Step-By-Step Guide To Filing A Burn Injury Claim In Durant: A Guide For Residents Of Bryan County

This article covers the following:

• How to document burn injuries you sustain from the accident.
• The medical attention you need will support your claim.
• How an attorney can help you navigate interactions with insurance companies.

How Do I Document The Cause Of My Burn Injury And The Level Of Pain?

Burns are a common injury among road accident victims. They can be caused by flames that erupt after the accident, friction between yourself and the road or other parts of the car and even chemicals if the accident involves a commercial truck carrying corrosive chemicals.

Documenting the burns is crucial because it can reveal vital information later on, such as the nature of the burns and their cause. To document the burns, you should take frequent photos of the burn injury, how it heals, and the changes in the wound.

If possible, you should keep a journal where you detail how you’re feeling, what pain you’re experiencing, and your recovery. The journal will prevent you from having to remember the entire process accurately and in detail once you heal.

As part of documenting the burns, you should record the extent of the burns, the percentage of the body surface that’s burned, the burns’ depth, and whether it’s a first-degree, second-degree, or third-degree burn. Finally, you want to make sure that you have all of the records for the treatment of the burn.

What Type Of Medical Treatment Is Necessary To Support A Burn Injury Claim?

Burn treatments are very particular. They depend on several factors, such as:

• The cause of the burn
• The depth of the burn
• How much of the body it covers

Common treatments include antibiotic creams, which can treat or prevent some infections. For some burns, a medical professional may need to treat them to clear the wound and ensure enough fluids and nutrition to aid in healing.

What Role Does The Insurance Company Play In My Claim?

The role of insurance companies in burn claims is similar to a lot of personal injury claims. They’re going to be responsible for valuing your injury claim, which includes reasonable and necessary medical expenses. The valuation also includes loss of earnings as a result of your injury from the accident, as well as pain and suffering.

The pain and suffering part can include any kind of disfigurement and mental health issues as a result of the injury.

Attorney Dan Loeliger is a seasoned lawyer based in Oklahoma City, OK, who has helped countless clients just like you navigate the intricacies of personal injury law. With over 30 years of experience, he is prepared to help you file and pursue personal injury claims so that you can recover, seek the damages you need, and move forward with your life.

Still have questions? Ready to get started? Contact Legal Advantage Group today to schedule for a free consultation.

Can You Describe The Typical Filing Process For A Burn Injury Claim?

After everything has been reported to the insurance company, you should get all the medical treatment you need until you get released from at least active treatment or have reached what’s called Maximum Medical Improvement. This doesn’t mean you’re back to where you were before the accident, but that you have recovered as well as is possible from your injuries.

The typical filing process of a burn injury claim starts once a claim has been turned in and the insurance company has accepted liability.

Your personal injury lawyer will then gather all the evidence, which includes:

• Photographs
• Police reports
• Loss of income information
• Medical records
• Medical bills
• Witness statements

This evidence is put together in a comprehensive demand package that will include a synopsis letter about what happened, how the accident occurred, the injuries sustained, the treatment you received, and your current condition. There will also be an itemization of every medical provider, including how much was billed, how much you lost from work, and a tab and index for everything.

Whatever the insurance company reads in that synopsis letter, they can go back and look at the specific document that is being referenced, which is important for several reasons:

• Insurance adjusters are people, and if you give them something that’s very organized and easy to understand, they’ll be likely to look at it a little bit quicker and understand it faster.
• The information packet helps to gather all of the facts of your case together in one place.
• It will also help insurance adjusters understand the extent of the evidence available, which can make them more willing to settle out of court.

What Serious Challenges Do Burn Victims Typically Face?

The greatest concern for burn victims is the long-lasting effects that the burn injuries themselves can have. These effects can be physical effects, like scarring, disfigurement, or chronic pain. There could also be psychological effects, like post-traumatic stress disorder.

The other challenges are that sometimes burn victims require surgeries, sometimes multiple surgeries that can include skin grafts, reconstructive procedures, physical therapy, occupational therapy or psychological therapy. The treatments can be very costly, and they can continue for months or even sometimes years.

How Do You Help Clients Who Are Worried About Covering Their Medical Expenses While Waiting For Their Burn Injury Claim To Settle?

We’ll look at each case individually. If you have health insurance, we’ll make sure that all of your bills are submitted under that insurance. If you have medical payment insurance, we’ll certainly submit the claims under that insurance.

If you don’t have either one of those or if you have paid what’s allowed and there are still remaining bills, we typically will talk to the provider and see if they can put a lien on the case. Alternatively, we can send what’s called a letter of protection, so they will hold your bill until the claim is over, and we make payment at that time.

How Can I Know If My Case Is Undervalued By An Insurance Company?

In my experience, almost all claims are undervalued. Insurance companies try to pay as little as possible. In fact, if they know somebody’s not represented or not ready to go to court, they likely will pay even less. That’s why you need a personal injury attorney. Not just an attorney but a personal injury attorney who is used to dealing with those types of claims so they understand what you need to do, document, and show the value of the case.

Insurance companies employ licensed professionals who will try to pay as little as possible. So, it’s good to have a licensed professional work by your side to try to get the compensation you really deserve.

Still Have Questions? Ready To Get Started?

For more information on Step-By-Step Guide To Filing A Burn Injury Claim In Oklahoma City, for a free consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (405) 449-5777 today.