Severe burn injuries are among the most painful and life-altering injuries a person can suffer. They require months or years of treatment — including skin grafts, reconstructive surgeries, and intensive rehabilitation — and often leave permanent scarring and disfigurement that affects every aspect of a victim's life.

When a burn injury is caused by someone else's negligence, the victim deserves full and fair compensation — not just for medical bills, but for the profound physical, emotional, and financial toll that follows.

First-degree burns: Affect only the outer layer of skin (epidermis). Redness, pain, no blistering. Heal within days.

Second-degree burns: Affect the epidermis and part of the dermis. Blistering, intense pain, possible scarring. May require skin grafting for larger areas.

Third-degree burns: Destroy all layers of skin. The area may appear white, brown, or charred. Nerve damage means the area may be painless — but surrounding tissue is extremely painful. Always requires skin grafting.

Fourth-degree burns: Extend through skin into muscle, tendon, and bone. Life-threatening. Often result in amputation.

In legal claims, we focus on second, third, and fourth-degree burns — injuries that require hospitalization, surgery, and long-term care.

• Car and truck accidents — fuel fires, explosions, contact with hot metal or fluids
• Workplace accidents — chemical burns, electrical burns, flash fires, industrial explosions
• Defective products — faulty appliances, lithium battery fires, flammable clothing
• Premises liability — gas leaks, faulty wiring, inadequate fire safety equipment
• Chemical exposure — industrial chemicals, cleaning products, pool chemicals
• Electrical accidents — contact with live wires, faulty electrical systems
• Scalding — hot liquids in restaurant or hotel settings (negligent service)
• Boat and watercraft fires

Severe burn injuries require a level of medical care that most people cannot imagine:

• Immediate hospitalization in a specialized burn center
• Debridement — painful removal of dead tissue, often performed repeatedly
• Skin grafting — harvesting healthy skin from other parts of the body to cover burned areas
• Reconstructive surgery — multiple procedures over months or years
• Compression garments — worn 23 hours a day for up to 2 years to minimize scarring
• Physical and occupational therapy — to restore function and range of motion
• Psychological treatment — PTSD, depression, and body image issues are extremely common
• Scar management — laser treatments, steroid injections, ongoing dermatological care

The cost of treating a severe burn injury can easily exceed $1 million in the first year alone.

• All medical expenses — hospitalization, surgeries, skin grafts, rehabilitation
• Future medical care — reconstructive surgeries, scar management, ongoing therapy
• Lost wages — time missed from work during treatment and recovery
• Loss of earning capacity — if disfigurement or disability prevents return to prior work
• Pain and suffering — burn injuries are among the most painful injuries in existence
• Emotional distress and PTSD — psychological trauma from the injury and treatment
• Permanent disfigurement — Florida law specifically recognizes disfigurement as a compensable harm
• Loss of enjoyment of life — inability to engage in activities, relationships, and normal life
• Loss of consortium — damages for a spouse or partner
• Punitive damages — in cases involving gross negligence or intentional misconduct

Florida law recognizes permanent disfigurement as a separate category of damages. Visible scarring on the face, neck, hands, or other prominent areas can significantly increase the value of a burn injury claim. We work with plastic surgeons and reconstructive specialists who can document the extent of disfigurement and the cost of future corrective procedures.

If your burn was caused by a defective product — a faulty appliance, a lithium battery that exploded, flammable children's clothing, or a defective vehicle fuel system — you may have a products liability claim against the manufacturer in addition to any negligence claim. These cases can involve multiple defendants and significantly higher damages.

Call Juan Cordero Lawyers at 305.525.8957 for a free consultation. We fight for severe burn injury victims throughout Florida. You pay nothing unless we win.