Recovering Damages for Serious Burn Injuries in Florida

 Posted on December 12, 2025 in Personal Injury

Serious burns are among the most complex and expensive injuries to treat, yet a split second is all it takes to cause these injuries. A gas leak sparks while grilling at a family cookout, a restaurant employee suffers a severe kitchen grease burn, or a defective lithium-ion battery ignites in a backpack. Burn injuries also occur during serious automobile accidents.

Catastrophic burn injuries lead to some of the most painful recoveries and the highest lifetime medical costs. Burn victims often face multiple surgeries, skin grafts, infection risks, disfigurement, and long-term mobility issues. If another person’s negligence or a dangerous product caused the injury, Florida law allows victims to pursue compensation for every stage of recovery.

However, investigators must determine the cause of the fire, whether safety codes were violated, or whether a defective product played a role. Getting an experienced Castleberry, FL burn injury attorney involved early on ensures that evidence is preserved and your claim is protected.

Why Are Burn Injuries Considered Catastrophic?

Workplace burn injuries, an increase in burns from lithium battery fires, residential fires that cause severe burns, and auto and truck collisions that result in burns are on the rise. Severe burns destroy layers of skin and underlying tissue, necessitating extensive skin grafts, physical therapy, specialized care, and intense pain. In turn, these impact a person’s ability to live, work, and enjoy life. Severe burns are considered catastrophic because:

• They often cause permanent impairment

• Third-degree burns destroy all skin layers, while fourth-degree burns reach muscle and bone, causing permanent scarring, disfigurement, and physical pain.
• Burn victims have extensive medical needs, both immediate and long-term, including multiple surgeries, skin grafts, rehabilitation, and managing infections.
• Severe burns have a profound impact on a person’s life in the form of chronic pain, loss of mobility, organ damage, and significant psychological issues like depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
• Burn injuries can result in astronomical medical bills, loss of income, and reduced earning capacity, creating lasting financial hardship.

While first-degree burns are rarely litigated, second, third, and fourth-degree burns are litigated, along with inhalation injuries, airway damage, and scarring and disfigurement that can require life-care planning.

Elements of Negligence That Result in Damages for Burn Victims

The elements of negligence (Section 768.81 of the Florida Statutes) include a duty of care by the defendant, a breach of that duty of care, injuries directly related to that breach of duty, and specific damages. Burn injuries can be litigated under premises liability law (landlords, hotels, Airbnbs, retail stores, restaurants, etc.), and product liability if the cause of the burn was a defective battery, appliance, or safety equipment. Personal injury applies to situations like car accidents when one driver’s negligence is responsible for the accident and resulting burns. Employers or third parties may bear liability for workplace accidents resulting from clear negligence.

Key Evidence in a Florida Burn Injury Case

When a person receives severe burns, the evidence in his or her case will depend on the cause of the fire. If the fire were a residential or commercial fire, then the fire marshal and forensic reports could be the primary evidence. Safety code inspection reports may be evidence in a workplace burn accident, or product design testing and recalls could be evidence in a product liability claim. For all causes of burn injuries, witness statements, expert reconstruction of ignition sources, or testimony by burn specialists on long-term prognosis could all be sources of evidence.

Contact an Orlando, FL Burn Injury Lawyer

Serious burn injuries can change your life in an instant. Regardless of the cause, Florida burn victims can face years or a lifetime of medical treatments, rehabilitation, and emotional recovery. Because of the long-term consequences and high costs associated with these injuries, burn cases are considered catastrophic under Florida law, and compensation must account for the victim’s lifetime needs rather than only immediate emergency care.

You do not need to navigate the medical and legal aftermath alone; a highly skilled Casselberry, FL personal injury attorney from The Doan Law Firm can be your advocate throughout the process. We have recovered billions for clients, handled giant cases, and take calls 24/7/365. Schedule your free consultation by calling 407-289-0000. Se Habla Español.