Burn Injury Attorney in New Orleans

Over 30 Years of Trial-Level Injury Experience for Your Burn Claim

Burn injuries are among the most physically and emotionally devastating injuries a person can survive. Beyond intense pain, serious burns can cause infection, permanent scarring, nerve damage, mobility limitations, and disfigurement that alters appearance and independence. Many survivors also carry psychological injuries, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD, particularly when the burn changes how they look, how they move, or how they work. The legal claim should address all of it, not just the emergency room bill.

At Womac Law Firm, we have more than 30 years of trial-level personal injury experience and have represented more than 40,000 personal injury victims across Louisiana. Our founder, Edward J. Womac, Jr., has been admitted to the Louisiana Bar since 1983. Our firm has recovered millions of dollars for clients across many types of serious injury cases. We represent injured people. We don’t represent insurance companies.

You don’t have to face recovery from a severe burn alone. Contact Womac Law Firm online or call (504) 470-3935 for a free, confidential consultation.

Why Burn Claims Must Account for Long-Term Harm

Severe burns frequently involve more than an ER visit. Recovery can include hospitalization, wound care, skin grafts, reconstructive surgery, scar management, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and mental health support. For many people, a serious burn is a catastrophic injury that changes daily life, independence, and the ability to work. A burn that appears healed can continue to restrict movement, cause chronic pain, affect appearance, and reduce earning capacity for years after discharge.

Because the medical and financial impact can extend for years, burn claims should account for:

• Current and future medical costs, including revision procedures and continuing therapy
• Lost income and reduced earning capacity
• Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
• Scarring, disfigurement, and effects on appearance and function
• Long-term assistance needs and home modifications

Our team works with medical providers when needed to document the full scope of your damages and help support a claim that accounts for current and future costs. We prepare cases with the rigor required for trial, including a mock courtroom process that tests evidence and arguments before negotiations or litigation.

Common Causes of Burn Injuries in New Orleans

Common causes include:

• Residential and commercial fires (including apartment fires and building code issues)
• Electrical burns from faulty wiring, unsafe panels, or poor maintenance
• Chemical burns from unsafe storage, spills, or inadequate protective equipment
• Scalding injuries from hot liquids or steam
• Contact burns from hot surfaces, equipment, or defective products
• Vehicle-related fires after serious car accidents, fuel leaks, or hazardous cargo incidents
• Burn injuries tied to construction accidents, including exposure to hot surfaces, chemicals, or electrical hazards on job sites
• Severe burns caused by work accidents, such as industrial incidents, equipment failures, or unsafe workplace conditions

Burn cases often come down to whether someone ignored known risks like unsafe wiring, missing smoke alarms, poor training, or failure to follow safety standards. Workplace burns may require a separate analysis of both workers’ compensation and a possible third-party claim against a contractor, equipment manufacturer, or property owner.

Types of Burn Injuries & What They Can Lead To

Burn severity is shaped by the mechanism of injury, the depth and total area affected, the location on the body, and whether smoke inhalation or infection is involved. Burns to the face, hands, feet, or joints raise particular concerns for scarring, mobility, and the ability to work. The type of burn also shapes what evidence a claim may require.

Different burn mechanisms can cause different medical complications:

1. Electrical Burns
   Electrical burns may cause hidden internal injuries even when the skin damage looks limited. These cases often involve unsafe wiring, poor repairs, or dangerous worksite conditions. Evidence may include wiring records, inspection history, and worksite safety documentation.
2. Chemical Burns
   Chemical exposure can cause severe tissue damage and may involve workplace safety failures, missing warnings, or improper chemical handling. Preserving the substance, packaging, safety data sheets, and any warnings present at the scene is important.
3. Thermal & Fire-Related Burns
   Fires can lead to widespread burns, smoke inhalation injuries, and catastrophic complications requiring extended hospitalization. These cases may involve fire reports, building code records, product documentation, or maintenance histories.

Determining Liability in Louisiana Burn Injury Cases

Liability may depend on who controlled the hazard, whether the condition was foreseeable, what warnings or safety measures existed, and whether more than one person or company contributed to the injury.

Responsible parties may include:

• Property owners and landlords
• Employers and contractors
• Manufacturers of defective products or equipment
• Maintenance companies or building managers
• Drivers or trucking companies (in vehicle fire cases)

In Louisiana, negligence claims are commonly brought under Louisiana Civil Code Article 2315, which provides the right to seek damages when someone’s fault causes injury to another. Louisiana also applies a modified comparative-fault rule under Civil Code Article 2323, effective January 1, 2026: a claimant whose fault is determined to be 51 percent or more is barred from recovery, while a claimant whose fault is below 51 percent sees damages reduced proportionally. When more than one party shares responsibility, such as when a property owner ignored a known hazard and a contractor performed unsafe work, fault is allocated among all contributing parties.

To prove liability, our team may gather:

• Fire reports and incident records
• Photos, videos, and witness statements
• Maintenance logs, inspection history, and prior complaints
• Safety policies and training records (workplace cases)
• Product documentation, warnings, and recall history (product cases)

The Burn Injury Claim Process in New Orleans

Here’s what most cases involve:

1. Medical treatment and documentation
   Your health comes first, and your medical records become a foundation for the claim.
2. Case evaluation
   Our attorneys review what happened, identify possible defendants, and outline next steps.
3. Investigation and evidence gathering
   We may obtain reports, interview witnesses, and preserve physical evidence. Evidence can become harder to obtain as time passes, making early action important.
4. Insurance claims and negotiations
   We present evidence of liability and damages and negotiate for a fair settlement.
5. Filing a lawsuit when necessary
   If the insurer refuses a reasonable resolution, we can file suit in the appropriate court and continue building the case toward trial.

New Orleans Contexts That May Shape a Burn Claim

A New Orleans burn claim may involve conditions such as:

1. Older buildings and historic properties that may have aging electrical systems or outdated safety features
2. Storm-related damage or outages affecting electrical systems
3. Industrial operations involving chemicals, high temperatures, or heavy equipment
4. Major traffic corridors where collisions involving commercial vehicles or hazardous materials may result in vehicle fires

In a personal injury claim involving one of these settings, property owners, employers, or businesses may have a duty to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harm. The Louisiana Department of Health recognizes designated burn units within licensed hospitals, which reflects the distinction between emergency treatment and continuing burn care. The records generated across that continuum of care can be central to documenting what the injury has cost and what it will continue to cost.

Medical Treatment & Compensation in Burn Cases

Serious burns often require coordinated care and long-term follow-up. Treatment may continue well after discharge and include revision procedures, scar therapy, occupational rehabilitation, mental health care, and assistance with daily activities.

Compensation in a successful claim may include:

1. Emergency care and hospitalization
2. Surgery, skin grafting, and reconstructive procedures
3. Wound care supplies, prescriptions, and infection monitoring
4. Physical and occupational therapy
5. Mental health treatment for trauma, anxiety, or PTSD
6. Lost wages and reduced ability to earn
7. Pain, suffering, scarring, and loss of quality of life

Our team works to connect your medical story to the legal claim in a clear, well-supported way so the insurer or jury understands how this injury affects your body, your work, and your future. The amount and categories of damages available depend on the facts, medical evidence, liability, insurance coverage, and applicable law. We fight for the compensation the evidence and law support.

Steps to Take After a Burn Injury

Protect your health and preserve your claim by taking these steps:

• Seek immediate medical care
  Prompt treatment protects you and creates essential records.
• Document what you can
  If possible, take photos of the scene and your injuries, keep damaged items, and write down what happened.
• Request available reports
  Fire department, incident, or workplace reports can be crucial.
• Avoid detailed statements to insurers without advice
  Insurance adjusters may look for ways to minimize the claim.
• Speak with a burn injury lawyer
  Our attorneys can help protect your claim, work to preserve evidence, and handle communications so you can focus on healing.

Support & Recovery Resources

Burn recovery may involve multiple forms of support, including:

• Hospital burn care and follow-up clinics
• Scar management and reconstructive care referrals
• Physical and occupational therapy
• Counseling and trauma-focused mental health support
• Community-based support programs for survivors and families

We can review your treatment records and explain which documentation may show how the burn affects your movement, appearance, pain, work, and daily life.

Frequently Asked Questions About Burn Injuries

How Long Do I Have to File a Burn Injury Case in Louisiana?

Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 3493.1, the general prescriptive period for delictual actions is two years from the date of injury. However, exceptions and claim-specific rules can apply, and waiting can make evidence harder to obtain. Speak with a burn injury lawyer in New Orleans promptly to confirm the deadline that applies to your situation.

What Should I Look for in a Burn Injury Lawyer?

Look for serious injury trial experience, strong communication, and a team that treats you with respect. Womac Law Firm has more than 30 years of trial-level personal injury work, has represented more than 40,000 injury victims, and is recognized among America’s Top 100 Personal Injury Attorneys. You should feel comfortable asking questions and getting clear answers about your case.

Speak with Our Burn Injury Lawyer in New Orleans

Burn injuries can change your life in an instant. You don’t have to navigate medical recovery, insurance pressure, and legal deadlines on your own. At Womac Law Firm, we investigate who was responsible, document current and future losses, and prepare each case for negotiation or trial.

Schedule your free consultation or call (504) 470-3935 to discuss your injury, treatment, and legal options.