Burn injuries from car accidents in O’Fallon, Missouri require specialized medical care that can last months or even years. These injuries often involve multiple surgeries, skin grafts, physical therapy, and psychological support.
The medical bills alone can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars before you even consider lost wages and the permanent impact on your life.
Our experienced burn injury attorneys in O’Fallon understand the unique challenges burn injury victims face. Insurance companies often undervalue burn injury claims because they fail to account for future scar revisions, ongoing pain management, and the emotional toll of disfigurement.
At Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers, we know how to document every aspect of your injury and build a case that captures the full scope of your damages.
When you’re dealing with burns from a car crash, you need skilled O’Fallon burn injury lawyers who understand both the medical complexity and the insurance tactics you’re up against. We handle everything while you focus on healing.
As a family-run firm, we treat every client like a member of our family. Consultations are always free, you never pay us anything unless we win, and we are available to take your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Burn Injury Cases We Handle in O’Fallon
We represent burn injury victims hurt in all types of motor vehicle accidents in O’Fallon and across Missouri. Whether your burns came from a car fire, a truck explosion, a motorcycle crash, or contact with hot vehicle surfaces, our O’Fallon burn injury attorneys know how to build a strong case on your behalf.
Common crash scenarios we handle include:
- Fuel-fed fires after high-speed rear-end collisions
- Tanker truck crashes involving flammable or corrosive cargo
- Airbag deployment burns from chemical exposure
- Friction burns from motorcycle and bicycle crashes
- Radiator scalds and electrical burns from damaged hybrid vehicles
Types of Burn Injuries From Car and Truck Crashes
Not all burns are the same, and the type of burn you suffered matters when calculating your damages.
- Thermal burns: Caused by direct flames or contact with hot metal and surfaces after a crash
- Chemical burns: Result from battery acid, airbag propellant, or other toxic fluids contacting your skin
- Electrical burns: Occur when exposed wiring or a damaged vehicle battery delivers a shock
- Friction burns: Known as road rash, these deep abrasions happen when your body slides across pavement in a motorcycle or bicycle crash
Who Is Liable for Your Burn Injuries?
Missouri uses an at-fault insurance system. This means the driver who caused your crash is financially responsible for your injuries and losses.
But liability does not always stop with the other driver. We dig into every angle of your case to identify all responsible parties, which may include:
- A trucking company whose driver caused the crash
- A vehicle manufacturer whose defective fuel tank or airbag made your injuries worse
- An employer who sent an unsafe commercial vehicle onto the road
Uninsured Drivers and Defective Vehicle Claims
If the driver who hit you has no insurance or fled the scene, you may still recover compensation through your own uninsured motorist coverage. Missouri law requires drivers to carry this protection, and our O’Fallon personal injury lawyers know how to use it to your full advantage.
When a defective part, such as a faulty fuel system or a malfunctioning airbag, contributed to your burns, we may also pursue a separate product liability claim against the manufacturer.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
Missouri law allows burn injury victims to pursue two main categories of damages: economic and non-economic.
Economic damages cover your direct financial losses, including:
- Emergency treatment and burn unit hospitalization
- Skin grafts, reconstructive surgery, and scar revision procedures
- Physical therapy and ongoing rehabilitation
- Lost wages and reduced future earning capacity
Non-economic damages cover the personal toll the crash takes on your life, including:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Permanent disfigurement and scarring
- Emotional trauma and PTSD
- Loss of enjoyment of life and loss of consortium
Burn injuries often require years of follow-up care, and we make sure your claim accounts for every future cost. You only get one chance to settle, so it has to be right the first time.
How We Build Your Burn Injury Case
We move fast. Evidence from a crash scene can disappear quickly, and the insurance company’s legal team starts working against you from day one.
Our team works alongside fire origin experts, accident reconstructionists, and burn care specialists to establish exactly what happened and who is responsible. We build your case around hard evidence, not guesswork.
Evidence We Collect in Burn Injury Cases
- Photographs of your burn wounds taken over time to document the healing process
- Preserved clothing and physical debris from the crash
- Fire origin reports from local fire departments or private investigators
- Black box and electronic data recorder information from the vehicles involved
- Eyewitness statements from people who saw the crash and the fire
- Detailed medical records from your burn center treatment team
What If You Are Partly at Fault?
Even if you share some blame for the crash, you can still recover compensation in Missouri. The state follows a pure comparative fault rule under Missouri Revised Statute 537.765. This means your total award is reduced by your percentage of fault, but it is never eliminated entirely.
For example, if you are found 25 percent at fault, you still recover 75 percent of your total damages. Insurance companies often try to push as much blame onto you as possible to pay out less. Having our attorneys in your corner protects you from those tactics.
What To Do After a Burn Injury Crash in O’Fallon
The steps you take in the hours and days after your crash can make or break your case.
Get to a burn center immediately. Specialized burn care creates the medical records that connect your injuries to the crash. Take ongoing photos of your wounds as they heal.
Save everything from the crash. Do not throw away burned clothing, damaged gear, or any physical items from the scene. These can serve as critical evidence later.
Do not give a recorded statement. Insurance adjusters will contact you quickly and ask for a recorded statement. Politely decline and call us first. What you say can be used to reduce your payout.
Contact our attorneys right away. The sooner we get involved, the sooner we can secure evidence and protect your rights.
How Long Do You Have to File in Missouri?
In Missouri, you have five years from the date of your crash to file a personal injury lawsuit under RSMo Section 516.120. If the crash resulted in a death, the family has three years to file a wrongful death claim.
Five years may feel like a long time, but waiting puts your case at risk. Surveillance footage gets deleted, witnesses move on, and physical evidence disappears. Contact us as soon as possible so our O’Fallon burn injury lawyers can start building your case while the evidence is still fresh.
How We Handle Everything for You
When you hire us, you hand off the stress. We take over every part of the legal and administrative process so you can focus on getting better.
- Medical coordination: We communicate directly with your burn care team to make sure your records reflect the full extent of your injuries
- Bill and lien management: We handle your hospital bills and negotiate health insurance liens so collections agencies stop calling
- Insurance negotiations: We take over all communication with adjusters and push for the maximum settlement your case deserves
- Court representation: If the insurance company refuses to offer a fair amount, we are fully prepared to take your case to trial
We have deep roots in O’Fallon and St. Charles County, and we know how the local courts operate. That local knowledge gives your case a real advantage.
Contact Our O’Fallon Burn Injury Law Firm for a Free Consultation
Burn injuries change lives, and the road to recovery is long and expensive. At Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers, we have been fighting for injured Missourians since 1990, and we are ready to fight for you.
We are the only law firm in Missouri that focuses exclusively on auto accident law, and that focus means we know these cases inside and out. Call us today or contact us online to get started with a free, no-obligation consultation. You pay nothing unless we win.
Burn Injury FAQs
Can I File a Burn Injury Claim if an Airbag Chemical Caused My Burns?
Yes. If another driver’s negligence caused the crash and the airbag deployment burned you, both the at-fault driver and potentially the airbag manufacturer may be liable for your injuries.
Who Pays My Damages if the At-Fault Driver Has No Insurance?
Your own uninsured motorist coverage steps in to cover your burn injury damages when the at-fault driver is uninsured or cannot be identified.
How Is Permanent Scarring and Disfigurement Valued in a Settlement?
The value of your disfigurement claim depends on the severity, location, and visibility of your scars, along with the emotional and psychological impact they have on your daily life.
Will My Settlement Cover Future Scar Revision Surgeries?
Yes. A properly prepared burn injury claim includes estimated costs for all future medical needs, including reconstructive surgery, scar revision, and ongoing therapy.
Should I Accept the First Settlement Offer From the Insurance Company?
No. First offers are almost always far below what your case is actually worth. Let our attorneys review any offer before you respond or sign anything.
