NYC Burn Injury Lawyer

At Kelner & Kelner, we understand the devastating physical and emotional impact that burn injuries can have on victims and their families. As committed NYC burn injury lawyers, we provide comprehensive legal representation for those who have suffered these traumatic injuries due to another party's negligence or wrongdoing.

Contact us today for a confidential consultation, where we'll evaluate your case, explain your legal options, and outline our strategy for securing the resources you need to rebuild your life after a serious burn injury.

Burn injuries often require extensive medical treatment, prolonged rehabilitation, and can result in permanent disfigurement and disability. Our team has decades of experience securing substantial compensation for burn injury victims throughout New York City, helping them rebuild their lives after these life-altering events.

How a NYC Burn Injury Lawyer Can Maximize Your Compensation

At Kelner & Kelner, our NYC burn injury lawyers employ strategic legal approaches to ensure clients receive the maximum possible compensation for these devastating and life-altering injuries.

• Comprehensive Injury Documentation: Our NYC burn injury lawyer works with specialized burn treatment physicians to thoroughly document all aspects of your injury, including depth, percentage of body affected, and potential for permanent scarring and disfigurement.
• Future Treatment Projection: Our NYC burn injury lawyers collaborate with medical experts to accurately forecast all future medical needs, including reconstructive surgeries, scar revision procedures, and ongoing physical therapy requirements.
• Psychological Impact Assessment: Our NYC burn injury lawyer will obtain expert psychological evaluations to establish the emotional and mental trauma associated with burn injuries, including body image issues, PTSD, and social anxiety resulting from visible scarring.
• Life Care Planning: For severe burns, our NYC burn injury lawyer will develop detailed life care plans projecting all future medical treatments, home modifications, and personal assistance needs throughout your lifetime.
• Lost Earning Capacity Analysis: Our team works with vocational and economic experts to calculate not just current lost wages but the long-term impact on your earning potential when burn injuries limit career options or work capacity.
• Multiple Liability Sources: Our NYC burn injury lawyer will investigate all potential sources of responsibility, often identifying numerous negligent parties such as landlords, contractors, product manufacturers, and employers, significantly increasing available compensation sources.
• Building Code Violation Documentation: Our attorneys meticulously document fire code violations in apartment buildings, workplaces, and public establishments that contributed to your injuries, strengthening liability claims against property owners.
• Product Liability Expertise: For burns caused by defective products, our firm conducts thorough investigations to establish design flaws, manufacturing defects, or inadequate warnings that create clear liability for manufacturers.
• Settlement Timing Strategy: We strategically time settlement negotiations to occur after your condition has sufficiently stabilized but before trial, positioning your case for maximum compensation while avoiding lengthy court proceedings when possible.
• Jury-Ready Case Preparation: By preparing every case as if it will go to trial, complete with compelling visual evidence and expert testimony, our NYC burn injury lawyer motivates insurance companies to offer substantially higher settlements to avoid courtroom exposure.

Financial Compensation You May Be Entitled To After a Burn Injury

As your NYC burn injury lawyers, Kelner & Kelner will aggressively pursue all forms of compensation available under New York law for victims who have suffered these traumatic and life-altering injuries.

• Emergency Medical Treatment: Compensation covers immediate crisis care including ambulance transport, emergency room treatment, surgical debridement, and initial wound care that forms the foundation of burn recovery.
• Specialized Burn Unit Care: Recovery includes costs of treatment in specialized burn centers where advanced wound care, infection control, and monitoring are provided by teams specifically trained in burn management.
• Reconstructive Surgery: Your settlement should account for multiple reconstructive and plastic surgery procedures that may extend for years after the initial injury, including skin grafts, tissue expansion, and release of contractures.
• Rehabilitation Therapy: Burn injuries require extensive physical and occupational therapy to restore mobility, prevent contractures, and relearn daily living skills, all of which should be included in your compensation.
• Pain Management: Burns are among the most painful injuries, often requiring long-term medication, specialized pain treatments, and psychological approaches that must be factored into your financial recovery.
• Disfigurement Damages: Our NYC burn injury lawyers ensure compensation addresses permanent scarring and disfigurement, particularly for visible areas like the face, neck, and hands, which can significantly impact quality of life.
• Psychological Treatment: Recovery includes therapy and counseling to address PTSD, depression, anxiety, body image issues, and social adjustment challenges commonly experienced after serious burn injuries.
• Lost Income: Your compensation should cover all wages lost during hospitalization, recovery, rehabilitation, and for follow-up procedures, which can extend for months or even years.
• Diminished Earning Capacity: When burns affect your ability to return to previous employment or limit career options, your settlement must reflect the difference between what you could have earned and what you are now capable of earning.
• Home Modifications: Many burn survivors require adaptive equipment or home modifications to accommodate mobility issues or facilitate independent living during recovery and beyond.
• Personal Care Assistance: Compensation can provide for home health aides, nursing care, or family caregiver support during recovery periods when self-care may be difficult or impossible.

Different Types of Burn Injury Cases We Take

At Kelner & Kelner, our NYC burn injury lawyers represent victims suffering from all types of burn injuries resulting from negligence across New York City's five boroughs, providing comprehensive legal support tailored to each unique situation.

• Apartment Building Fires: Our NYC burn injury lawyer will represent tenants and visitors injured in residential fires caused by landlord negligence, faulty wiring, malfunctioning smoke detectors, or building code violations that create dangerous living conditions in violation of New York housing laws.
• Workplace Burn Incidents: Our firm handles cases involving construction site accidents, restaurant kitchen injuries, industrial plant explosions, and other workplace burns resulting from inadequate safety training, missing protective equipment, or OSHA violations.
• Scalding Injuries: Our NYC burn injury lawyer will advocate for victims of hot water burns caused by improperly regulated water heaters in apartments, hotels, nursing homes, or restaurants, particularly when landlords have failed to install anti-scalding devices required by NYC building codes.
• Electrical Burns: Our NYC burn injury lawyers pursue cases involving electrical burns from exposed wiring, defective electrical products, improperly maintained power lines, or construction site electrical hazards that create serious and often deeply penetrating tissue damage.
• Chemical Burn Cases: We represent individuals injured by caustic chemicals in workplace settings, consumer products without adequate warnings, or improper chemical storage in buildings, all of which can cause severe, progressive tissue damage requiring specialized treatment.
• Radiation Burn Litigation: Our burn injury attorneys handle cases involving radiation burns from medical treatment errors, industrial radiation exposure, or improperly shielded equipment that causes cellular damage beyond what is visible on the skin's surface.
• Vehicle Fire Accidents: We pursue compensation for victims burned in car, truck, or motorcycle accidents where fuel system defects, improper fuel tank placement, or post-collision fires caused by design flaws create survivable crashes with catastrophic burn outcomes.
• Defective Product Burns: Our team litigates cases involving consumer products such as e-cigarettes, household appliances, flammable clothing, or electronics that overheat, explode, or ignite due to design or manufacturing defects.
• Steam and Hot Water System Failures: We represent victims injured when aging steam pipes, radiators, or hot water systems in NYC buildings rupture or leak, causing devastating burns that often affect multiple victims in a single incident.
• Medical Procedure Burns: Our firm handles cases involving burns during surgical procedures, laser treatments, radiation therapy, or chemical peels when medical professionals deviate from established standards of care.

Common Causes of Burn Injuries

As experienced NYC burn injury lawyers serving the five boroughs, Kelner & Kelner has represented countless victims whose lives were forever changed by preventable burn incidents resulting from various forms of negligence.

• Residential Building Fires: Landlord negligence regarding electrical wiring, failure to install proper smoke detectors, blocked fire escapes, and improper maintenance of heating systems contribute to devastating apartment fires across New York City, particularly in older buildings.
• Kitchen Accidents: Commercial and residential kitchen incidents involving hot oil splashes, scalding water, steam burns from industrial equipment, and flammable cooking fires cause thousands of burn injuries each year, often due to inadequate training or safety protocols.
• Defective Consumer Products: Household appliances, electronic devices, lithium-ion batteries, e-cigarettes, and other consumer products that overheat, malfunction, or explode can cause serious burns even when used as intended by manufacturers.
• Chemical Exposures: Industrial chemicals, cleaning products, acids, and other corrosive substances can cause severe chemical burns in workplace settings, particularly when employers fail to provide proper protective equipment or safety training.
• Scalding Water Incidents: Improperly regulated water heaters, especially in apartment buildings and hotels, can deliver dangerously hot water causing instant second or third-degree burns, with children and elderly individuals at greatest risk.
• Electrical Contact: Exposed wiring, downed power lines, faulty electrical equipment, and construction site electrical hazards can cause severe electrical burns that damage tissue beneath the skin surface while potentially causing cardiac and neurological complications.
• Workplace Explosions: Construction sites, industrial facilities, and manufacturing plants present risks of explosive events from gas leaks, chemical reactions, or combustible dust that can cause catastrophic burn injuries affecting multiple workers simultaneously.
• Vehicle Crash Fires: Post-collision fires in cars, trucks, and motorcycles often result from fuel system defects, improper fuel line placement, or punctured gas tanks that transform survivable accidents into life-threatening burn scenarios.
• Steam System Failures: New York City's aging infrastructure of underground steam pipes and building heating systems occasionally ruptures or fails catastrophically, releasing superheated steam that causes immediate severe burns to anyone in proximity.
• Medical Procedure Burns: Surgical fires, radiation therapy mistakes, laser treatment errors, and chemical peel complications can cause severe iatrogenic burns when medical professionals fail to follow established safety protocols.

When You Should Hire a NYC Burn Injury Lawyer

At Kelner & Kelner, we recommend consulting with our burn injury lawyers as soon as possible after an incident to protect your legal rights and maximize your potential compensation during this challenging time.

• Severe or Catastrophic Burns: Second-degree burns covering large body areas or any third-degree burns typically require specialized medical care, extensive rehabilitation, and potentially multiple surgeries, creating substantial damages that demand an experienced catastrophic injury lawyer to recover fully.
• Permanent Scarring or Disfigurement: When burns result in visible scarring, particularly on the face, neck, or hands, the psychological and social impacts significantly increase the value of your case, requiring an NYC burn injury lawyer who can effectively document and present these non-economic damages.
• Unclear Liability Situation: Cases involving multiple potentially responsible parties, such as landlords, contractors, product manufacturers, and maintenance companies, benefit from early legal intervention to preserve evidence and establish the chain of responsibility before memories fade or evidence disappears.
• Insurance Company Resistance: If you've already encountered resistance, delays, or lowball offers from insurance adjusters, these are clear signals that the insurer is minimizing your claim and that professional legal representation is needed to level the playing field.
• Workplace Burn Incidents: Burns occurring on job sites often involve both workers' compensation claims and potential third-party liability against equipment manufacturers, subcontractors, or property owners, creating complex legal scenarios requiring attorney guidance.
• Product-Related Burns: Injuries caused by defective appliances, electronic devices, chemicals, or other consumer products present opportunities for product liability claims that demand specialized legal knowledge and resources for thorough investigation.
• Building Code Violations: When landlord negligence or code violations contributed to residential fires or scalding incidents in apartment buildings, a lawyer can identify specific regulations that were breached, strengthening your claim substantially.
• Medical Treatment Complications: Burns requiring extensive medical intervention or resulting from medical procedures themselves create cases involving complex medical evidence that requires proper interpretation and presentation by experienced legal counsel.
• Lost Income or Career Impact: When burns affect your ability to work temporarily or permanently, calculating appropriate compensation for lost wages, diminished earning capacity, and career limitations requires economic analysis that our NYC burn injury lawyers provide.
• Statute of Limitations Concerns: New York's filing deadlines for personal injury claims (generally three years, but potentially much shorter for government entities) make prompt legal consultation essential to preserve your right to compensation.

The Process of Working With a Burn Injury Attorney

At Kelner & Kelner, we've developed a streamlined approach to handling burn injury cases that maximizes your compensation while minimizing your stress during the recovery process.

• Initial Consultation: Our NYC burn injury lawyers provide a free, comprehensive case evaluation where we listen to your story, review available evidence, explain potential legal options, and answer all questions about the process ahead.
• Medical Coordination: We connect with your medical providers to fully understand your burn injury, future treatment needs, and long-term prognosis, often consulting with specialized burn care experts who can testify about the full extent of your injuries.
• Evidence Preservation: Our team immediately works to secure critical evidence including photographs of the burn scene, incident reports, witness statements, security camera footage, maintenance records, and product remains before these crucial elements disappear.
• Liability Investigation: We conduct a thorough analysis to determine all potentially responsible parties, often uncovering multiple sources of liability that significantly increase your potential compensation through various insurance policies.
• Case Documentation: Our NYC burn injury lawyers compile comprehensive documentation including medical records, expert opinions, employment information, and photographic evidence of your injuries, creating a compelling narrative of your damages.
• Insurance Communication: We handle all communications with insurance adjusters and defense attorneys, protecting you from providing damaging statements while positioning your case for maximum value through strategic negotiations.
• Settlement Evaluation: Our attorneys present all settlement offers with clear explanations of their adequacy, providing honest recommendations while ensuring you maintain complete decision-making authority regarding resolution of your case.
• Litigation Preparation: If fair settlement cannot be reached, we prepare your case for trial by developing compelling visual presentations, securing expert testimony, preparing witnesses, and crafting persuasive legal arguments that resonate with New York juries.
• Trial Representation: Our experienced litigators present your burn injury case in court with compelling evidence and persuasive advocacy, maintaining our reputation for achieving substantial verdicts in catastrophic injury cases across New York City.
• Settlement Management: After securing compensation, we assist with addressing medical liens, structuring settlements when advantageous, and connecting you with financial advisors who can help manage substantial recoveries for long-term security.

Contact Our NYC Burn Injury Legal Team Today

If you or a loved one has suffered burn injuries due to someone else's negligence, don't face this challenging time alone. At Kelner & Kelner, our dedicated burn injury attorneys are ready to fight for the full compensation you deserve while you focus on healing and recovery. Contact us today for a confidential consultation, where we'll evaluate your case, explain your legal options, and outline our strategy for securing the resources you need to rebuild your life after a serious burn injury.

NYC Burn Injury Lawyer FAQs

How are burn injuries classified and does the classification affect my case?

Burns are classified in degrees, with first-degree affecting only the outer layer of skin, second-degree extending to deeper skin layers, third-degree destroying all skin layers, and fourth-degree reaching to muscle and bone. The severity classification significantly impacts your case value, with higher-degree burns and greater body surface area involvement typically resulting in larger compensation awards due to increased medical costs, longer recovery periods, and more significant permanent effects.

What if my burn injury occurred in my apartment building?

In New York City, landlords have specific legal obligations regarding fire safety, including functioning smoke detectors, proper fire exits, fire-resistant materials, and adherence to electrical codes. If your landlord failed to meet these obligations or was negligent in maintaining safe premises, they may be liable for your injuries regardless of what caused the initial fire. Our firm is particularly experienced with cases involving violations of the New York City Fire Code and Housing Maintenance Code.

How long do burn injury cases typically take to resolve?

Burn injury cases generally take between one to three years to resolve, though this timeline varies significantly based on factors including injury severity, liability clarity, insurance company cooperation, and whether the case settles or proceeds to trial. Our NYC burn injury lawyer will often advise clients with severe burns to wait until reaching maximum medical improvement before settling, as this provides clearer evidence of permanent scarring, functional limitations, and future treatment needs.

Can I receive compensation if I was partially at fault for the burn accident?

Yes. New York follows a "pure comparative negligence" rule, meaning you can recover compensation even if you were partly responsible for your burn injury. Your award will be reduced by your percentage of fault, but you remain eligible for recovery regardless of your degree of responsibility. Our NYC burn injury lawyers work diligently to minimize your assigned percentage of fault to maximize your compensation.

What is the difference between first-party and third-party claims for burn injuries?

First-party claims are filed with your own insurance company, such as homeowner's insurance for a house fire or workers' compensation for workplace burns. Third-party claims are filed against other liable parties such as negligent landlords, product manufacturers, contractors, or business owners. Many burn cases involve both types of claims, requiring coordinated legal strategies to maximize overall compensation.

How does homeowner's insurance factor into burn injury cases?

Homeowner's insurance typically covers burn injuries that occur on the insured property, whether to residents or visitors. This coverage may extend to temporary housing during repairs, medical expenses, property damage, and liability for injuries. When pursuing claims against a homeowner's policy, our NYC burn injury lawyers navigate complex policy exclusions and coverage limitations to secure maximum compensation.

What if my burn injury resulted from a defective product?

Product liability claims for burn injuries involve strict liability standards, meaning manufacturers and sellers can be held responsible regardless of whether they were negligent. These claims require demonstrating the product was defective in design or manufacturing, lacked adequate warnings, and that this defect directly caused your burns. Our firm works with engineering experts to establish these critical elements for appliances, electronics, chemicals, or other products that caused burn injuries.

Are there special considerations for chemical burn cases?

Chemical burn cases involve unique challenges including identifying the specific substances involved, determining whether appropriate warnings were provided, and documenting the often progressive nature of chemical injuries. These cases frequently involve complex regulations regarding chemical labeling and safety protocols, requiring specialized legal knowledge and expert testimony from toxicologists and chemical safety specialists to establish liability.

What documentation should I maintain after a burn injury?

Preserve all medical records, treatment plans, and physician notes; photograph your burns at different stages of healing; keep a daily journal documenting pain levels, treatment experiences, and functional limitations; save all receipts for medical expenses, medications, and adaptive equipment; document lost work time and income; and maintain any evidence from the incident such as the burning product, fire inspector reports, or witness contact information.

How are burn injury settlements typically structured?

Burn injury settlements often include both lump-sum payments for past damages and structured settlements providing periodic payments for future needs. For severe burns requiring lifetime care, structured settlements can provide tax advantages and guaranteed income for ongoing medical treatments. Our NYC burn injury lawyers consult with financial planners and structured settlement specialists to design payment arrangements that best protect your long-term interests while addressing immediate financial needs.