If you or a loved one has been seriously burned, you need the help of an experienced catastrophic injury lawyer. However, not every attorney has the same qualifications, and it can be challenging to find the best attorney for your unique case.
Finding the right burn injury attorney in Texas for you begins with asking the right questions. To ensure you make an informed choice, ask your potential catastrophic injury lawyer these four key questions.
1. What Is Your Experience With Burn Injuries?
Almost every personal injury attorney has experience handling injuries caused by negligence. But it takes more than general experience with personal injuries to be a qualified burn injury lawyer.
Determining the value of the long-term consequences of a burn injury requires in-depth medical and legal knowledge. While the average lawyer might be able to research that information by consulting with the right doctors and studying case law, it could take months or even years to get up to speed.
You can’t afford for your lawyer to take that amount of time. You need them to be able to accurately judge your case in days at most. For this reason, it is important to ask a lawyer whether their firm has handled and won multiple burn injury cases before.
2. What Should I Expect Throughout the Legal Process for Burn Injury Cases?
The legal process for a burn injury case in Texas usually isn’t very different compared to other types of personal injury cases. Your burn accident attorney will investigate your claim and collect evidence to prove negligence or liability.
Once enough evidence has been collected, your attorney will then negotiate with the insurance company for a fair settlement. And if the insurance company refuses to settle quickly and fairly, the attorney can litigate your case in court.
Some attorneys will opt to go straight to trial, while others will try to avoid a trial at all costs. Make sure your burn injury attorney is open to the process you prefer.
3. How Are Fees and Compensation Handled?
Almost every personal injury attorney in the United States is paid on contingency. However, not all contingency fee agreements are created equal. The only certain similarity across these agreements is that you won’t pay the lawyer anything unless you recover money.
This is where the differences among the agreements come in. Different lawyers will charge different percentages of your compensation, and some will increase the percentage based on whether your case goes to trial. Some attorneys charge additional fees as well.
Make sure to ask your potential burn injury attorney choices about their fee structures and compare them to determine which ones suit your needs the best.
4. What Kind of Medical Documentation Might I Need?
Medical records are critical to winning a burn injury case. You need to prove that you were hurt and that the injury was caused by the negligence of another.
When providing medical records to the insurance company, it is just as important that you don’t provide extraneous information as it is that you provide documentation that supports your case.
The right lawyer for your case can tell you exactly what records you need and what evidence your doctor needs to provide. This evidence is crucial for supporting your case.
Additionally, a knowledgeable burn injury attorney can direct you to doctors with experience in your type of injury and can accurately diagnose your condition, document your care thoroughly, and give a clear and detailed picture of what your recovery may look like.
FAQ
How Long Will My Case Take to Resolve?
Burn injury cases tend to be more complicated than other types of personal injury cases. This means that your case will likely take a little longer than average.
Can I Get Money for Lost Wages Resulting From My Injury?
Yes. Texas law allows you to seek damages for any economic loss you suffered after a burn injury. This includes:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Occupational and physical therapy
- Goods or services that you needed to purchase due to your injury
Make sure that you keep receipts of all expenses resulting from your injury and records of how many days of work you missed. These records are vital in proving the extent of your losses.
Trust the Dallas Burn Victim Lawyers of Dunn Sheehan
Burn injuries are often more serious than they first appear, and they commonly require a lifetime of medical care to properly treat. When you are potentially facing a lifetime of bills, you need a burn injury law firm that has the experience necessary to successfully recover the compensation you deserve.
The seasoned team at Dunn Sheehan brings skills developed at large firms to provide unsurpassed service to all of our clients. To schedule a free consultation with a Texas burn injury attorney who will fight hard for you, contact us today.