Legally Reviewed by Kevin Henrichson on August 24, 2026
A serious burn injury can change everything in an instant. Whether caused by a house fire, an explosion, a defective product, or a vehicle accident, severe burns leave victims facing excruciating pain, lengthy surgeries, permanent scarring, and a recovery process that can last years. If someone else’s negligence caused your injuries, you should not have to carry those costs alone. As a catastrophic injury attorney serving Austin and central Texas, Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson, LLP has spent more than 65 years fighting for the rights of seriously injured Texans and is prepared to put that experience to work for you.
Understanding Burn Injuries and Their Impact
Burn injuries are among the most painful and medically complex injuries that personal injury attorneys encounter. They are not simply a matter of damaged skin. Severe burns can destroy deep tissue, compromise the immune system, require multiple surgeries, and result in permanent disfigurement. According to the American Burn Association, approximately 29,165 people are admitted to hospitals for burn injuries in the United States each year, with thousands requiring surgical treatment. For many survivors, the physical and financial toll of a serious burn injury lasts a lifetime.
Degrees of Burn Injuries
Medical professionals classify burns by severity to determine treatment and prognosis. Understanding these classifications can help you communicate clearly with your medical team and your legal team about the extent of your injuries.
- First-degree burns: affect only the outer layer of skin, causing redness, pain, and minor swelling. These are the least severe and typically heal on their own within a week.
- Second-degree burns: extend into the second layer of skin, causing blistering, intense pain, and potential scarring. Some require skin grafts.
- Third-degree burns: destroy all layers of skin and may reach muscle and bone. Victims often require repeated surgeries, skin grafting, and long-term rehabilitation.
- Fourth-degree burns: the most severe, affecting underlying bones, tendons, and nerves, often resulting in permanent disability or amputation.
The degree of your burn is a major factor in determining what compensation you may be able to recover, but every burn injury case is different, and the full picture matters.
Common Causes of Burn Injuries in Texas
Burn injuries happen in a wide range of circumstances, many of which involve another party’s negligence. Our attorneys have handled burn injury claims arising from a variety of incidents throughout Austin and central Texas.
Vehicle Fires and Explosions
Car crashes, truck collisions, and motorcycle accidents can cause fuel-fed fires that result in catastrophic burns. When another driver’s negligence or a manufacturer’s defect caused the accident, you may have a strong personal injury or product liability claim.
Workplace Accidents
Construction sites, oil fields, industrial facilities, and commercial kitchens all carry significant burn risk. Employers have a legal duty to maintain safe working conditions and provide adequate protective gear. When they fail, workers can suffer severe chemical, electrical, or thermal burns.
Defective Products
Faulty electrical appliances, flammable materials, and defective fuel systems can ignite without warning. These cases often involve product liability claims against manufacturers and distributors who placed dangerous goods into the market.
Fires on Another’s Property
Landlords, property managers, and businesses have a legal obligation to maintain safe premises. Inadequate smoke detectors, blocked fire exits, and faulty wiring can contribute directly to injuries in apartment fires, hotel fires, and commercial building incidents. These cases often fall under premises liability law.
What Compensation May Be Available to Burn Injury Victims
Burn injury cases typically involve enormous financial losses that extend well beyond initial emergency care. Texas law allows burn injury victims to pursue compensation for both economic and non-economic damages.
What You May Be Able to Recover
The losses connected to a serious burn injury can be staggering, and they often extend years beyond the initial incident. Common categories of compensation in burn injury cases include:
- Medical expenses: emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgeries, skin grafts, infection treatment, and ongoing wound care
- Future medical costs: reconstruction surgeries, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and long-term management of complications
- Lost income: wages lost during recovery and, in serious cases, the loss of future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering: compensation for the physical pain and emotional distress caused by severe burn injuries
- Disfigurement and disability: Texas law recognizes the profound impact of permanent scarring and physical limitation
- Wrongful death: if a loved one did not survive a burn injury, surviving family members may have a wrongful death claim
Calculating the full value of a burn injury claim requires a thorough understanding of your medical prognosis, your career and income trajectory, and the lasting effect on your daily life. Our attorneys work with medical and financial professionals to build claims that account for the complete picture, not just the immediate bills.
The Texas Statute of Limitations for Burn Injury Claims
Time matters in a burn injury case. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003, you have two years from the date of your injury to file a personal injury lawsuit in Texas. For families who lost a loved one, the two-year deadline runs from the date of death for wrongful death claims. Missing this deadline almost always means losing your right to pursue compensation entirely, regardless of how strong your case may be.
Acting early is also important for reasons beyond the legal deadline. Evidence fades. Witnesses move on. Accident scenes are altered. Insurance companies begin their investigation immediately, and their goal is to minimize what they pay. Having an experienced burn injury attorney working your case from the start puts you in a far stronger position. Certain circumstances may affect this deadline, including claims involving minors or government entities, which is why speaking with an attorney as soon as possible is critical.
Why Burn Injury Cases Require Experienced Trial Attorneys
Burn injury claims are not simple matters. They often require expert medical testimony, accident reconstruction analysis, detailed documentation of future care costs, and the ability to stand firm against large insurance companies and corporate defendants. The right legal team makes a meaningful difference in the outcome of these cases.
What Sets Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson, LLP Apart
Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson, LLP has been Austin’s oldest personal injury law firm since 1959. Robert Alden and Kevin Henrichson are both Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Board certification is not a title that attorneys may call themselves; it requires meeting rigorous standards of experience, peer review, and examination. It signals that our attorneys have the qualifications and the courtroom record to handle the most complex injury cases.
You will not find us on a billboard or a TV commercial. We are not a volume firm. We take the cases of seriously injured Texans and handle each one with the attention and resources it deserves. Our firm has recovered over $100 million for our clients and maintains a 98% success rate. Many opposing parties know our reputation and understand that we are prepared to take a case all the way to trial if a fair settlement is not on the table. Our firm is listed in Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, Best Law Firms, and the Bar Register of Pre-eminent Lawyers. U.S. News & World Report recognizes us as one of the Best Law Firms in the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions About Austin Burn Injury Cases
Burn injury victims often have many questions about the legal process. The following covers some of the most common concerns our attorneys hear from clients.
Do I Have a Valid Burn Injury Claim in Texas?
If your burn injuries were caused by another party’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct, you may have a valid claim. This includes burns from accidents caused by other drivers, property hazards, defective products, and unsafe workplaces. A free case review with our team can help you determine whether your circumstances support a claim.
What Is the Deadline to File a Burn Injury Lawsuit in Texas?
Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003, the deadline is two years from the date of your injury. For wrongful death claims, it is two years from the date of death. Missing this deadline is irreversible in most cases, which is why acting promptly is critical.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Burn Injury Attorney?
Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson, LLP handles burn injury cases on a contingency fee basis. There are no upfront fees. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Can Family Members File a Claim If a Loved One Died From Burn Injuries?
Yes. Texas law allows surviving family members to pursue a wrongful death claim when someone dies as a result of another party’s negligence. This may cover funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and the emotional harm suffered by surviving family members.
What Should I Do Immediately After a Burn Injury?
Seek medical attention right away, even if your burns appear minor. Burns can worsen over time, and medical documentation creates a critical record for your legal claim. If possible, preserve evidence from the scene and gather contact information from any witnesses. Then contact a burn injury attorney as soon as you are able.
Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson, LLP Can Help You Move Forward
When you are recovering from a serious burn injury, the last thing you should have to manage alone is a legal battle against an insurance company or a corporate defendant. Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson, LLP has been representing Texas burn injury victims for more than six decades. Our Board Certified attorneys, Robert Alden and Kevin Henrichson, bring a depth of courtroom experience and a record of results that few firms in Austin can match. We work on contingency, so you pay nothing unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
If you or someone you know has suffered a serious burn injury, do not hesitate to reach out. Use our contact form to request a free, no-obligation case review with our team today.