## Burn injury claims in California Burns are among the most painful and traumatic injuries — often requiring multiple reconstructive surgeries, leaving permanent scars, and causing significant psychological harm. ## Burn classifications **By depth:** - **First degree** — superficial; redness only (sunburn) - **Second degree** — partial thickness; blistering - **Third degree** — full thickness; through dermis - **Fourth degree** — through muscle / bone **By cause:** - **Thermal burns** — fire, scalding, hot surfaces - **Chemical burns** — acids, alkalis, industrial chemicals - **Electrical burns** — current passing through body - **Radiation burns** — UV, X-ray, nuclear - **Friction burns** - **Cold burns / frostbite** **By extent:** - Total Body Surface Area (TBSA) percentage - 10%+ TBSA significant; 30%+ TBSA life-threatening ## Common causes **Vehicle:** - Fuel-tank fires after crashes - Defective fuel-system designs - Battery fires (EVs, lithium) - Air-bag chemical burns **Workplace:** - Industrial chemical exposure - Welding accidents - Restaurant grease fires - Electrical equipment - Boiler / steam burns **Premises:** - Hotel scalding (water-temp regulation) - Apartment fires (faulty wiring, smoke detectors) - Commercial fires - Pool / spa overheating **Product defects:** - Coffee makers / appliances - Hair products / hot tools - Cigarette lighters - E-cigarettes / vaping batteries - Defective heating pads **Other:** - Gas explosions - Restaurant accidents - Hot liquid spills (children most vulnerable) - Medical devices ## Damages typically pursued **Medical:** - Initial emergency / ICU care - Burn unit specialized care - Skin grafts (often multiple) - Reconstructive surgery (years of operations) - Wound care - Pain management - Physical therapy - Mental health (PTSD, depression) - Future medical expenses **Other:** - Lost wages - Lost earning capacity - Pain and suffering (often substantial) - Permanent disfigurement / scarring - Loss of enjoyment - Mental anguish - Loss of consortium - Wrongful death (in fatal cases) ## Lifetime costs Severe burns commonly require: - $750K-$2M+ for hospitalization - $50K-$500K+ ongoing reconstructive surgeries - $100K-$300K+ for psychological care - Significant ongoing wound + scar management - Functional rehabilitation - Vocational training / disability ## Critical experts - **Burn surgeons / plastic surgeons** — diagnosis + future care - **Reconstructive specialists** - **Pain management specialists** - **Mental-health professionals** (PTSD common after burns) - **Life care planners** - **Vocational experts** - **Fire investigators / fire marshals** - **Engineering experts** for product / vehicle defect cases - **Burn-cause experts** — accelerants, electrical analysis ## Liability theories **Negligence:** - Negligent design / construction - Negligent maintenance - Negligent operation - Failure to warn **Strict liability (products):** - Defective design - Manufacturing defect - Failure to warn / inadequate instructions **Premises liability:** - Failure to maintain safe premises - Code violations - Inadequate fire safety **Workers' comp + third-party claims:** - Workers' comp from employer - Third-party claim against equipment manufacturer / contractor ## Time-critical issues - **Evidence preservation** — burned property, vehicles, products - **Photo documentation** — injuries over time as healing progresses - **Medical bills + records** - **Witness statements** - **Fire investigation reports** - **Manufacturer recall investigations** ## Common defenses - **User error** — improper use of product - **Misuse** — not as intended - **Comparative fault** — plaintiff's actions contributed - **Open and obvious danger** - **Pre-existing conditions** affecting healing - **Independent intervening causes** - **State of the art** — defense for products - **Statute of limitations / repose** ## What you should do If you've suffered a burn injury in California: focus on medical care first. Document everything (photos especially over time). Preserve evidence (the product / scene). Don't sign any insurance company waivers without legal review. Hire an experienced burn-injury attorney. Most California burn-injury attorneys work on contingency and front substantial expert costs. --- *This guide is general information about California law as of early 2026 and is not legal advice. Burn cases require specialized expertise. Talk to a licensed California catastrophic-injury attorney about your specific case.*