Burn injuries are among the most painful and life-altering injuries a person can suffer. They can require multiple surgeries, months of rehabilitation, and leave permanent physical and emotional scars. If your burn injuries resulted from someone else’s negligence, carelessness, or wrongdoing, you may be entitled to financial compensation — but Texas imposes strict time limits on how long you have to file a claim.

At Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson, LLP, our Austin burn injury lawyers have been fighting for seriously injured Texans since 1959. As Austin’s oldest plaintiffs’ personal injury law firm, we have the experience, resources, and commitment to take on complex burn injury cases and pursue the maximum compensation you deserve. We offer a free case review at no charge — contact us today to get started.

What Is a Burn Injury?

A burn injury occurs when heat, chemicals, electricity, or radiation damages the skin and underlying tissues. Burns vary widely in severity, from superficial irritation to life-threatening damage affecting muscle, bone, and internal organs. The more severe the burn, the more extensive — and expensive — the treatment required. Burn injuries frequently require emergency care, multiple surgeries, skin grafts, and long-term rehabilitation that can last months or years.

Types of Burn Injuries

Burn injuries are classified by the mechanism of harm. Our Austin burn injury attorneys have handled cases involving all of the following:

Thermal burns — Caused by contact with open flames, hot objects, boiling liquids, or steam. House fires and workplace accidents involving hot equipment are among the most common causes. Scalds from boiling water, hot liquids, or grease frequently cause thermal burns in children.

Chemical burns — Occur when skin comes into contact with corrosive substances such as acids, bases, solvents, and industrial cleaning agents. Chemical burns often affect the face, eyes, hands, and arms. These injuries are common in industrial workplaces where employees handle hazardous materials without adequate protective equipment.

Electrical burns — Caused by contact with electrical current. What makes electrical burns particularly dangerous is that external damage may appear minor while internal tissues and organs sustain severe harm. Construction workers, electricians, and other tradespeople face elevated risk.

Radiation burns — Caused by prolonged exposure to radiation sources, including X-rays, UV rays, and radiation therapy. Cancer patients undergoing radiation treatment may experience radiation dermatitis and skin breakdown as a result.

Friction burns — Occur when skin repeatedly rubs against a hard surface, as commonly happens in motorcycle accidents and industrial machinery incidents.

Degrees of Burns

Burns are classified by severity across four degrees. Understanding the degree of a burn directly affects the value of a claim, as more severe burns require far more intensive and costly treatment:

First-degree burns affect only the outer layer of skin, causing redness, pain, and minor swelling. These typically heal within five to ten days. Mild sunburn is a common example.

Second-degree burns damage both the outer layer and the underlying dermis. They cause swelling, blistering, and intense pain. Second-degree burns may require professional medical treatment and can cause permanent scarring.

Third-degree burns destroy all layers of skin, often appearing white, black, or charred. These burns damage nerve endings, causing numbness in the affected area. Third-degree burns almost always require skin grafts and extended medical care.

Fourth-degree burns — the most severe type — penetrate through skin into muscle, bone, and tendons. These injuries can be fatal, and survivors often require amputation and lifelong medical management.

Common Causes of Burn Injuries in Austin

Burn injuries can occur in almost any setting. Our Austin burn injury lawyers have represented clients injured through a wide range of accidents, including:

  • House fires and apartment fires caused by negligent landlords or faulty wiring
  • Workplace accidents involving chemicals, machinery, or open flames
  • Car and truck accidents that result in fuel fires or explosions
  • Construction site electrical accidents and ungrounded equipment
  • Defective products, appliances, and consumer goods that overheat or ignite
  • Chemical spills and exposure to hazardous materials on job sites
  • Oil field accidents involving flammable materials and equipment failures
  • Boat accidents and aviation accidents
  • Scalding from hot liquids in restaurants, hospitals, or care facilities

When your burn injury was caused by another party’s negligence — whether an employer, property owner, product manufacturer, or another driver — you may have grounds to pursue a burn injury claim.

Who May Be Liable for a Burn Injury?

Determining liability is a critical part of any burn injury case. Multiple parties may share responsibility depending on the circumstances. Our burn injury lawyers will investigate the cause of your injuries and identify all parties who may be held accountable, which can include:

  • Employers — Companies that fail to provide proper safety equipment, training, or compliant working conditions under OSHA standards
  • Property owners and landlords — Those who fail to maintain fire safety equipment, address known hazards, or meet building code requirements
  • Product manufacturers — Companies responsible for defective appliances, electronics, machinery, or consumer products that cause fires or burns
  • Drivers — Motorists whose negligence causes vehicle accidents resulting in fires or explosions
  • Third-party contractors — Contractors who improperly install gas lines, electrical systems, or heating equipment

Texas operates under a proportionate responsibility system. Even if you were partially at fault for your injuries, you may still be entitled to compensation as long as your share of fault does not exceed 50 percent. The amount you recover will be reduced proportionally based on your degree of responsibility.

Long-Term Effects of Burn Injuries

The physical and emotional toll of a serious burn injury extends far beyond the initial emergency room visit. Severe burns frequently result in long-term complications that affect every aspect of a victim’s life:

Physical effects — Permanent scarring, contractures that limit mobility, chronic pain, sensitivity to temperature and touch, and disfigurement. Many victims require ongoing reconstructive surgery and physical therapy to regain function.

Psychological and emotional trauma — Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and social withdrawal are common among serious burn survivors. The emotional impact of visible disfigurement can be profound and lasting.

Functional and mobility challenges — Loss of grip strength, impaired range of motion, nerve damage, and reduced capacity to perform daily tasks or return to prior employment.

Internal health complications — Respiratory damage from smoke or chemical inhalation, organ damage, and heightened infection risk due to compromised skin barrier function.

These long-term consequences are not just medical — they are financial. Victims may face reduced earning capacity, loss of consortium, and ongoing costs for rehabilitation, counseling, and adaptive equipment that extend years into the future.

Compensation Available for Burn Injury Victims

Burn injury settlements and verdicts in Texas can include compensation for both economic and non-economic losses. By filing a burn injury claim, you may be entitled to recover:

  • Emergency medical care, hospitalization, and surgical costs
  • Skin grafts and reconstructive surgery
  • Ongoing medical treatment, physical therapy, and occupational therapy
  • Psychological counseling and mental health services
  • Lost wages and diminished future earning capacity
  • Pain and suffering, mental anguish, and emotional distress
  • Permanent disfigurement and loss of enjoyment of life
  • Loss of consortium or companionship
  • In cases involving gross negligence, punitive damages may also be available

Every burn injury case is unique. The value of your claim depends on the severity of the burn, the extent of your medical treatment, the impact on your ability to work, and the degree of negligence involved. Our attorneys will assess the full scope of your losses — including future needs — to pursue a result that reflects the true cost of your injuries.

Burn Injuries in the Texas Workplace

Texas is one of the few states that does not require private employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance. This means that if your employer is a non-subscriber and you suffer a burn injury on the job, you cannot file a standard workers’ comp claim — but you may be entitled to pursue a direct negligence lawsuit against your employer or a liable third party.

Our Austin burn injury attorneys understand the unique legal landscape Texas workers face after a job site burn injury. We will review the details of your accident, identify the responsible parties, and explain all legal options available to you — including potential claims against contractors, equipment manufacturers, or premises owners who contributed to the conditions that caused your injuries.

What to Do After a Burn Injury in Texas

The steps you take immediately after a burn injury can significantly affect your ability to recover compensation:

  1. Seek medical attention immediately — even if the burn appears minor. Burn severity can escalate, and prompt documentation of your injuries is critical for your legal claim.
  2. Report the incident — notify your employer if the injury occurred at work, or report the hazard to the property owner or relevant authority.
  3. Document everything — photograph the scene, the cause of the burn, and your injuries. Collect contact information from any witnesses.
  4. Preserve evidence — save any defective products or clothing involved. Avoid cleaning the scene before it has been documented.
  5. Consult a burn injury lawyer before speaking with insurance adjusters — insurance companies will attempt to minimize your claim. Having legal representation from the outset protects your rights.

Texas imposes a two-year statute of limitations on most personal injury claims. Do not wait to speak with an attorney.

Why Choose Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson for Your Burn Injury Case?

Our firm has been representing seriously injured Texans in Austin for over 65 years. Founded in 1959, Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson is Austin’s oldest plaintiffs’ personal injury law firm. Our partners, Robert Alden and Kevin Henrichson, are both Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization — a distinction held by fewer than one percent of Texas attorneys.

We are listed in Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Best Law Firms, and the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. We are the only Austin personal injury firm ranked by Chambers & Partners. Our notable case results speak to our ability to pursue meaningful compensation in serious, complex cases.

We do not advertise on television or billboards because we are not a volume practice. We choose to represent clients who have been seriously injured and need lawyers with serious trial experience. We handle every burn injury case with the same dedication and personal attention that has defined our firm for decades.

We offer a free, confidential case review at no charge. There is no obligation and no fee unless we recover for you. Contact us or use our online contact form to schedule your consultation today.

Call Us: 512-454-3751