Healthcare Expenses When victims begin their burn injury claim, they likely want to know what damages they can recover. Every lawsuit is unique, but common damages include medical bills. Expenses cover a variety of medical aspects of a person’s recovery. Some burn injuries require a visit to the emergency room. On average, a trip to the hospital costs a patient $1,082 with insurance. The price increases if someone needs to stay at the hospital for multiple days. Additionally, the ambulance is a separate bill. Other medical costs include skin grafts, surgeries, physical therapy, and pain medication. You can claim damages for the money you have spent and future expenses. Lost Income Another financial loss from a burn incident is the income you miss. Severe burns require you to rest during recovery. As a result, you cannot go to your job for a specific amount of days. Sick days run out, and you might receive fewer paychecks than before. A settlement can include the earnings you lost due to another person’s recklessness. Your lawyer looks at your pay stubs to calculate what to ask for in compensation. Pain and Suffering Emotional damages can occur in addition to financial losses. Many people claim pain and suffering in a lawsuit because of the stress their injury caused. The accident can lead to trauma, and bodily harm can limit a person’s ability to do activities. Disfigurement The court can award money for disfigurement as well. Some burns are acute enough to cause disfigurement around the affected area. Social interactions become difficult for an injured person. As a result, they might experience a decline in their self-image, and depression could occur. Our attorneys understand how burns have affected your life. We take the time to determine what damages the liable party owes you, and we can help pursue them. The Statute of Limitations for Burn Injury Claims If possible, the negligent person can avoid compensation if they show the statute of limitations expired. Therefore, you need to take action quickly if you believe you have a valid case. Residents of Tampa generally have four years from the day of the accident to file a claim. However, you have less time if the at-fault party is the city or state government. You have no later than 180 days to mail a notice of claim. If the agency denies the claim, you have two years to start a lawsuit. If a burn injury led to the death of a loved one, you have two years from the date of their death. Even if the defendant clearly is liable, the judge rejects a claim if the deadline has passed. However, the law may entitle you to an extension. For instance, the “clock” temporarily pauses if the negligent party flees the state before you can file a lawsuit. If the defendant took steps to hide their identity, you could have more time. The law grants extensions to some injured people if the accident left them legally incapacitated. However, they only get a maximum of seven years before they lose their chance at reimbursement.