Serious burns can result from fires, explosions, chemicals, electricity,
hot liquids, defective products, workplace accidents, vehicle crashes,
unsafe property conditions, and intentional assaults.
Berkowitz & Weitz Law represents injured New Yorkers in serious burn
injury claims. Our attorneys investigate how the injury occurred, identify
potentially responsible parties, preserve evidence, and pursue compensation
when the facts support a claim.
If you or a family member suffered a serious burn, tell us what happened. Berkowitz & Weitz Law can review the circumstances, answer your questions, and discuss whether you may have a claim.
No fee unless we win. You can also call us directly at (212) 240-3880.
At A Glance
Burn Injury Claims in New York
A burn case is not defined only by the type of burn. The source of the injury, where it happened, who controlled the dangerous condition, what safety measures were required, and whether a defective product or intentional act was involved can all affect the legal analysis.
Burn typesThermal, chemical, electrical, scald and other serious burn injuries
Potential causesFires, explosions, chemicals, electricity, hot liquids, unsafe property, vehicles and defective products
Potential defendantsProperty owners, contractors, drivers, businesses, manufacturers and other responsible parties
Potential damagesMedical costs, lost earnings, pain and suffering, scarring, disfigurement and other proven losses
Cases We Investigate
Types of Burn Injury Cases
Berkowitz & Weitz Law can evaluate burn injuries arising from many different circumstances. The legal theory depends on how the injury happened and who may have been responsible.
Fire & Thermal Burns
Burns caused by flames, hot surfaces, building fires, equipment, cooking hazards or other sources of extreme heat.
Chemical Burns
Injuries involving acids, alkalis, cleaning agents, industrial chemicals or other corrosive substances.
Electrical Burns
Burns and related injuries caused by electrical current, exposed wiring, energized equipment or other electrical hazards.
Scald & Steam Burns
Injuries from hot water, steam, beverages, cooking liquids, pipes, boilers or other sources of heated liquid or vapor.
Explosion Injuries
Burns associated with gas explosions, combustible materials, industrial incidents or other explosive events.
Assault-Related Burns
Intentional burning or chemical attacks may raise claims against an assailant and, depending on the facts, potentially other responsible parties.
Common Causes
How Serious Burn Injuries Can Happen
Building & Apartment Fires
Unsafe conditions, defective equipment, maintenance failures or other circumstances may require investigation after a residential or commercial fire.
Construction & Workplace Accidents
Electrical hazards, hot equipment, chemicals, welding, explosions and fires can cause devastating injuries on job sites.
Defective Products
Batteries, appliances, heaters, machinery and other products may cause fires, explosions or thermal injuries when defective.
Motor Vehicle Fires
Crashes, fuel-system problems, electrical failures or other defects may result in vehicle fires and severe burns.
Restaurants & Businesses
Hot liquids, cooking equipment, chemicals and unsafe conditions can cause burns to customers, workers and visitors.
Negligent Security & Assaults
Some intentional burn injuries may also require investigation into whether a property owner or business failed to address a legally relevant security risk.
Severity & Treatment
Burn Depth, Scarring and Long-Term Harm
Burn injuries vary greatly in depth, size, location and medical severity.
Clinicians may describe burns as superficial, partial-thickness or
full-thickness injuries, and the treatment required depends on the
individual patient and injury.
Serious burns may require emergency treatment, hospitalization, wound
care, surgery, skin grafting, rehabilitation, pain management, scar
treatment or reconstructive procedures. Burns can also result in
permanent scarring, disfigurement, reduced mobility, nerve damage,
psychological harm and limitations on work or daily activities.
Medical care comes first. A serious burn, chemical
exposure, electrical injury, inhalation injury or rapidly worsening
wound should be evaluated by appropriate medical professionals.
This page provides legal information and is not medical advice.
Liability
Who May Be Responsible for a Burn Injury?
Responsibility depends on the facts. A burn can involve one defendant or several parties whose acts, omissions, property conditions, products or safety responsibilities contributed to the injury.
Property owners, landlords or businesses responsible for unsafe premises
General contractors, contractors or other parties responsible for job-site safety
Drivers or vehicle owners in crash-related burn cases
Manufacturers, distributors or sellers in appropriate defective-product cases
Companies responsible for dangerous chemicals, equipment or maintenance
Assailants and, where supported by the facts, other parties whose negligence contributed to the circumstances
Workplace Injuries
Construction and Workplace Burn Injuries
Construction workers and other employees may suffer burns from electricity, welding, explosions, hot machinery, steam, chemicals or fires. Workers’ compensation may provide certain benefits after a job-related injury, but the circumstances may also support a claim against a negligent third party that is not the worker’s employer.
New York construction cases can involve additional statutory and safety issues depending on how the accident occurred. Our New York construction accident lawyers can evaluate the job-site circumstances and the parties involved.
Intentional Injuries
Burn Injuries Caused by Assault
A person intentionally burned with fire, a heated object, a chemical or another substance may have legal rights in addition to any criminal case against the assailant. A civil claim may seek compensation from the person who caused the injury.
Depending on the location and circumstances, an investigation may also examine whether another party contributed to the harm—for example, whether a business or property owner had legally relevant security responsibilities. The existence of an assault does not automatically make another party liable; that question depends on the evidence and applicable law.
After an Injury
What to Do After a Serious Burn Accident
Protecting your health is the first priority. When circumstances allow, these steps can also help preserve information that may later matter to a claim.
Get appropriate medical care. Follow the treatment recommendations of qualified medical professionals and attend follow-up appointments.
Document what happened. Preserve photographs or video of the location, product, equipment, chemical container, vehicle or other relevant condition when it is safe to do so.
Preserve physical evidence. Do not discard potentially relevant products, clothing, containers or equipment without considering whether they may be important evidence.
Identify witnesses. Keep names and contact information for people who saw the event or surrounding conditions.
Keep records. Save medical records, bills, employment information, incident reports and communications related to the injury.
Seek legal advice promptly. Evidence can disappear and legal deadlines vary according to the claim and parties involved.
Compensation
What Compensation May Be Available After a Burn Injury?
The value of a burn injury claim cannot be determined from the diagnosis alone. It depends on liability, the severity and permanence of the injuries, medical needs, financial losses and other case-specific evidence.
Past and future medical expenses where recoverable
Lost earnings and loss of future earning capacity where supported
Pain and suffering
Permanent scarring and disfigurement
Physical limitations and loss of function
Emotional and psychological harm associated with the injury
Other legally recoverable losses caused by the injury
Representative Results
Results for Seriously Injured New Yorkers
Berkowitz & Weitz Law represents people and families in serious injury and negligence matters throughout New York. The following are representative results from other types of injury cases handled by the firm.
$6.545M
Crane Accident Catastrophic Injury Recovery
Recovery for a truck driver who suffered catastrophic pelvic injuries in a crane accident, resulting in permanent disabilities and future lost earnings.
$4M
Premises Liability Trial Verdict
Trial verdict in a serious premises liability matter involving spinal and knee injuries and multiple surgeries.
$3.9M
Motorcycle Accident Recovery
Recovery for a motorcyclist struck by a garbage truck who suffered multiple fractures and other serious injuries.
Important: These are representative results from other serious injury and negligence matters handled by Berkowitz & Weitz Law and are not burn injury case results. Every case is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
There is no standard settlement amount for a burn injury. Case value depends on factors such as the strength of the liability evidence, burn depth and location, the amount of body surface affected, surgeries and grafting, scarring or disfigurement, future treatment, lost income, functional limitations and the available sources of recovery.
A careful evaluation should focus on the specific evidence rather than an online average.
Investigation
How Berkowitz & Weitz Law Investigates Burn Injury Claims
The evidence needed depends on the cause of the burn. An investigation may involve scene photographs, fire or incident reports, surveillance footage, witness statements, building or maintenance records, safety documents, product information, vehicle evidence, workplace records, medical records and other materials.
Where appropriate, qualified experts may be needed to address fire origin, electrical systems, product defects, building conditions, workplace safety, medical injuries or future damages.
Legal Deadlines
How Long Do You Have to File a Burn Injury Claim in New York?
The deadline depends on the type of claim, the parties involved and the circumstances of the injury. Claims involving a municipality or other public entity can have special notice requirements and shorter deadlines, and different rules may apply in wrongful death or other specialized claims.
Because deadlines and evidence-preservation issues are case-specific, injured people and families should seek legal advice promptly rather than relying on a single general limitations period.
Serious & Fatal Injuries
Catastrophic Burns and Wrongful Death
Severe burns can lead to permanent disability, disfigurement, prolonged hospitalization and substantial future care needs. When a burn injury causes death, surviving family members may have legal questions that differ from a personal injury claim.
Serious burn cases can involve complex questions of liability, medical damages, future care, lost earnings, scarring and disfigurement. Berkowitz & Weitz Law represents injured people and families in substantial personal injury and negligence matters throughout New York.
Robert J. Berkowitz
Managing Partner
Robert J. Berkowitz represents clients throughout New York in serious personal injury and negligence matters, including construction accidents, premises liability, catastrophic injuries, and complex claims arising from unsafe conditions and negligent conduct.
Andrew D. Weitz handles complex personal injury litigation involving serious negligence claims, motor vehicle accidents, wrongful death, medical malpractice, and catastrophic injuries, with an emphasis on detailed case preparation and personalized representation.
What types of burn cases can a personal injury lawyer handle?
A burn injury claim may arise from a fire, explosion, chemical exposure, electrical hazard, scald, defective product, unsafe property, construction accident, motor-vehicle incident or intentional assault. Whether there is a viable civil claim depends on how the injury occurred and whether another party may be legally responsible.
Can I bring a claim for a chemical burn?
Potentially. A chemical burn claim may involve unsafe handling or storage, inadequate warnings, workplace conditions, a defective product, an assault or another source. Liability depends on the parties involved and the evidence showing how the exposure occurred.
Can I sue if I was burned at work?
Workers’ compensation may apply to a job-related burn. In some circumstances, an injured worker may also have a separate claim against a negligent third party other than the employer.
Can an assault victim bring a civil claim for burn injuries?
Potentially. An intentional burn can support a civil claim against the person responsible. Depending on the circumstances, an investigation may also consider whether another party had a legally relevant duty and contributed to the harm.
How much is a burn injury claim worth?
There is no universal amount. The value depends on liability, medical severity, treatment, permanent scarring or disfigurement, future care, lost earnings, functional limitations and other damages supported by the evidence.
How long do I have to file a burn injury lawsuit in New York?
The applicable deadline varies with the claim and defendants. Claims involving public entities may have special and shorter notice requirements. Obtain case-specific legal advice promptly.
If you or a family member suffered a serious burn in a fire, chemical exposure, electrical incident, workplace accident, assault or another event caused by someone else, Berkowitz & Weitz Law can review the circumstances and discuss your legal options.
