A burn injury can change everything in an instant. Whether caused by a fire, an explosion, a dangerous product, or a hazardous workplace condition, severe burns leave victims facing painful recoveries, extensive medical treatment, permanent scarring, and a future unlike anything they planned for. If someone else’s negligence caused your burn injury, you have the right to pursue compensation.

At Wagner Reese, our attorneys have spent decades fighting for victims of serious and catastrophic injuries across Indiana. We take on complex cases involving significant harm, and we work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you owe us nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

How Burn Injuries Happen

Burn injuries occur across a wide range of situations, many of which involve someone else’s negligence or a dangerous condition that should have been corrected. According to the American Burn Association’s Burn Incidence Fact Sheet, the CDC reported over 398,000 fire or burn-related injuries requiring medical care in 2021 alone. These injuries range from minor to life-altering, and the most severe cases often stem from entirely preventable incidents that could have been avoided with reasonable care.

Common causes of serious burn injuries that may support a legal claim include the following:

  • House or building fires: Landlords, property owners, or contractors may be responsible when a fire results from faulty wiring, inadequate smoke detectors, or building code violations
  • Workplace accidents: Employees in construction, manufacturing, and industrial settings face burn risks from open flames, chemical exposure, and equipment failures
  • Defective products: Appliances, vehicles, or consumer goods that overheate or combust due to a design or manufacturing flaw may give rise to a product liability claim
  • Fire and gas explosions: Gas leaks, faulty pipelines, and improperly stored flammable materials can cause catastrophic burns on residential or commercial properties
  • Car accidents: Vehicle fires following a collision can result in severe burns, particularly when a defective fuel system is involved

Understanding the cause of a burn injury is the first step in identifying who may be held responsible and what legal options are available to you.

The Long-Term Impact of Severe Burns

Burn injuries are among the most physically and emotionally demanding injuries a person can sustain. Treatment often involves multiple surgeries, skin grafts, wound care, and months of rehabilitation. Many survivors experience permanent disfigurement, limited mobility, chronic pain, and significant psychological effects long after the initial injury heals. The road to recovery is rarely short, and the costs, both financial and personal, can follow victims for years.

What Compensation May Cover

The financial toll of a severe burn injury can be staggering. Victims may be entitled to compensation for current and future medical expenses, lost wages and reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, costs of ongoing therapy and rehabilitation, and the lasting impact of permanent scarring or disfigurement. In cases involving workplace accidents, additional legal avenues may be available beyond workers’ compensation. When a burn injury results in a fatality, surviving family members may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim.

Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Burn Injury in Indiana?

Depending on the circumstances of the injury, multiple parties may share liability. Property owners can be held responsible when unsafe conditions on their premises cause a fire or explosion. Employers may be liable when they fail to provide a safe working environment or proper protective equipment. Manufacturers can be held accountable when a product defect leads to ignition or combustion. In some cases, contractors or maintenance companies responsible for faulty work may also bear partial responsibility for the resulting harm.

Building Your Burn Injury Case

Our attorneys carefully investigate each case to identify all responsible parties and pursue every available avenue of recovery. Indiana law allows burn victims to file claims against any party whose negligence contributed to the injury. Cases involving fires or gas leaks on a property may also fall under fire and gas explosion liability, adding another dimension to the legal analysis. When burns result in nerve damage or mobility loss, victims may also be dealing with spinal cord injuries that compound the overall harm.

Contact Wagner Reese LLP for Burn Injury Legal Help in Indiana

Wagner Reese LLP brings more than 150 combined years of experience to catastrophic injury cases across Indiana. Our attorneys are recognized by Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America, and our firm holds a Tier-One Best Law Firm ranking year after year. We are selective about the cases we take on, focusing on serious injuries where our clients need meaningful, dedicated advocacy and not just a quick resolution.

If you or a family member suffered a severe burn injury due to someone else’s negligence, we are ready to evaluate your case at no cost. We handle burn injury claims on a contingency fee basis, so there is nothing to pay unless we win. To get started, contact our office today.