A sudden explosion at a Spokane industrial site or a chemical leak at a local manufacturing plant leaves you with life-altering trauma in seconds. While you fight through the intense pain of recovery in a specialized burn unit, insurance companies already begin their efforts to limit your financial recovery.

You face a future involving multiple surgeries, permanent scarring, and the inability to return to your previous career. You cannot afford to wait for the insurance company to make a fair offer while your medical bills climb. You need a Spokane Burn Injury Lawyer from our firm who acts with immediate strength to preserve evidence and identify every liable party.

Contact our office immediately to discuss your situation and learn how our team can protect your future security.

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Washington Statutes for Burn Trauma Claims

Jacobs and Jacobs Injury Law Group attorneys

Washington law establishes clear rules that protect people who suffer severe burns due to the negligence of others. Grasping these codes helps you identify the legal options available for your family.

Our team uses a thorough knowledge of these statutes to build a strong case against the responsible party. We apply these standards to help our clients seek the resources they need for long-term care.

The three-year statute of limitations

State law sets a strict time limit for starting a personal injury lawsuit after a fire or chemical accident. RCW 4.16.080 generally gives you three years from the date of the injury to file your case in court. Missing this date results in the loss of your right to seek any compensation, regardless of the severity of your injuries.

Our team starts our investigation immediately to meet all legal deadlines while evidence remains available and witness memories stay clear. Acting quickly allows our investigators to secure maintenance logs and fire department reports before they disappear.

Product liability and strict liability

Defective products such as faulty space heaters, exploding batteries, or poorly designed appliances often cause catastrophic burns. Washington product liability laws allow you to hold manufacturers accountable if a design flaw or manufacturing error caused your injury. In some cases, we apply strict liability standards, which means we do not have to prove the manufacturer was specifically negligent, only that the product was dangerous.

These cases require a detailed technical analysis of the product’s failure. Our firm focuses on identifying every entity in the supply chain that contributed to your harm.

Common Causes of Severe Burns in Spokane

Industrial growth and heavy traffic in Spokane County contribute to thousands of burn injuries every year. Identifying the exact cause of your accident helps our firm hold the negligent parties accountable for your losses.

We investigate every detail of the scene to build a clear picture of the mistakes that led to your injury. Negligent property owners and equipment managers often ignore safety protocols:

  • Employers failing to provide proper protective gear at high-risk Spokane job sites.
  • Property owners neglecting to maintain safe electrical wiring in apartment complexes.
  • Restaurants failing to follow safety standards for hot liquids or kitchen equipment.
  • Drivers causing high-speed collisions on I-90 that lead to vehicle fires.
  • Manufacturers selling defective consumer products that overheat or explode.
  • Construction contractors failing to mark underground gas lines before digging.
  • Chemical suppliers providing improper labeling or storage instructions for hazardous materials.

These situations cause catastrophic trauma that leaves people with permanent physical changes. Our firm identifies the specific negligence to ensure the insurance company sees the truth. We focus on the facts of the incident to build your case and secure the resources you need for rehabilitation.

Evaluating Damages for a Spokane Burn Injury Lawyer Claim

Burn injuries involve unique damages that insurance adjusters often try to minimize or dismiss. We focus on how these changes affect your daily life and your ability to work when we evaluate your claim. Proper documentation provides the proof necessary to support your pursuit of a recovery.

Permanent disfigurement and scarring

Severe burns often lead to permanent changes in your appearance that affect your self-esteem and social interactions. Washington law recognizes the profound impact of disfigurement and allows you to seek non-economic damages for this loss.

We document the progression of your healing through professional photography and witness testimony. These records help a jury grasp the emotional and physical toll of your injuries. Proving the severity of scarring remains an essential part of our legal strategy.

Future medical expenses and skin grafts

Burn recovery frequently requires multiple surgeries, skin grafts, and long-term physical therapy over several years. We work with healthcare providers to project the total lifetime cost of these essential services.

Including these anticipated expenses helps your claim protect your future financial security. Clearly presenting these future needs helps an insurance company recognize the true scope of your medical requirements. High claim values often result from the permanent nature of these injuries.

Vocational impact and lost earnings

If your injury prevents you from returning to your previous career, we hire vocational specialists to evaluate your future work prospects. Burn injuries often limit mobility or sensitivity in the hands and limbs, making manual labor difficult.

These professionals estimate the total income you will lose over your working life due to physical impairment. This documentation ensures the settlement pursuit accounts for the full financial impact of the accident on your livelihood. We focus on every dollar the injury cost your family.

Woman’s hands with burning pain from defective product

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Why Choose Jacobs and Jacobs for a Spokane Burn Injury Lawyer

Our family-owned firm has a legacy of advocacy that spans over 130 years of Washington history.

  • We maintain deep roots in the Puget Sound and Eastern Washington, a tradition that began with B.F. Jacobs in the late 1800s.
  • Our team of more than 50 members works together to support your pursuit of fair treatment and a successful outcome.
  • Tom Jacobs currently handles a high volume of injury claims, reflecting the trust our neighbors place in our work.
  • Our attorneys bring the experience of representing tens of thousands of people to even the most complex burn injury cases.
  • Our offices serve the community with flexible meeting options, including Zoom or home visits if you cannot travel.
  • Our staff manages the adjusters, the paperwork, and the legal deadlines under our philosophy that we take it from here.

This client-focused support reduces stress through consistent communication and personalized legal strategies tailored to each individual we represent. We handle the heavy lifting of the legal process so you can devote your energy to your family and your healing.

Practical Steps to Support Your Claim

Actions you take in the days following a fire or chemical accident help preserve your right to seek a recovery. Our team enables you to manage the administrative details so you can focus on your family.

These steps help our team build a more robust argument for your financial recovery. Developing a detailed record of the accident’s impact strengthens your legal position throughout the process:

  • Gathering every medical bill, pharmacy receipt, and invoice for specialized wound care.
  • Saving the clothing or product involved in the accident as physical evidence.
  • Refraining from discussing the incident or your injuries on social media platforms.
  • Directing all calls from insurance adjusters or defense attorneys to our office.
  • Capturing photos of the accident scene and your injuries as they heal.
  • Saving all correspondence from healthcare providers and insurance companies.
  • Documenting missed work days and lost promotional opportunities.
  • Writing down your own account of the accident while the memory remains clear.

Following these steps protects the integrity of your claim and prevents insurance companies from twisting your words. We use this information to calculate the financial and personal impact of the injury.

Your diligence in saving these records helps our team pursue the most suitable outcome for your case.

Digital Bots Cannot Replace Professional Human Advocacy

Software programs provide general facts, but they do not grasp the specific details of your situation or current state laws. Relying on an automated program for legal guidance creates a high risk of making costly errors in your claim.

Computer programs cannot appreciate the emotional weight of your recovery or provide the personalized strategy your case requires. Always consult a qualified attorney from Jacobs & Jacobs Personal Injury Law Group for guidance tailored to your unique needs.

FAQ for Spokane Burn Injury Lawyer

What if my burn injury happened at work?

You likely have a claim through the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries for workers’ compensation. However, if a third party, like a contractor or equipment manufacturer, caused your injury, you may have a separate personal injury claim.

These third-party claims allow you to seek damages for pain and suffering, which standard workplace benefits do not cover. We investigate the accident to identify all responsible parties and maximize your available recovery.

Can I pursue a claim for a burn caused by a hot liquid in a restaurant?

Yes, restaurants and coffee shops must follow safety standards regarding the temperature of the items they serve. If a business serves a product at a dangerously high temperature or fails to secure a lid, they may face liability for your injuries.

We investigate the business’s safety protocols and past complaints to show a pattern of negligence. Proving a lack of care helps us secure the compensation needed for your medical bills.

How do I prove a defective product caused my fire?

We work with fire investigators and forensic engineers to identify the origin of the blaze and the specific failure in the product. Preserving the remains of the device or appliance remains a requirement for a successful product liability claim. These professionals examine the internal components to find evidence of a design flaw or electrical short. Technical evidence provides the proof necessary to hold a manufacturer accountable.

What damages are available if the burn caused permanent nerve damage?

Economic damages cover your medical bills, physical therapy, and lost wages. Non-economic damages compensate for chronic pain, loss of sensation, and the loss of enjoyment of life caused by nerve damage.

We work with medical specialists to explain how these injuries affect your daily function and mobility. Our firm evaluates every available type of damage to ensure the pursuit of a full recovery for your harm.

How long will my burn injury case take to resolve?

The length of a case depends on the severity of your injuries and the time needed to reach a point of maximum medical improvement. We avoid settling claims until we recognize the full extent of your future surgical and care needs.

Settling too early may leave you without the funds needed for future grafts or treatments. Our team provides regular updates on the status of your case and works to resolve the matter as efficiently as possible.

Moving Forward with Strength and Seasoned Support

The months following a burn injury involve significant physical pain, multiple surgeries, and uncertainty about your financial security. Managing these burdens while trying to adapt to permanent physical changes adds unnecessary stress to a time when you should focus on your family.

Photo of Tom Jacobs
Tom Jacobs – Spokane
Burn Injury Lawyer

Our firm has provided a pillar of strength for the residents of Washington for over 130 years, and we extend that same commitment to the Spokane community. We believe that no one should have to face the insurance companies alone, especially when they are dealing with an injury that was not their fault.

Our family-led team at Jacobs and Jacobs Personal Injury Law Group brings a legacy of trial experience and compassionate support to your case. We provide the direct assistance needed to manage the paperwork and the aggressive tactics of insurance adjusters.

Our Kent and Puyallup offices serve as hubs for our advocacy, and we offer home visits or Zoom meetings for our Spokane clients. We handle the legal complexities so you can devote your energy to your family and your physical rehabilitation.

If you’ve suffered a severe burn and need guidance, call us to discuss your case and learn about the services we provide to our burn injury clients.

Jacobs and Jacobs Injury Law Group – Spokane Office

Address: 12709 E Mirabeau Pkwy,

Spokane Valley, WA 99216

Ph: (509) 316-2456