Experiencing a severe burn or electrical injury is a deeply traumatic event, not just for you, but for your entire family. Whether you were hurt at work as an electrician or you were the victim of a fiery car accident, the path to recovery can be long, painful, and filled with uncertainty. You may be facing overwhelming medical bills, time away from work, and the emotional toll of a life-altering injury. During this difficult time, please know that you are not alone.
At The Law Offices of Peter A. Jouras, Jr., we understand the immense challenges you’re facing. With over 25 years of dedicated experience as a burn injury lawyer in Overland Park, we provide compassionate and knowledgeable legal support to victims and their families in both Kansas and Missouri.
We are here to listen to your story, help you understand your rights, and confidently guide you through the legal process. When you hire us, you will receive one-on-one attention from our attorney because we genuinely care about you and your claim. We offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we win your case.
While we are located in Overland Park, Kansas, just north of I-435 and east of Metcalf Ave, we serve the entire Kansas City metropolitan area, including Kansas City, Missouri.
Contact us online today to schedule a free consultation or call us at (913) 677-1999.
Key Takeaways of Kansas and Missouri Burn Injury Claims
- Burn and electrical injury victims in Kansas and Missouri may be eligible to recover damages for medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, future care needs, and other losses.
- Both states have strict filing deadlines: generally two years in Kansas and five years in Missouri to file a personal injury lawsuit.
- An attorney can investigate the cause of the injury, identify all liable parties, and preserve critical evidence, especially important when corporations or utilities conduct their own rapid investigations.
- Burn and electrical injuries may involve workers’ compensation claims, third-party negligence claims, or product liability cases, depending on how the injury occurred.
- Severe burns can lead to complications such as infection, internal injuries, nerve damage, psychological trauma, and disfigurement, all of which can increase the value of a claim.
How a Burn Injury Attorney Can Help You
Suffering a serious burn can lead to physical, emotional, and financial difficulties. After you’ve been in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you need a dedicated Overland Park burn injury attorney who will advocate for your rights and seek the justice and compensation you deserve.
Here’s how we can help you:
- Investigate Your Case: We will work to preserve evidence from the scene, document the conditions that led to your injury, and identify all potentially liable parties. This is critical, as corporations and power companies often have their own investigators on-site within hours.
- Calculate Your Damages: We work with medical experts, life care planners, and financial analysts to accurately calculate the total impact of your injury, not just your current bills, but your future medical needs, lost earning capacity, and the immense pain and suffering you have endured.
- Handle All Communication: We will manage all correspondence and negotiations with insurance companies, which are often focused on minimizing their payout. Our goal is to ensure you are treated fairly and that any settlement offer fully reflects your losses.
- Providing Support and Guidance: Beyond a strong legal strategy, we offer a supportive partnership. We are here to answer your questions, explain your options, and provide the reassurance you need during this difficult time.
What Makes the Law Offices of Peter A. Jouras, Jr. Different?
When you are facing a life-changing injury, the last thing you want is to feel like just another case number. At our burn injury law firm, you are treated with the dignity, respect, and personal attention you deserve. Here’s what makes us different:
- Direct Attorney Contact: As a small law firm, you receive one-on-one contact with your attorney. Peter A. Jouras, Jr. will personally handle your case, and he will answer any and all questions you may have.
- Over 25 Years of Experience: Peter A. Jouras, Jr. has dedicated his career to helping personal injury victims. This extensive experience means we have the knowledge and skill to handle complex burn and electrical injury cases.
- Serving Both Kansas and Missouri: We are licensed to practice in both Kansas and Missouri, allowing us to serve clients throughout the greater Kansas City metropolitan area and beyond.
- Free Consultations & Contingency Fee: We believe everyone deserves access to justice. Your initial consultation is always free, and you will never pay us a fee unless we successfully recover compensation for you.
Degrees of Burns
Medical professionals classify burns by “degrees” to indicate the depth of damage to the skin and underlying tissues. Here are the various severities of burn injuries victims can sustain:
- First-Degree Burns: These are the least severe, affecting only the outer layer of skin (the epidermis). The skin is typically red, painful, and may have minor swelling, but there are no blisters. A common example is a mild sunburn.
- Second-Degree Burns: These burns damage both the epidermis and the second layer of skin (the dermis). They cause red, blistered skin, significant pain, and swelling. According to the American Burn Association, in 2021, there were about 398,000 fire- or burn-related injuries treated nationally.
- Third-Degree Burns: Also called full-thickness burns, these destroy the epidermis and dermis and may go into the innermost layer of skin (the subcutis). The burn site may appear white, leathery, or charred. There may be little or no pain in the area itself because the nerve endings have been destroyed.
- Fourth-Degree Burns: This is the most severe type of burn, extending through all layers of skin and into deeper tissues like muscle, tendons, and even bone. These injuries are life-threatening and cause permanent damage and disability.
Common Causes of Burns and Electrical Injuries
When an accident happens, you can be left with serious burn injuries. Whether you’re working as an electrician in Kansas City’s Power & Light District or you’re burned by a restaurant’s scalding hot coffee, you can hold the liable party responsible for their negligence.
- Workplace Accidents: Construction sites, factories, and kitchens are common settings for thermal burns and electrical shocks. Workers may be exposed to faulty wiring, chemical spills, or equipment malfunctions. In these cases, you may have a workers’ compensation claim in addition to a personal injury claim against a negligent third party.
- Defective Products: Faulty electrical appliances, household electronics, or even children’s toys can malfunction and cause severe burns or electrocution.
- Contact with Power Lines: A significant number of severe electrical injuries occur when equipment like ladders or cranes comes into contact with overhead high-voltage power lines.
- Car Accidents: Vehicle fires can cause devastating thermal burns to occupants.
- Home Fires: Faulty wiring, kitchen accidents, and heating equipment failures can lead to house fires and serious burn injuries.
Contact us online today to schedule a free consultation or call us at (913) 677-1999.
Complications from Serious Burn Injuries
Suffering a serious burn can lead to lifelong health complications. That’s why you need a Kansas City, Kansas, and Missouri burn injury lawyer who can help you understand the full extent of your injuries and damages.
- Severe Infections: Burned skin is highly susceptible to infection, which can lead to sepsis, a life-threatening condition.
- Internal Organ Damage: High-voltage electrical currents can travel through the body, causing massive internal damage to nerves, muscles, and organs that may not be visible on the skin.
- Chronic Pain and Nerve Damage: Many survivors experience long-term pain, numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness.
- Scars and Disfigurement: Severe burns leave permanent scars and disabilities that can limit mobility.
- Psychological Trauma: It is very common for burn survivors to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. The emotional and mental recovery can be just as challenging as the physical one.
- Amputation: In some severe cases, damage to a limb may be so extensive that amputation is necessary.
- Wrongful Death: Severe burn injuries can sometimes lead to fatalities, particularly when a large percentage of the body is affected or when complications such as infections and organ failure occur.
What You Should Do After A Serious Burn
- Seek Immediate Medical Attention: Your health is the top priority. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
- Preserve Evidence: If possible and safe, take photos or videos of the scene, the faulty product, or whatever caused the injury. Do not throw anything away. If a food or drink item caused the injury, keep your receipt.
- Document Everything: Keep a journal of your symptoms, pain levels, medical appointments, and how the injury is affecting your daily life.
- Keep All Records: Keep any records from the accident scene, like photos, witness statements, and police reports. Also, save all your records, including medical bills, prescription receipts, and documentation about missed work.
- Consult with an Attorney: Do not speak to insurance adjusters or sign any documents before consulting with an experienced Overland Park burn and electrical injury lawyer. The adjuster’s goal is to protect their company, not you. Contacting an attorney quickly allows them to start investigating your claim while the evidence is still fresh.
Compensation Available for Kansas and Missouri Burn Injury Victims
If your injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to recover compensation, often referred to as “damages,” for your losses. This can include:
- Medical Expenses: All costs for past and future medical care, including hospital stays, surgeries, physical therapy, medication, and assistive devices.
- Lost Wages: Income you have lost and will lose in the future because you are unable to work.
- Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the physical pain and emotional distress caused by the injury.
- Disfigurement and Scarring: Damages for the permanent physical changes to your body.
- Loss of companionship: Compensation for the negative impact the injury has had on your relationship with your spouse, including the loss of a spouse.
- Punitive Damages: In cases of extreme negligence, these may be awarded to punish the at-fault party.
Kansas and Missouri Burn Injury FAQs
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim in Kansas and Missouri?
The time limit to file a personal injury claim, known as the statute of limitations, is different in each state. In Kansas, you generally have two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit (K.S.A. § 60-513). In Missouri, you generally have five years (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120).
What is My Burn and Electrical Injury Claim Worth?
Every case is unique, and the value of your claim depends on many factors, including the severity of your injuries, the total amount of your medical bills and lost wages, and the long-term impact on your life. An experienced OP and KC burn and electrical injury lawyer can evaluate the specifics of your situation to give you a clearer understanding of what your claim may be worth.
How Do I Know If I Have a Serious Burn Injury?
Any burn larger than the palm of your hand, any burn that causes blisters, or any burn to the face, hands, feet, or genitals should be evaluated by a medical professional. If you have suffered an electrical shock, you should seek immediate medical evaluation, even if you have no visible injuries, as there could be serious internal damage.
Schedule Your Free Consultation with Our Overland Park Burn Injury Attorney
If you or a loved one has suffered a devastating burn or electrical injury, please know that you have legal rights and options. As your Overland Park burn injury lawyer, we will provide the compassionate support and tenacious advocacy you need to secure the justice and financial recovery you deserve.
Contact The Law Offices of Peter A. Jouras, Jr. today for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your case. We are here to answer your questions and help you get started with filing a claim.
We are located in Overland Park, Kansas, just north of I-435 and east of Metcalf Ave. We serve the entire Kansas City metropolitan area, including Kansas City, Missouri.
Contact us online today to schedule a free consultation or call us at (913) 677-1999.
For your free consultation, call (913) 677-1999
