Burn Injury Lawyer

At Shea & Shea, we represent individuals in San Jose and throughout California who have suffered serious burns due to the negligence of another party. Our team understands the unique challenges faced by burn survivors, including the potential need for extensive surgeries, skin grafts, rehabilitation, and long-term care.

We take an aggressive and compassionate approach to every case, whether you’ve been injured in a car fire, suffered a chemical burn at work, or experienced a life-threatening electrical burn on a construction site.

As a catastrophic burn injury law firm, we fight to secure the full financial recovery you need to move forward—covering everything from hospital bills and lost income to disfigurement and emotional suffering, when applicable.

If you or a loved one has been injured, burn injury legal help is just a phone call away. Contact Shea & Shea when you need a severe burn lawyer in San Jose, CA.

What Are Burn Injuries?

Burn injuries damage the skin and underlying tissue through exposure to heat, electricity, chemicals, or radiation. These types of injuries are classified by severity—an essential factor when calculating long-term care needs and pursuing burn injury compensation. In many cases, victims experience not only intense physical pain but also long-term disability.

The four primary degrees of burn injuries include:

  • First-Degree Burns
    Affect only the outer layer of skin (epidermis). They usually result in redness and pain but heal without scarring.
  • Second-Degree Burns
    Extend into the deeper dermis, often causing blistering, swelling, and lasting skin damage. These injuries carry a higher risk of infection and may leave scars.
  • Third-Degree Burns
    Destroy the full thickness of the skin and underlying tissue, potentially damaging nerves, muscles, and tendons. Victims may require skin grafts and reconstructive surgeries and are eligible for a substantial 3rd-degree burn settlement depending on the cause and impact of the injury.
  • Fourth-Degree Burns
    The most serious type—these burns extend into the muscle, fat, and bone. They often lead to permanent disability or even death.

Burns can leave lifelong physical and emotional scars. At Shea & Shea, our personal injury burn attorneys work with medical professionals to ensure victims receive the proper support. If you or a loved one has suffered a thermal, chemical, or electrical burn, we’re here to help you pursue the full compensation you deserve.

Causes of Burns

Burn injuries can result from a wide range of incidents, many of which involve preventable negligence. At Shea & Shea, we help clients pursue legal action when another party’s carelessness or misconduct leads to serious injury.

Common causes of burns in San Jose, CA include:

  • Motor Vehicle Accidents
    A truck or car accident can result in a volatile fuel-fed fire, airbag burns, and similar hazards. Victims may suffer thermal burns as well as friction burns caused by seat belts or deployment systems.
  • Worksite Fires and Explosions
    Industrial environments often expose workers to fire hazards. A workplace burn attorney can help determine whether OSHA violations or third-party negligence played a role.
  • Defective Products
    Faulty electronics and malfunctioning appliances can ignite without warning. A defective product burn lawyer investigates manufacturing errors, poor design, and other oversights.
  • Chemical Spills and Exposure
    Acids and other corrosive substances can cause devastating chemical burns on contact. A chemical burn lawsuit may arise from accidents in labs or factories, especially when proper safety measures are ignored.
  • Household and Building Fires
    Faulty wiring, space heaters, or improperly maintained properties can spark residential fires. A fire accident injury lawyer can help uncover negligence by landlords, maintenance crews, or any other responsible parties.

In any of these scenarios, Shea & Shea is prepared to identify every responsible individual or business and pursue full compensation for your injuries. Our burn accident attorneys understand how to investigate the facts and hold negligent parties accountable.

Electrical Burns and Workplace Hazards

Electrical burns are uniquely dangerous because they often cause deep internal injuries that may not be immediately apparent. These burns can result from direct contact with live wires, arc flashes, or malfunctioning industrial equipment. In industrial sites, even a momentary lapse in safety protocols can lead to catastrophic consequences.

Unlike thermal burns, which damage the skin from the outside in, electrical burns may damage nerves, muscles, and organs from the inside out—causing life-threatening complications. Victims may also suffer secondary trauma from falls caused by electrical shock.

Common causes of electrical burns include:

  • Exposed wiring or faulty equipment
  • Inadequate grounding or insulation
  • Failure to use lockout/tagout procedures
  • Unsafe scaffolding or ladders near power lines

In many cases, these injuries are the result of employer negligence. Filing an electrical burn lawsuit in California often involves multiple defendants, such as contractors and equipment manufacturers.

As electrical burn injury attorneys serving San Jose, CA, Shea & Shea has decades of experience representing workers who have been injured on dangerous job sites. We work with electrical engineers and other qualified professionals to fully document the extent of your injuries and calculate your long-term needs.

If you or someone you love suffered a serious electrical burn at work, we’re here to fight for the accountability and compensation you deserve.

The Physical, Emotional, and Financial Toll

Severe burns are among the most traumatic injuries a person can endure. They can affect nearly every part of a victim’s life. The road to recovery can take months or years, involving painful treatments, multiple surgeries, and deep emotional distress. At Shea & Shea, we understand the importance of pursuing the full range of thermal burn compensation appropriate to the victim’s circumstances.

The physical effects may include:

  • Chronic pain and nerve damage
  • Disfigurement and scarring
  • Skin grafts and reconstructive surgeries
  • Mobility loss or amputation
  • Respiratory damage from inhaling smoke or chemicals

The emotional and psychological toll may include:

  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Depression, anxiety, and social withdrawal
  • Trauma from disfigurement or functional loss
  • Nightmares, insomnia, and fear of fire or electricity

The financial burden may include:

  • Emergency treatment and hospitalization
  • Reconstructive and cosmetic surgeries
  • Ongoing rehabilitation and physical therapy
  • Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
  • Home modifications and long-term care needs

Victims and their families often find themselves overwhelmed—emotionally drained and financially strained. That’s why it’s essential to seek out an attorney with specific experience in providing legal help for burn victims. At Shea & Shea, we help you account for every dimension of the damage you’ve suffered—now and in the future.

Compensation for Burn Injury Victims

If your burn injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to a wide range of damages. These go far beyond emergency medical costs—they include the full spectrum of physical, emotional, and financial harm. Shea & Shea works closely with physicians, life care planners, and other experts to build a detailed picture of what your recovery will require.

Depending on your case, you may be eligible to recover:

  • Medical Expenses
    Coverage for hospital stays, surgeries, wound care, medications, rehabilitation, and future treatment, including any procedures related to a skin graft injury claim. We also account for long-term therapies and prosthetics needed to restore function and appearance.
  • Lost Wages and Earning Capacity
    Reimbursement for time missed from work—and compensation for reduced future income if you can no longer perform your previous job or need to switch careers. This is particularly relevant in workplace incidents involving tradespeople or food service workers.
  • Pain and Suffering
    Damages for physical pain and/or emotional trauma that result in loss of enjoyment of life. This often includes compensation for visible disfigurement, sleep disturbances, anxiety, and the psychological toll of long-term disability.
  • Home and Lifestyle Adjustments
    Burn survivors often need to modify their homes for mobility, purchase assistive devices (e.g., orthotic braces), or hire in-home care providers. These expenses are recoverable through a settlement.
  • Punitive Damages
    In cases involving egregious conduct—such as an employer ignoring known fire risks or a manufacturer concealing product hazards—punitive damages may be awarded to punish the responsible party and deter similar conduct in the future.

Understanding Comparative Negligence in California

California follows a pure comparative negligence rule. That means even if you are partially at fault for your injuries, you are still eligible for compensation, but the amount will be reduced by your percentage of fault.

For example, if you were awarded $1 million in damages for a chemical burn at work but were found to be 20% responsible (perhaps for not wearing protective equipment), you would still receive $800,000. This ensures that victims are not barred from recovery simply because they shared some responsibility.

This principle is especially important in industrial fire accidents and defective product burn claims, where fault may be distributed among multiple parties—employers, manufacturers, contractors, or property owners.

At Shea & Shea, we anticipate defense strategies that try to shift blame onto the victim. Our job is to minimize any assigned fault and maximize the compensation you recover. That’s why it’s important to work with an experienced burn injury lawyer in San Jose who knows how to handle liability disputes in catastrophic cases.

Why Burn Cases Require Experienced Legal Support

Burn injury claims are some of the most complex and high-stakes cases in personal injury law. These cases often involve extensive medical treatment, multiple liable parties, and long-term consequences that are difficult to quantify. It’s not enough to file a claim and hope for the best—you need a legal team that understands the full scope of what you’re facing.

At Shea & Shea, we offer:

  • Medical Documentation Support
    We coordinate with specialists to document the severity of your injuries and your long-term care needs, including rehabilitation and reconstructive surgeries, if needed.
  • Expert Testimony
    Many burn cases rely on the insights of fire safety experts, electrical engineers, life care planners, and economists who can explain causation and calculate damages.
  • Insurance and Third-Party Negotiation
    We aggressively pursue claims against negligent drivers, employers, manufacturers, property owners, and their insurers—no matter how complex the case.
  • Litigation Readiness
    As an experienced catastrophic burn injury law firm, we prepare every case as if it’s going to trial. We do not settle for less than what our clients truly need to move forward.

When you hire a fire injury lawyer in California, you need someone who understands that burn injuries are not temporary—they affect your appearance, your ability to work, your relationships, and your dignity. Shea & Shea delivers the committed legal support necessary to secure justice.

Shea & Shea’s Record in Catastrophic Injury Cases

At Shea & Shea, our personal injury lawyers represent individuals who have suffered catastrophic injuries—including life-altering burns. Since opening our doors in 1966, we’ve handled some of the most complex and high-stakes personal injury cases in California. Our team has recovered millions in damages for clients facing long-term medical care, permanent disability, and emotional trauma.

We take the time to understand each client’s unique needs—now and in the years to come. Whether the injury resulted from a defective product, an industrial accident, or a car fire, our fire accident injury lawyers build strong cases aimed at securing full compensation. We’re known for our tough litigation approach and commitment to helping burn survivors move forward with dignity and financial security.

Call Shea & Shea Today for Trusted Burn Injury Representation

Burn injuries demand more than medical attention—they demand experienced legal support, deep resources, and a commitment to long-term recovery. Shea & Shea’s burn injury lawyers in San Jose have helped victims recover from electrical burns, chemical exposure, industrial explosions, and catastrophic fires.

We understand what’s at stake. That’s why we handle every case with personal attention and thorough investigation. From filing a chemical burn lawsuit to proving liability in a defective product fire, our team knows how to uncover the truth and fight for what you’re owed.

We represent clients across California, including the Bay Area. If you or someone you love has been injured, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team today for the burn injury legal help you need. There’s no cost to speak with us—and no obligation to move forward unless you choose to.

Call Shea & Shea at (408) 292-2434 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation with a burn accident attorney who will fight for your future.

FAQs

What should I do immediately after a serious burn injury?

Seek emergency medical care immediately. Once you are stable, document your injuries with photos and retain all medical records. Avoid discussing the incident with insurance companies before speaking to a personal injury burn attorney. Shea & Shea offers free consultations to help evaluate your legal options.

How long do I have to file a burn injury lawsuit in California?

In most cases, the statute of limitations for personal injury is two years from the date of the incident. However, if the injury was caused by a government agency (e.g., unsafe public property), you must file a government claim within six months. There are also other circumstances that can alter the timeline for filing a claim. To protect your right to a personal injury claim, speak to an attorney as soon as possible.

What types of evidence help a burn injury case?

Photos of the injuries, accident reports, medical records, witness statements, and documentation of any defective products or unsafe conditions can support your claim. In workplace accident cases, OSHA reports and safety violations are also critical. Shea & Shea gathers and preserves this evidence to build a strong case.

Will I have to go to court?

Not always. Many burn injury compensation cases settle out of court. However, if a fair settlement isn’t offered, we are fully prepared to litigate your case. Shea & Shea has the resources, skill, and trial experience to stand up to insurance companies, as well as at-fault manufacturers and/or employers.

Can I file a burn injury lawsuit on behalf of a child or incapacitated adult?

Yes. In California, parents or legal guardians can file a personal injury claim on behalf of a minor or someone who is mentally or physically incapacitated. A burn injury lawsuit on behalf of a child can generally be filed any time before the child’s 20th birthday (two years after they reach age 18), rather than the standard two-year deadline for adults (California Code of Civil Procedure § 352(a)). Similarly, for a person who is mentally incapacitated, the statute does not begin to run until they regain capacity—if ever.

If your child suffered a burn injury due to a daycare fire or unsafe household toy/product, a defective product burn lawyer at Shea & Shea can guide you through the legal process.

How long does a burn injury case typically take to resolve?

The timeline varies depending on the complexity of the case and whether a fair settlement can be reached out of court. A straightforward claim may resolve in several months, but serious cases involving third- or fourth-degree burns or multiple liable parties can take a year or more. At Shea & Shea, we work efficiently but never rush a case at the expense of full compensation. We aim to recover the maximum possible amount, whether that means negotiating a strong settlement or litigating through trial.

What does it cost to hire Shea & Shea?

We work on a contingency fee basis. In other words, you pay nothing upfront, and we get paid only if we successfully recover compensation on your behalf. Our goal is to provide quality legal help for burn victims seeking justice.

Shea & Shea - A Professional Law Corporation 2007 West Hedding Street
#100
San Jose, CA 95128

P.: 408-292-2434
Fax: 408-292-1264
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