Albuquerque Burn Injury Attorney

Common Causes of Severe Burn Injuries in Albuquerque

Vehicular accidents, including those involving cars, buses, motorcycles, trucks, drunk drivers, and rideshares, are among the most common sources of burn injuries. Vehicle fires can occur when crashes damage fuel systems, creating leaks that ignite from sparks. Airbag deployment and electrical fires in hybrid or electric vehicles pose additional burn risks. These injuries are often severe due to confined spaces and intense heat.

Industrial and Property Fires are common in Albuquerque's dry climate, particularly in aging buildings with outdated wiring or insufficient safety systems. Property owners must maintain safe environments under New Mexico's premises liability laws. Negligent conditions like faulty wiring, improperly stored flammable materials, and blocked fire exits can lead to devastating fires.

Defective products frequently cause burn injuries, especially household appliances and industrial equipment that overheat, malfunction, or lack proper safety mechanisms. Space heaters, electric blankets, curling irons, and chemical treatments pose significant risks when manufacturers provide inadequate instructions or defective products.

The burn injury attorneys at Law Office of Nathan Cobb thoroughly evaluate how you were injured, determine liability, and explain your legal options for obtaining compensation.

Types of Burn Injuries

Burn injuries are classified into three categories:

• First-degree burns affect only the skin's outer layer, causing redness and pain. Most heal with minimal medical care.
• Second-degree burns penetrate deeper layers, causing blisters, intense pain, and potential scarring. Prompt medical care reduces complications.
• Third-degree burns penetrate underlying tissues like muscle or bone, requiring advanced medical management at facilities like the University of New Mexico Burn Center.

Severe burns often refer to extensive second-degree burns or any third-degree burns causing major tissue destruction. These injuries can result in permanent nerve damage, loss of sensation, and require ongoing treatments including reconstructive surgery and physical therapy.

Long-term Effects extend beyond physical trauma. Victims may experience anxiety, depression, or PTSD, along with social challenges from visible disfigurement. These wide-ranging effects influence your legal claim's value.

At Law Office of Nathan Cobb, our Albuquerque burn injury lawyers understand these injuries' complexities and fight for maximum compensation for your full recovery.

Compensation for Severe Burn Injuries in New Mexico

When we agree to take your case, we will work to get you the comprehensive compensation you need to address the multifaceted impacts of your severe burn injuries. This will involve calculating the true scope of both your economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages refer to the tangible financial losses you have incurred and will continue to incur because of your injuries. Non-economic damages are inherently more subjective and are meant to compensate you for the more intangible aspects of your suffering.

Understanding the unique challenges that burn injury victims in New Mexico face, we take a detail-oriented approach when quantifying all damages. Many individuals experience lasting complications including chronic pain, extensive rehabilitation, and permanent changes to daily activities. In the Albuquerque area, access to advanced treatment centers such as the University of New Mexico Hospital’s burn unit can improve your medical outlook but often results in significant medical expenses. These realities factor into how our burn injury lawyers assess losses and pursue compensation that addresses both immediate and future care needs, ensuring you are not left with unexpected costs down the road.

The types of damages a burn injury attorney in Albuquerque may fight to recover for clients include:

• Medical expenses
• Lost income and earning potential
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Disfigurement
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of consortium

Victims may also be entitled to damages for rehabilitation services, including necessary therapies, long-term care planning, and potential home modifications. Our team meticulously documents these aspects to ensure you receive comprehensive compensation that truly reflects the extent of your injuries and needs. We understand that each burn injury claim is unique, and we tailor our approach to align with your specific circumstances and goals.

Statute of Limitations for Burn Injury Lawsuits in New Mexico

Depending on how you suffered your burns, you will need to file a personal injury lawsuit or a product liability lawsuit to pursue damages. In New Mexico, you have three years from the date you were injured to take either type of legal action.

Other exceptions may apply to the statute of limitations that can either shorten or extend the timeframe to file a lawsuit. For instance, claims involving government entities may require notice to be given within a much shorter period. Conversely, if an injury's impact only becomes evident over time, the discovery rule may extend the filing deadline. Our team is vigilant in keeping you informed about these timelines and ensuring no critical deadline is missed that could affect your legal standing.

Why You Should Hire a Burn Injury Attorney in Albuquerque for Your Case

When you suffer severe burn injuries, your focus should be on your recovery. You shouldn’t have to worry about negotiating with insurance companies or navigating the intricacies of the legal process. If you try to go it alone, you may make mistakes that jeopardize your ability to secure compensation. 

Having a local burn injury attorney in Albuquerque on your side means you have advocates who understand regional legal proceedings, community resources, and relationships with courts within Bernalillo County. Our knowledge of strategies commonly used by New Mexico insurance carriers provides a crucial advantage as we pursue fair case outcomes. We anticipate and counteract obstacles unique to severe burn injury cases in the region, such as disputes over the extent of injury or the cost of specialized treatment. Coordinating with local medical providers and support networks, we help you access all the services needed for your recovery, while also building the strongest possible legal claim on your behalf.

Working with our burn injury lawyer in Albuquerque allows you to focus on your recovery while we handle the details of your case. When we take on your claim, our team thoroughly investigates the people and entities responsible, gathers evidence, and consults with respected medical and financial professionals. We strive to establish the complete range of your losses. Our burn injury attorneys negotiate assertively with insurance companies—for settlements that reflect the true value of your claim—and are fully prepared to take your case to court if that is necessary to secure justice.

Understanding Comparative Fault in New Mexico Burn Injury Cases

In New Mexico, burn injury cases are governed by a pure comparative fault rule, meaning compensation can be reduced in proportion to your percentage of responsibility for an accident. If a court determines you were, for example, 20% at fault for failing to follow certain fire safety protocols in the workplace, your financial recovery would be reduced by 20%. Understanding this law is essential for burn victims in Albuquerque, as it directly affects the potential value of a claim and the legal strategy your attorney will use. Our burn injury attorneys at Law Office of Nathan Cobb review every aspect of your accident to defend against arguments by insurance carriers or other parties who may try to assign unfair blame.

This comprehensive approach benefits our clients by ensuring every accountable party—whether individuals, property owners, or product manufacturers—is appropriately held liable under New Mexico law. In some cases, multiple sources of fault are involved, such as defective machinery combined with workplace negligence or hazardous premises. By examining each element, we maximize your opportunity for recovery. We will walk you through how local courts in the Second Judicial District—which encompasses Albuquerque and Bernalillo County—may apply comparative fault, so you can make informed decisions about your case.

If you or a loved one has suffered a severe burn injury, contact the Law Office of Nathan Cobb today for a free consultation and fight for the compensation you deserve.

Frequently Asked Questions About Burn Injuries in Albuquerque