As one of D.C.’s premier personal injury law firms, Regan Zambri Long delivers powerful advocacy for victims of negligence.

Legal Rights for Burn Injury Victims: When Negligence Is to Blame

When a burn injury results from someone else’s negligence, the law offers protection and the opportunity for justice. Whether your injury occurred in a car accident, at work, due to a defective product, or on unsafe property, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. In Washington, DC, understanding your legal rights after a burn injury is the first step in holding negligent parties accountable.

Learn more about Burn Injuries here

At Regan Zambri Long Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ve helped burn injury victims recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and long-term care. These cases are often complex, involving extensive medical evidence and legal strategy. Our team provides guidance and representation every step of the way to ensure you’re not left to navigate the legal system alone.

Negligence is the failure to act with reasonable care. In legal terms, it means someone did not do what a reasonable person or professional would have done under similar circumstances. If this failure results in harm, the responsible party can be held legally liable.

In burn injury cases, negligence may take many forms:

A landlord who failed to install or maintain smoke detectors

A restaurant that didn’t train staff on safe kitchen procedures

An employer who ignored OSHA fire safety regulations

A manufacturer that released a defective or dangerous product

A driver who caused a car crash leading to a fire or explosion

To pursue a personal injury claim, your legal team must prove four key elements:

1. Duty of Care: The defendant owed you a duty of care. For example, property owners must maintain safe premises, and employers must follow workplace safety standards.

2. Breach of Duty: The defendant breached that duty by acting negligently, recklessly, or failing to act.

3. Causation: This breach directly caused your burn injury.

4. Damages: You suffered measurable losses, such as medical bills, lost income, or long-term disability.

When these elements are met, you can file a lawsuit to recover damages. The at-fault party’s insurance company will often attempt to settle the claim. However, insurers often undervalue burn injuries due to their long-term effects being difficult to quantify without legal expertise.

That’s why working with a personal injury lawyer with experience handling catastrophic injuries is essential. At Regan Zambri Long, we understand the true impact burns have on victims and their families—not just in the days after the injury, but for months and years to come.

Burn injury victims may be eligible to recover two types of damages: economic and non-economic.

Economic Damages:

Current and future medical bills

Rehabilitation and physical therapy

Lost income and loss of future earning capacity

Costs of home modifications or medical equipment

In-home care and assistance

Non-Economic Damages:

Pain and suffering

Emotional trauma and mental anguish

Disfigurement and scarring

Loss of enjoyment of life

Loss of consortium (impact on relationships)

In certain cases, punitive damages may also be awarded. These are not tied to your personal losses but are meant to punish the defendant for particularly reckless or egregious conduct—such as knowingly violating fire codes or producing a dangerously defective product.

It’s important to act quickly after a burn injury. In Washington, DC, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is typically three years from the date of the injury. However, there are exceptions depending on the circumstances, such as if the claim involves a government agency or if the injury wasn’t immediately discovered.

Failing to file within this window can result in losing your right to recover any compensation, no matter how severe your injuries or how strong your case may be.

Many victims are unsure whether their injury qualifies as a case of negligence. That’s why we offer free consultations—to evaluate the facts of your situation and determine whether legal action is appropriate.

We begin by gathering evidence, such as:

Incident and accident reports

Witness statements

Photos or video footage of the scene

Medical records and expert medical opinions

Product defect reports or safety recalls

Workplace safety documentation

This allows us to comprehensively understand how the injury occurred and who should be held responsible. We also consult with burn specialists, surgeons, and rehabilitation experts to estimate the full cost of care—not just now, but in the years ahead.

Negotiating with insurance companies can be frustrating and time-consuming. Our attorneys handle all communications on your behalf, pushing back against lowball offers and misleading tactics. If a fair settlement cannot be reached, we are prepared to file a lawsuit and present your case in court.

Our firm also understands the emotional and psychological toll of pursuing legal action after a traumatic injury. We work with empathy, transparency, and professionalism to ensure you feel supported and informed at every stage of the process.

If your child, spouse, or loved one was seriously burned, you may also be entitled to bring a claim on their behalf. In wrongful death cases involving fatal burn injuries, surviving family members can pursue compensation for funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship.

The road to recovery after a burn injury is long, but you don’t have to walk it alone. Legal action won’t undo the pain, but it can provide the resources and justice you need to rebuild your life.

If you or someone you love has suffered a burn injury due to another party’s negligence in Washington, DC, contact Regan Zambri Long Personal Injury Lawyers today. We’ll evaluate your case, explain your options, and fight for the full compensation you deserve.