New York Burn Injury Lawyers
Finkelstein & Partners, LLP
1279 NY-300
Newburgh, NY, 12550
(845) 420-1779
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Finkelstein & Partners, LLP – Winning Serious Injury Lawsuits Since 1959
Burn injuries are among the most painful, most expensive, and most life-altering injuries a person can suffer. The road to recovery is long, the medical costs can be staggering, and the physical and emotional scars, in many cases, never fully heal. If you or a loved one suffered serious burns because of someone else’s negligence, recklessness, or failure to maintain a safe environment, you have the right to hold them accountable.
At Finkelstein & Partners, our New York burn injury lawyers have been winning serious injury lawsuits since 1959. We know how to investigate burn accidents, how to build the case for full compensation, and how to go up against any defendant, no matter how large. While you focus on your recovery, we focus on getting you the outcome you deserve.
New York Burn Injury Guide
- Why You Should Consider Finkelstein & Partners
- Your Burn Injury Case May Require Expert Witnesses
- What Is the Worth of a Burn Injury?
- Common Causes of Burn Injuries
- Who Files Fatal Burn Injury Claims?
- What Is the Burn Injury Statute of Limitations?
- Should You Talk to the Insurance Company?
How Do You Know if You Have a Serious Burn Injury?
Burns are classified by degree, and the severity of each degree has a direct bearing on the medical treatment required, the long-term consequences a victim will face, and the value of a legal claim.
- First-degree burns affect only the outermost layer of skin. They typically cause redness, swelling, and pain, and usually heal within a week or two without significant scarring. While painful, first-degree burns generally do not result in major legal claims.
- Second-degree burns penetrate deeper into the skin, causing blistering, intense pain, and a significant risk of infection. More severe second-degree burns may require skin grafts and can result in lasting scarring. These injuries often demand substantial medical treatment and may give rise to a meaningful personal injury claim.
- Third-degree burns destroy all layers of skin and damage the underlying tissue, nerves, and sometimes bone. Because the nerve endings are destroyed, third-degree burns may feel numb even while causing devastating tissue damage. Victims virtually always require skin grafts, multiple surgeries, and extended rehabilitation. The long-term consequences, including permanent scarring, disfigurement, and loss of function, are severe, and the value of these claims reflects that.
- Fourth-degree burns extend through the skin into muscle, tendon, and bone. They are life-threatening injuries that often result in amputation and require intensive, prolonged medical intervention. These cases typically involve the highest degree of permanent impairment and the largest recoveries.
Beyond the burns themselves, victims often suffer smoke inhalation injuries, respiratory damage, infections, and severe psychological trauma, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Our burn injury law firm pursues compensation for all of it.
Common Causes of Burn Injuries in New York
Burn injuries can occur in a wide variety of circumstances. Our New York burn injury lawyers have handled cases arising from:
Residential and Commercial Fires
Landlord negligence, faulty wiring, missing smoke detectors, blocked exits, and building code violations are common factors in fires that injure or kill tenants and building occupants. Property owners and managers who fail to maintain safe premises can be held liable.
Workplace Accidents
Certain industries, including construction, manufacturing, restaurant work, and chemical processing, expose workers to elevated burn risks. When an employer fails to provide adequate safety equipment, training, or a properly maintained work environment, they may be liable for the resulting injuries. Workers’ compensation may provide initial benefits, but a separate third-party lawsuit is often available and can significantly increase the total recovery.
Defective Products
Faulty appliances, defective electrical equipment, malfunctioning vehicles, and dangerous consumer products are a leading cause of burn injuries in New York. When a product’s design, manufacturing, or labeling is defective, the manufacturer, distributor, or retailer may be held liable under product liability law.
Gas Explosions
Gas leaks and explosions caused by negligent utility companies, negligent contractors, or improperly maintained gas lines and appliances can cause catastrophic burns in an instant. These cases often involve government entities or large corporations and require attorneys with the resources to pursue them fully.
Electrical Burns
Contact with exposed wiring, downed power lines, faulty electrical installations, or defective electrical equipment can cause deep internal burns that may not be visible on the skin’s surface. Electrical injuries are frequently underestimated in the immediate aftermath and require thorough medical and legal attention.
Chemical Burns
Exposure to caustic substances, whether in an industrial setting, a construction environment, or as a result of a defective consumer product, can cause severe chemical burns to the skin and respiratory system.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents can cause fuel fires and explosions that result in serious burn injuries. If another driver’s negligence caused the crash, that driver and potentially the vehicle manufacturer may be liable.
Scalding Accidents
In restaurants, hotels, and residential settings, exposure to superheated liquids and steam can cause second and third-degree burns, particularly to children and elderly individuals.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a New York Burn Injury?
Depending on how the burn occurred, responsible parties may include:
- A property owner or landlord who failed to maintain safe conditions or comply with fire codes
- An employer who failed to provide a safe working environment or adequate safety equipment
- A product manufacturer, distributor, or retailer whose defective product caused the burn
- A utility company that negligently maintained gas lines or electrical infrastructure
- A contractor who performed faulty electrical, gas, or construction work
- A government entity responsible for maintaining safe public infrastructure
- A driver or vehicle owner whose negligence caused a crash and resulting fire
Identifying every liable party and pursuing each of them is one of the most important functions your burn injury attorney performs. Finkelstein & Partners conducts a thorough investigation from the start to ensure no responsible party escapes accountability.
The Role of Expert Witnesses in Burn Injury Cases
Burn injury cases frequently require expert witnesses to establish how the accident happened, who is responsible, and what the long-term consequences will cost. Our firm has access to credible experts across relevant disciplines, including:
- Fire investigators who reconstruct how a fire started and identify the negligent conditions that allowed it to spread
- Mechanical and electrical engineers who analyze equipment failures and code violations
- Burn and reconstructive surgery specialists who document the extent of injuries and future medical needs
- Life care planners who project the long-term costs of treatment, therapy, and daily support
- Vocational rehabilitation experts who assess how the injury affects a victim’s earning capacity
- Economists who calculate the full financial impact of lost income and ongoing costs
Our attorneys work with these experts to build a comprehensive, fully supported damages picture that withstands challenge from even the most aggressive defense teams.
What Compensation Can a Burn Injury Claim Recover?
A successful burn injury claim in New York may recover compensation for:
- Past and future medical expenses, including emergency treatment, surgery, skin grafts, hospitalization, wound care, and rehabilitation
- The cost of reconstructive surgery and ongoing cosmetic procedures
- Lost wages during recovery
- Diminished future earning capacity, including total loss of earning ability in severe cases
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement and permanent scarring
- Emotional distress, depression, anxiety, and PTSD
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- In wrongful death cases, economic support, funeral and burial costs, and loss of companionship
Research documents that hospital stays for severe burn injuries can range from one day to nearly seven weeks, with average medical costs in the tens of thousands of dollars at the initial treatment stage alone, before accounting for follow-up surgeries, occupational therapy, psychological treatment, and long-term care. Finkelstein & Partners works with financial experts and life care planners to ensure every present and future cost is fully accounted for in your claim.
Burn Injuries at Work: Understanding Your Options
If your burn injury happened on the job, you are likely entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, which cover medical expenses and a portion of your lost wages regardless of fault. However, workers’ compensation does not compensate for pain and suffering, disfigurement, or the full extent of your lost earning capacity.
In many workplace burn cases, a third party, such as a negligent contractor, a property owner, or a defective equipment manufacturer, contributed to the accident. A third-party burn injury lawsuit can be pursued alongside a workers’ comp claim and often results in a far larger recovery. Our attorneys will assess your situation and identify every avenue of compensation available to you.
New York Burn Injury FAQ
Burn injury claims involve several legal considerations that victims and families commonly have questions about. Here are answers to the ones we hear most often.
How Long Do I Have to File a Burn Injury Claim in New York?
In most cases, New York’s statute of limitations gives you three years from the date of the injury to file a burn injury lawsuit. Different deadlines apply if a government entity is involved, typically requiring a Notice of Claim within 90 days, making early contact with an attorney essential. For cases involving a death, the wrongful death statute of limitations is generally two years from the date of death.
What if I Was Partially at Fault for the Accident that Caused My Burns?
New York follows a pure comparative negligence rule, which means you can still recover compensation even if you share some responsibility for the accident. Your total recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault, but you are not barred from pursuing a claim. Defendants and their insurers will routinely try to inflate your share of the blame to reduce what they owe, and our attorneys know how to counter those arguments.
Should I Talk to the Insurance Company on My Own?
No. Insurance adjusters, even those who seem sympathetic, are focused on minimizing the amount their company pays. Statements you make in the early days after an accident can be used to undervalue or deny your claim. Contact Finkelstein & Partners first. We handle all communications with insurers from the moment we are retained, so nothing you say can be used against you.
What Does It Cost for Burn Victims to Hire a Burn Injury Lawyer?
Nothing upfront. Finkelstein & Partners handles all burn injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no legal fees unless we recover compensation for you. Our burn injury lawyers also advance the costs of investigating and litigating your case, so financial concerns never prevent you from pursuing the full value of your claim.
Contact a New York Burn Injury Lawyer for a Free Consultation to Discuss Fair Compensation
A burn injury does not just change your body. It can change your career, your relationships, your sense of self, and your entire way of life. The negligent party and their insurer will work hard to limit what they pay. You need a burn injury law firm that works just as hard, and with far more tenacity, on your behalf.
Finkelstein & Partners has offices across New York State. Wherever your injury happened in New York, we are ready to fight for you.
Call us now for a free, no-obligation case evaluation or contact us online. There is no fee unless we win.