You have a right to expect that your landlord or employer is following fire safety codes and workplace safety regulations. In Kenneth City and other cities and towns across Florida and the U.S., apartment buildings, schools, office complexes, hotels, and other commercial sites are legally mandated to provide and maintain portable fire extinguishers in case a fire breaks out. If you were burned in an accident, your Kenneth City burn injury lawyer can help determine what safety features should have been in place in your situation, and who may be at fault for failing to provide those features. Burn injuries can leave long-lasting physical and psychological scars, and your catastrophic injury attorney could help you get the compensation you deserve as you recover.
What Are the Most Common Types of Burn Injuries in Kenneth City?
Burn injuries can happen almost anywhere, although the two most common types are injuries in the home and injuries at work. Many burns occur in the workplace, while even more occur in the home, often in the kitchen. Other common sources of burn injuries include:
- Faulty electric wiring
- Burst pipes channeling scalding water
- Negligently maintained public recreational spaces such as in hotels, restaurants, and nightclubs
- Negligence in maintaining apartment buildings and office buildings
- Vehicle accidents and explosions
- Defective products
Burns Suffered in the Home
Many Floridians live in multi-family buildings such as apartments and condominiums. Owners and landlords must comply with complicated building codes that are Florida law, based on the National Fire Protection Association standards. All buildings more than three stories high must be equipped with automatic sprinkler systems. Landlords must also maintain a building’s wiring, fire extinguishers, fire escapes, and fireproof doors. A Florida fire safety negligence attorney could help determine if a landlord caused a burn accident by disregarding Florida laws and building codes. Defective products such as faulty space heaters, highly flammable mattresses, clothing, and faulty wiring may also cause fires that lead to burn damage.
Burns Suffered at Work
In the U.S., 5,000 burn injuries are reported each year, caused by fires and explosions at work. An injured party may be able to file a workers’ compensation claim to recover lost wages for the time missed from work. Still, employees who file these claims are precluded from suing their employers for job site negligence. This loss of compensation for pain and suffering, including disfigurement, may be available by suing a third party, such as a manufacturer of a faulty product that causes the fire or explosion. A compassionate Florida personal injury attorney could help burn victims determine if additional compensation is available when the workers’ compensation claim is paid.
Statute of Limitations
A burn caused by the negligence of another is considered a personal injury in Florida. The statute of limitations in these cases is four years from the time of the injury. However, it is generally best to consult a Kenneth City burn injury attorney as soon as possible to better preserve evidence such as photos, police and fire department reports, and witness statements. Recovering monetary damages could help compensate burn victims for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
How Does Contributory Negligence Affect Recovery After a Burn Injury?
Florida law is based on pure contributory negligence in which all parties involved in a burn accident will be held responsible for the percentage of damage caused by their negligence. This law is generally fair to most parties because accidents are often caused by many contributory factors. Due to this law, if a plaintiff shares a portion of responsibility for their own injuries, their amount of financial recovery will be reduced proportionally to their degree of fault.
A Kenneth City Burn Injury Lawyer Can Help
Burn injuries are often among the most painful, potentially disfiguring, and long-lasting harms a person could ever endure. If you were injured in a fire or explosion, you may be owed money for your medical bills and suffering. A Kenneth City burn lawyer could fight for you in the wake of this accident. Call today to schedule a consultation.
