Austin Burn Injury Lawyer

If you or someone you love suffered a serious burn in the Austin area, more than one person or company may be legally responsible, depending on what caused the fire, shock, explosion, or chemical contact. A burn claim should also account for years of care, scarring, and recovery, not just the first hospital bills. I am a Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer at the Law Office of Robert House in River Place, Austin, Texas 78730, and I look at what caused the burn and who had a duty to prevent it.

Types of Burn Injuries and What Causes Them

• Thermal burns: from flame, hot liquid, steam, or a hot surface
• Chemical burns: from contact with a harsh chemical
• Electrical burns: from electrical current passing through or across the body
• Burns from a vehicle fire or explosion

Burns are often described by depth, or degree, and your medical team, not this page, decides what applies to you.

Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Burn Injury?

It depends on the type of burn and what caused it. Depending on the facts, the people and companies that may be responsible include:

• Vehicle crash or vehicle fire: another driver, a commercial truck or fleet owner, and in some cases a vehicle or fuel-system manufacturer if a defect is involved
• Defective product (such as a heater, battery, charger, appliance, cooker, or tool): the manufacturer, designer, seller, or distributor, depending on the defect
• Unsafe property (apartment, store, rental, or other premises): an owner, landlord, manager, or a contractor who did the work, depending on who controlled the property and what they knew
• Work site: a general contractor, property owner, equipment maker, or other party other than the employer
• Chemical exposure: a manufacturer, a supplier, or a company that handled the chemical, depending on how it was made, labeled, stored, and handled
• Electrical contact: a property owner, contractor, or equipment maker. Claims involving a government entity follow special rules, so call me promptly

None of these is automatic. Each depends on what actually caused the incident and who had a duty to prevent it.

Burn Injuries After a Car, Truck, or Motorcycle Crash

A fire after a crash can involve fuel, a battery, or cargo. Who is responsible depends on what caused the crash and what caused the fire, and those can be two separate questions. See my Austin car accident lawyer, truck accident lawyer, and motorcycle accident lawyer pages. If the other side says you share some blame, read partly at fault in Texas.

Burns From Defective Products

When a product causes a fire or a burn, the claim may focus on a design problem, a manufacturing problem, or missing warnings. My Texas product liability lawyer page explains how I look at these cases. The product and whatever is left of it are key evidence, so do not throw it away, repair it, or send it back. That includes a battery or charger from an e-scooter or e-bike.

Premises, Apartment, and Work-Related Burns

A property owner can be responsible in some cases for a dangerous condition, such as faulty wiring, a gas problem, or a blocked exit. It depends on what the owner knew and controlled. For a general look at property cases, see my Austin slip and fall lawyer page.

If you were burned at work, someone other than your employer may sometimes be responsible. See my Austin construction accident lawyer page, and call me so I can look at your situation.

Medical Care and Recovery

Care for a serious burn may include specialized treatment, wound care, surgery, pain management, and rehabilitation. Recovery can also take an emotional toll, including anxiety, trauma, trouble sleeping, and how a person feels about their appearance. If a fire or explosion also caused a head injury, see my traumatic brain injury lawyer page. Records from several providers pile up, so keep everything.

What a Burn Injury Claim Can Cover

Depending on the facts, a claim may cover:

• Past and future medical bills, including surgeries, follow-up care, medications, rehabilitation, and equipment
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Physical pain and mental anguish
• Lost income and lost ability to earn
• Changes needed to a home or vehicle
• In a death, funeral costs and the family’s losses. See my wrongful death lawyer Austin page

The future matters here. Scars and mobility problems can change work and daily life for years, so a claim may need to look beyond the bills you have today. I do not put a number on any case before I understand the injuries and the proof.

Evidence That Disappears Fast

In a burn case, the proof is often the burned item itself, and it is easy to lose to repair or cleanup. The evidence I look for includes:

• The burned vehicle, product, appliance, wiring, or fixtures
• Photos of the scene before repairs or cleanup
• Fire department and investigator reports, and 911 records
• Receipts, manuals, warnings, recall notices, and repair records
• Phone video, witness names, damaged clothing, and medical photos taken over time

Do not repair, throw away, or return the product or vehicle, and ask whoever has it to hold it. Once you hire me, I can send a preservation letter right away, asking the holder to keep the item and its records. That does not guarantee everything is kept, so I would rather send it early.

What to Do After a Serious Burn

• Get medical care and follow it, and keep every record and bill.
• Photograph the injuries over time and the scene if it is safe.
• Keep the product, the vehicle, and damaged clothing as they are.
• Get names of witnesses and responders, and do not discuss fault on social media.
• Call a lawyer quickly, so evidence can be preserved.

Do not sign a release or give a recorded statement to an insurer before you talk to a lawyer. If an insurer disputes the claim, see can insurance deny my claim in Texas.

Your Own Insurance and Other Coverage

Your health coverage may help with treatment while a claim is pending. After a vehicle-crash burn, your own PIP, MedPay, or UM/UIM coverage may also come into play. See Texas PIP vs MedPay vs UM/UIM. Coverage depends on the policies and the facts.

Deadlines Are Strict

Injury claims have strict filing deadlines, and special rules or shorter notice periods can apply in some cases, such as claims involving a government entity or a product. Waiting also risks losing evidence. I explain the general rules on my Texas personal injury statute of limitations page. Please call me early so we can confirm what applies.

Why Work With a Board Certified Trial Lawyer

Burn cases can involve several companies and insurers. I am Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a certification I have held since 2017. You work with me directly from River Place in Austin. Free consultation. No fee unless we recover for you. Call (512) 872-2264.

Austin Burn Injury FAQ

Can I sue if I was burned by a defective product in Texas?

Possibly. A claim may be possible against the company that made or sold a defective product, depending on the defect and the facts. See my product liability page, and keep the product.

Who is responsible for a burn injury in a car fire after a crash?

It depends on what caused the crash and what caused the fire. A driver, a fleet owner, or a manufacturer may each be involved, depending on the facts.

Can I file a claim for burns I got at work if someone other than my employer was at fault?

Sometimes. Someone other than your employer may be responsible in some cases, so please call me and I will look at your facts. See my Austin construction accident lawyer page.

Can a landlord or property owner be responsible for a fire or burn injury?

In some cases, yes. It depends on what the owner knew and controlled. Call me before a gas or electrical problem in an apartment is repaired.

How long do I have to file a burn injury claim in Texas?

Deadlines are strict and can differ by case. Read my Texas personal injury statute of limitations page, and call me early.

Can a family file a claim if someone dies from burn injuries?

In some cases, possibly. Who can bring the claim depends on the family and the facts. See my wrongful death page.