How Much Is My Burn Injury Settlement Worth in Fort Myers?

Whether you suffered severe burns in a car accident or a property fire on someone else’s premises, you’re likely facing a long road to recovery ahead. You may wonder: “How much is my burn injury settlement worth?”

Below, an experienced burn accident attorney in Fort Myers explains the factors that affect your settlement amount.

Factors That Affect Your Fort Myers Burn Injury Settlement

Because burn injuries vary greatly in severity, it’s not possible to give an exact amount for the value of your settlement without consulting with an attorney directly. Still, you can estimate your settlement amount by looking at these factors.

How Serious Your Burn Is

As you might expect, the more serious your burn injury is, the higher your settlement will likely be.

First-degree burns are the least serious type of burn. If you’ve ever suffered a sunburn, that’s an example of a first-degree burn. Because first-degree burns are so minor and heal very quickly, expect a fairly low settlement of around $5,000 or less.

Second-degree burns penetrate the second layer of skin, called the dermis. These burns can be very painful and may leave behind a scar. Settlements for second-degree burns sometimes range from $25,000 to $75,000.

Third-degree burns damage all three layers of skin. These burns are so serious that they can be life-threatening. Your settlement for such a burn can reach or exceed $100,000.

Fourth-degree burns are the worst type of burn. In addition to affecting all layers of skin, these burns damage the underlying muscles, tendons, and sometimes even bones. Many people who suffer fourth-degree burns don’t survive. If you do recover, your settlement can easily exceed seven figures.

Your Medical Bills

Serious burns often come with equally serious medical bills. If you’ve suffered third- or fourth-degree burns, for instance, your hospital bills alone can total well over $1 million.

After you leave the hospital, you’ll have to pay for follow-up care, medications, and possibly physical therapy. Even if you have decent health insurance, you might shell out tens of thousands for this care.

Wondering, “How much is my burn injury settlement worth?” Call us. Your Fort Myers attorney will make sure to include all medical expenses in your settlement demand.

Lost Wages and Loss of Earning Potential

If you have a first-degree burn, you can shrug it off and go to work without much trouble. But if your burn is much worse, you might have to take weeks or months off of work. This can be disastrous if you don’t have enough savings to tide you over.

If your burns are extremely severe, you might have to switch to a different industry or leave the workforce permanently. You can seek lost wages and loss of earning capacity in your settlement. 

Non-Economic Damages

Because burns can be so painful, it makes sense to ask for a hefty amount to compensate for your physical pain and suffering. Many burn victims also suffer from serious emotional pain and distress.

For instance, let’s say that your burn injury left you severely disfigured. You’ve developed anxiety about leaving the house. In this case, you could likely recover damages for emotional distress.

Non-economic damages don’t have an inherent dollar value. To calculate them, your Fort Myers personal injury lawyer will multiply your economic damages by a number ranging from 1.5 to five.

Your Degree of Fault

For many years, Florida allowed accident victims to recover damages regardless of their level of fault. For instance, if a victim was 70% at fault, they could recover 30% of their damages.

This changed in March 2023 when Governor DeSantis signed a significant tort reform bill into law. Currently, victims can only recover damages if they are less than 50% at fault for an accident.

Due to this change, your lawyer must fight aggressively to minimize your degree of fault.

Our Fort Myers Firm Assists Victims With Burn Injury Lawsuits and Personal Injury Cases

If you’re still wondering, “How much is my burn injury settlement worth?” or would like to learn about the average value of a child burn injury claim, contact The Law Offices of Marc L. Shapiro, P.A. at 239-500-5000 or contact us online. Lead attorney Marc L. Shapiro, P.A. has more than 30 years of experience and will be pleased to help you file a personal injury claim.