Indianapolis Burn Injury Lawyer | Fire, Chemical & Electrical Burns | Free Consultation

Indianapolis Burn Injury Lawyer – Fighting for Burn Victims

Burn injuries are among the most devastating injuries a person can suffer. The pain is excruciating. The treatment is lengthy and expensive. The scarring is permanent. And the psychological trauma can last a lifetime. When someone else's negligence causes a burn injury, the responsible parties must be held accountable.

According to the American Burn Association, approximately 486,000 people receive medical treatment for burn injuries annually in the United States. Indiana reports thousands of burn-related emergency room visits each year, many resulting from preventable accidents involving defective products, workplace hazards, and negligent property conditions.

Whether you were burned in a house fire caused by a defective appliance, suffered chemical burns at an Indianapolis workplace, or were injured in a vehicle fire after a crash on I-465, you deserve compensation that reflects the true devastation of your injury. At Emerson Divorce and Accident Injury Attorneys, our Indianapolis burn injury lawyers understand these catastrophic cases and fight for maximum compensation.

Headquarters in Carmel with offices in Fishers and Zionsville—serving burn injury victims in Indianapolis, Hamilton County, and throughout Indiana.

Free consultation: 317-969-8000

Watch: Understanding Burn Injury Claims in Indianapolis

What To Do After a Burn Injury

Get Emergency Medical Care

1. Call 911 for serious burns: Any burn larger than 3 inches, burns on face/hands/feet/genitals/joints, or burns that appear deep require emergency care.
2. Go to a burn center for severe burns: The Richard M. Fairbanks Burn Center at Eskenazi Health in Indianapolis is Indiana's only verified burn center.
3. Don't delay treatment: Burns can worsen quickly. Infection risk increases with time.
4. Follow all treatment recommendations: Burn treatment is complex—compliance is essential for recovery.

Preserve Evidence

5. Document the scene: If possible, photograph the cause of the burn (defective product, hazardous condition).
6. Preserve defective products: Keep any product that caused or contributed to the burn.
7. Get witness information: Names and contact info of anyone who witnessed the incident.
8. Report the incident: File reports with fire department, OSHA (if workplace), police, or property owner.

Protect Your Legal Rights

9. Document your injuries: Photograph burns throughout treatment (with medical team permission).
10. Keep all medical records and bills: Burn treatment is expensive—documentation is critical.
11. Don't give statements to insurance: Their goal is to minimize your claim.
12. Contact an attorney immediately: Under Indiana law, you have only two years to file. Burn cases are complex and require immediate investigation.

Common Causes of Burn Injuries in Indianapolis

Defective Products

• Electrical appliances: Defective heaters, stoves, dryers, hair styling tools
• Electronics: Exploding batteries (phones, laptops, e-cigarettes)
• Flammable products: Clothing, furniture, children's products that ignite too easily
• Gas appliances: Leaking gas lines, defective water heaters, furnaces
• Vehicles: Fuel system defects causing fires after crashes

Workplace Accidents

Indianapolis-area workplace burn injuries include:

• Manufacturing: Exposure to hot materials, equipment malfunctions, steam burns
• Construction: Electrical burns, torch/welding accidents, chemical exposure
• Food service: Grease burns, hot liquid scalds, equipment accidents
• Chemical plants: Exposure to caustic chemicals, explosions

Under Indiana workers' compensation law, you're entitled to benefits—but third-party claims may also apply.

Motor Vehicle Accidents

• Fuel tank ruptures in collisions on I-65, I-70, I-465
• Electrical fires after crashes
• Hazardous material truck accidents
• Motorcycle accidents with fuel ignition

Premises Liability

• Building fires: Inadequate fire safety, blocked exits, missing smoke detectors
• Apartment fires: Landlord negligence in maintenance
• Restaurant/hotel scalds: Excessively hot water, spilled hot liquids

Types and Degrees of Burns

By Burn Degree

• First-degree (superficial): Affects only outer skin layer. Red, painful, no blisters. Heals in 3-5 days.
• Second-degree (partial thickness): Damages epidermis and dermis. Blisters, severe pain. May need grafting for deep partial thickness.
• Third-degree (full thickness): Destroys all skin layers. White, brown, or black appearance. Requires skin grafting. Always scars.
• Fourth-degree: Extends through skin into fat, muscle, or bone. Life-threatening. May require amputation.

By Cause

• Thermal burns: Fire, hot liquids (scalds), steam, hot objects
• Chemical burns: Acids, alkalis, solvents—severe tissue damage
• Electrical burns: Internal damage often worse than external appearance
• Radiation burns: Excessive radiation exposure
• Inhalation injury: Breathing hot gases or smoke—often more life-threatening than skin burns

Burn Injury Treatment

Burn Center Care

The Richard M. Fairbanks Burn Center at Eskenazi Health in Indianapolis provides:

• Specialized burn ICU care
• Surgical debridement
• Skin grafting
• Wound care and dressing changes
• Physical and occupational therapy
• Psychological support

Reconstructive Surgery

• Skin grafts: Transplanting skin from unburned areas
• Flap surgery: Moving tissue with blood supply intact
• Scar revision: Improving appearance and function
• Contracture release: Surgery to improve range of motion

Severe burn patients often require multiple reconstructive surgeries over many years.

The Hidden Costs of Burn Injuries: What Insurance Companies Won't Tell You

Critical Insight: Burn injury costs extend far beyond initial hospitalization. Severe burns require years of follow-up surgery, therapy, and ongoing care. Insurance companies want to settle based on current bills—not lifetime needs.

The True Cost of Severe Burns

• Burn center hospitalization: $10,000-$20,000+ per day
• Major burn (>20% body surface): $500,000-$2,000,000+ for initial treatment
• Reconstructive surgeries: Multiple procedures over 5-10+ years, each $20,000-$100,000+
• Scar treatment: Pressure garments, laser treatments, silicone products—$5,000+ annually
• Psychological treatment: Long-term therapy for PTSD, depression, body image issues

Life-Care Planning

For severe burns, we retain certified life-care planners who project lifetime costs including all future surgeries, scar management, psychological care, and lost earning capacity.

The Psychological Impact of Burn Injuries

Common Psychological Effects

• PTSD: Flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety
• Depression: From pain, disfigurement, and life changes
• Body image issues: Difficulty accepting changed appearance
• Social withdrawal: Avoiding others due to scarring

Disfigurement Compensation

Under Indiana law, disfigurement is separately compensable. Visible scarring—especially on face, hands, and arms—significantly increases case value.

Compensation Available in Indianapolis Burn Injury Cases

Economic Damages

• Medical expenses: Burn center care, surgeries, therapy
• Future medical care: Reconstructive surgeries, scar treatment (often millions for severe burns)
• Lost wages and earning capacity

Non-Economic Damages

• Pain and suffering: Burns cause extraordinary pain
• Disfigurement: Permanent scarring and altered appearance
• Emotional distress: PTSD, depression, anxiety

Case Values

• Moderate burns (second-degree): $50,000-$200,000
• Serious burns (requiring grafting): $200,000-$750,000
• Severe burns (extensive hospitalization): $750,000-$3,000,000
• Catastrophic burns (permanent disability): $2,000,000-$10,000,000+

The Legal Process for Indianapolis Burn Injury Claims

Indiana Law: What You Need to Know

• Statute of Limitations: Under Indiana Code § 34-11-2-4, you have 2 years from injury date
• Product Liability: Under Indiana's Product Liability Act (IC § 34-20), manufacturers can be strictly liable
• Comparative Fault: Under IC § 34-51-2-6, recovery reduced by your percentage of fault if less than 51%

Where Cases Are Filed

• Marion County Superior Court: For Indianapolis accidents
• Hamilton County Superior Court: For Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville
• Federal Court: For product liability cases with out-of-state manufacturers

Related Injury Types

• Amputation
• Nerve Injury
• Internal Injuries

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Practice Areas