completely charred, and there is typically no feeling in the area because nerve endings are destroyed. Fourth-degree burns often require aggressive medical interventions, including multiple surgeries, possible amputation of damaged limbs, and long-term hospitalization. The victims who survive fourth-degree burns will have permanent impairments or disabilities and significant scarring or disfigurement. Recovery is a long process, and the focus is not only on healing the wounds but also on rehabilitation, such as physical therapy to regain mobility, and psychological support to cope with the trauma.

Any burn beyond a minor first-degree injury can have serious health consequences, but third-degree and fourth-degree burns are truly catastrophic. Victims with these severe burns often spend weeks or months in specialized burn units, endure multiple surgeries, and require ongoing care even after leaving the hospital. The physical and emotional pain of such injuries is immense.

Survivors may have limited mobility, chronic pain, or permanent changes in appearance that affect their self-esteem. Our firm understands the lifelong impact of severe burn injuries. When we handle severe burn trauma claims, we work hard to account for all the ways the injury has changed the victim’s life from current and future medical needs to lost income and the pain and suffering endured. We know that these cases are about more than bills; they are about helping a person put the pieces of their life back together after an unimaginable trauma.

Give our team a call today at 877-213-5004

Liability in Burn Injury Cases

Determining who is legally responsible for a burn injury (liable) is a critical part of your case. Often, burn injuries happen because someone was negligent or careless, or because a company failed to ensure safety. Depending on the situation, one or more of the following parties might be held liable for your burn injuries:

Negligent Individuals

Sometimes an individual’s careless actions cause a fire or accident. For example, a driver who crashes into your vehicle and causes a fire, or a person improperly handling fireworks, gasoline, or other flammable materials might cause a burn incident. If someone’s negligence led to your injuries – whether through a car accident, a cooking fire, or any reckless act – that person can be held responsible for the damages.

Businesses and Employers

Companies and employers have a duty to maintain safe environments for both workers and the public. If a business fails to follow safety regulations or provide proper training and equipment, the risk of fires, explosions, or chemical accidents increases. For instance, a restaurant owner who doesn’t fix a gas leak, or a factory that ignores safety protocols, can be liable if an accident leads to burn injuries. Employers in industrial settings must provide protective gear and safety training; if they do not and a worker suffers a burn, the employer or company could be at fault (especially if the employer opted out of workers’ compensation coverage, as some do in Texas).

Property Owners and Landlords

Property owners have a legal responsibility to keep their premises reasonably safe. This includes preventing fire hazards and addressing dangerous conditions. If you were burned due to a hazard on someone else’s property, the owner or landlord might be liable under premises liability law. Examples include landlords who fail to install working smoke detectors or maintain fire extinguishers, apartment complexes with faulty wiring that causes an electrical fire, or a hotel that doesn’t meet fire safety codes. When property owners neglect these responsibilities and people are injured as a result, they can be held accountable for the harm.

Product Manufacturers

Companies that design, manufacture, or sell products must ensure those products are safe for consumers. If a defective or dangerously designed product causes burn injuries, the manufacturer (and sometimes the distributor or retailer) can be liable under product liability law. This could include a range of situations – for example, a car with a defective fuel tank that ignites in an otherwise minor crash, a household appliance that overheats and causes a fire, a lithium-ion battery that explodes, or a chemical product sold without proper warnings that causes severe burns. In these cases, you would pursue a claim against the company that made or sold the product, arguing that a flaw or lack of warning in the product led to your injury.

Identifying all potential liable parties is very important in burn injury cases. In some accidents, more than one party may share responsibility for instance, both a property owner and a product manufacturer might be liable if a defective device in a building caused a fire due to poor maintenance. Our Houston burn injury lawyers will thoroughly investigate the circumstances of your burn injury to determine exactly what happened and who was at fault. By pursuing claims against every negligent party, we aim to maximize the compensation you can receive for your injuries.

Reasons to choose us

How Our Houston Burn Injury Lawyers Can Help

Pursuing a burn injury claim can be complex and challenging – but you do not have to go through it alone. Our Houston burn injury attorneys are here to handle every aspect of the legal process for you. When you hire Joel A. Gordon & Associates to represent you in a burn injury case, we will.

When you choose Joel A. Gordon & Associates, you are choosing a law firm with the experience, resources, and dedication needed to tackle tough burn injury cases. We have successfully handled severe burn trauma claims and other catastrophic injury cases in Houston and across Texas. Our Houston burn injury lawyers understand both the legal complexities and the human cost of burn injuries. We will fight aggressively to protect your rights and pursue every dollar of compensation you deserve, all while treating you with the empathy and care you need during this challenging time.

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1. Conduct a Thorough Investigation

We will investigate the circumstances of your burn injury to find out exactly what happened. This includes gathering evidence such as fire department reports, accident reports, photographs of the scene, and any available video footage. We will identify witnesses and get their statements. If needed, we also collaborate with experts (such as fire investigators, electricians, or safety engineers) to determine the cause of a fire or explosion and pinpoint who was at fault. By building a strong factual case, we lay the groundwork to prove negligence and liability.

2. Gather Medical Evidence

Our team will collect all documentation of your injuries and medical treatment. We obtain hospital records, doctor reports, surgery records, and rehabilitation notes that detail the extent of your burn injuries. We may also work with medical experts and burn specialists to understand the full scope of your injuries and the care you will need in the future. This is critical for demonstrating the seriousness of your injuries to the insurance company or in court. We want to be sure any compensation demand accounts for all of your medical expenses from emergency care and surgeries to physical therapy, counseling, and future procedures like scar revisions.

3. Work with Specialists

In severe burn cases, we often consult with various specialists to strengthen your claim. This can include life care planners who can calculate the cost of your long-term medical needs and nursing care, vocational experts who can assess how your burn injuries affect your ability to work, and psychologists or counselors who can speak to the emotional impact of the trauma. These expert insights help us paint a complete picture of how the burn injury has affected your life, which is important in pursuing full compensation.

4. Handle Insurance Negotiations

Dealing with insurance companies can be one of the most frustrating parts of an injury case. Insurance adjusters may try to minimize your injuries or offer a quick, low settlement before you understand the full extent of your damages. Our attorneys will take over all communication with insurance companies and at-fault parties on your behalf. We are skilled negotiators who won’t let insurance adjusters pressure you into an unfair deal. We will present the evidence of liability and the documentation of your losses to demand a settlement that truly reflects the impact of your burn injury. Our goal is to recover the maximum compensation available under the law, whether through the at-fault party’s insurance or other sources.

5. Prepare for Litigation and Trial

While many personal injury claims settle out of court, we prepare every burn injury case as if it may go to trial. If the insurance company will not offer a fair settlement, we will not hesitate to file a lawsuit and take your case before a judge and jury. Our legal team will handle all the litigation steps, from filing the complaint to engaging in discovery (exchange of evidence) and presenting a compelling case in court. Joel A. Gordon & Associates has extensive courtroom experience and a track record of success in trials. Insurance companies know which law firms are willing and able to go to trial – by being one of those firms, we put pressure on the insurers to treat you fairly. If a trial becomes necessary, you can be confident that we will tenaciously advocate for you in the courtroom.

6. Provide Compassionate Support and Guidance

We know how overwhelming a serious injury can be, so we strive to make the legal process as stress-free for you as possible. From day one, our attorneys and staff will be here to answer your questions, explain your rights and options, and keep you updated on the progress of your case. We treat our clients with compassion and respect. You will never feel like just another case number with us – we truly care about your well-being. As you go through your medical recovery, we’ll check in to see how you’re doing and make sure we account for any new developments (like additional surgeries or treatments you may need). Our team handles the heavy legal lifting so that you can focus on your health and your family.

Burn Injury FAQs

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Can I sue my employer for a burn injury?

Whether you can sue your employer for a burn injury depends on the circumstances, especially regarding workers’ compensation. In Texas, if your employer has workers’ compensation insurance and you were injured on the job, you generally cannot sue your employer for the injury. Workers’ compensation is considered the “exclusive remedy” for most work injuries in that situation, meaning you would file a workers’ comp claim rather than a lawsuit. The good news is that workers’ comp benefits cover medical treatment and provide partial wage replacement without needing to prove your employer was at fault; the trade-off is that you usually cannot seek pain and suffering damages from the employer.

How long do I have to file a burn injury claim in Texas?

In Texas, the law generally gives you two years from the date of a burn injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. This two-year timeframe is known as the statute of limitations. If you try to file a lawsuit after this period has passed, your case will most likely be dismissed, and you will lose the chance to recover compensation through the courts.

How much does it cost to hire a burn injury lawyer?

One of the biggest concerns many accident victims have is the cost of hiring an attorney. The good news is that at Joel A. Gordon & Associates, it costs nothing upfront to hire our burn injury lawyers. We work on a contingency fee basis for personal injury cases, including burn injury claims.

Do I need a burn injury lawyer for my case?

While you are not legally required to have a lawyer to file a claim, it is highly advisable to have an experienced Houston burn injury lawyer represent you especially if your injuries are serious. Burn injury cases can be more complex than they might appear at first.

Contact a Houston Burn Injury Lawyer Today

Joel A. Gordon & Associates will help you understand your rights and what alternatives you have in proceeding with a case

A serious burn injury can turn your life upside down, but you do not have to fight for justice alone. If you or a loved one suffered a burn injury in Houston or anywhere in Texas, contact Joel A. Gordon & Associates today to learn about your legal options. We offer a free, no-obligation consultation to evaluate your case and explain how we can help. Our compassionate Houston burn injury attorneys are ready to listen to your story, answer your questions, and provide clear guidance on the path forward.

Call us at 281-943-5555 to speak with an experienced Houston burn injury lawyer about your situation. We are available to take your call and can also arrange meetings after hours or on weekends if needed. If you prefer, you can reach out through our online contact form on our website, and we will get back to you promptly. Remember, there is no upfront cost to hire us – we only get paid if we successfully recover compensation for you.

Time is of the essence after a burn injury, so don’t wait to seek the help you need. Important evidence can fade, and legal deadlines do apply to burn injury claims in Texas. By contacting our firm sooner rather than later, you give us the best chance to build a strong case on your behalf. Let Joel A. Gordon & Associates put our experience, skill, and dedication to work for you. We have helped countless injury victims across Texas, and we are prepared to fight for the justice and compensation you and your family deserve. Call 281-943-5555 today and let us help you take the first step toward rebuilding your life after a serious burn injury.