$36.0M
Recovery for a pedestrian who suffered a traumatic brain injury after being struck by a vehicle.
Personal Injury
California Burn Injury Lawyers
Were you or a loved one burned because of someone else’s negligence? At Wilshire Law Firm — an award-winning, nationally recognized team — our attorneys help burn victims across California pursue compensation. Contact us 24/7 for a free case review with a legal professional — there are no fees unless you get paid.
- $3B+RECOVERED
- 7X"BEST LAW FIRM" AWARDS
- 24/7AVAILABILITY & SUPPORT
- 500+LEGAL PROFESSIONALS
Understanding Your Burn Injury Case
Explore essential resources on your rights, your options, and what to expect — everything you need to navigate the legal process, all in one place.
Wilshire Law Firm is an award-winning, nationally recognized team that has represented thousands of seriously injured Californians. Our attorneys investigate how your burn happened, identify every responsible party, work with medical and fire-cause experts, and handle every conversation with the insurance companies so you can focus on healing. We build each case for maximum recovery with personalized attention, and there are no fees unless you get paid.
Take these steps to protect your health and your claim: (1) get emergency medical care immediately, because burns can worsen and become infected quickly; (2) follow all treatment and follow-up instructions, including referrals to a burn center; (3) photograph your injuries, the scene, and anything that caused the burn; (4) preserve the defective product, clothing, or equipment involved and do not discard it; (5) gather witness names and contact information; and (6) speak with a burn injury lawyer before giving a recorded statement to any insurer. Documenting the cause early is often critical to proving liability.
Burn injuries are generally classified by how deeply they damage the skin and tissue. First-degree burns affect only the outer layer of skin. Second-degree burns reach deeper layers and often cause blistering. Third-degree burns destroy the full thickness of the skin. Fourth-degree burns extend into muscle, tendon, or bone. Serious burns are also categorized by cause — thermal (fire, flame, and scalding liquids), chemical, electrical, and radiation burns — and severe cases frequently require skin grafts, reconstructive surgery, and long-term rehabilitation.
Most serious burn injuries trace back to preventable negligence by another person or company. The causes we frequently see include house and apartment fires tied to landlord or property-owner negligence, defective products and appliances, workplace and construction-site accidents, chemical exposure, electrical hazards, vehicle fires after a crash, scalding from unsafe water temperatures, and explosions. Establishing what caused the burn — and who was responsible — is central to your claim, and our attorneys handle that investigation for you.
Liability depends on how and where the burn happened, and more than one party may be responsible. Depending on the circumstances, a negligent property owner or landlord, a product manufacturer or distributor, an employer or third-party contractor, a utility company, or a driver may be held accountable. In premises cases, property owners generally owe a duty to keep their property reasonably safe, and in defective-product cases, manufacturers can be held strictly liable for dangerous products. A legal professional can review your situation during a free case review.
Burn victims in California can generally recover both economic and non-economic damages. These commonly include medical expenses (emergency care, surgeries, skin grafts, and future treatment), rehabilitation and therapy costs, lost wages and lost earning capacity, disfigurement and scarring, and pain and suffering, including emotional distress. Because severe burns often require lifelong care, valuing future costs correctly is essential — and a legal professional can review your losses during a free case review.
In most California burn injury cases you generally have two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit (California Code of Civil Procedure §335.1). Claims against a government entity have much shorter deadlines — often just six months to file an administrative claim. Because missing a deadline can permanently end your case, it's best to speak with a legal professional early.
Meet Our Burn Injury Attorneys
Nationally-Recognized Powerhouse, Fighting for the Justice You Deserve
Our award-winning attorneys have recovered billions for clients while taking on insurance companies and major corporations.
Colin M. Jones, Esq.Senior Partner and Senior Trial Attorney, Chair of the Personal Injury Litigation Department
Jennifer P. Burkes, Esq.Senior Partner & Strategic Advisor, Personal Injury Litigation Department
Mary Lee Caruso, Esq.Senior Partner
Ryan Casey, Esq.Senior Partner and Trial Attorney
Tae-Yoon Kim, Esq.Senior Partner
Alivia E. Abreu, Esq.Partner
Shervin G. Ghanoongooi, Esq.Partner
Christopher Goodroe, Esq.Partner
Nathan A. GuestPartner and Trial Attorney
Brian M. Jacobson, Esq.Partner
Ariella Perry, Esq.Partner$28.5M
Recovery for victims of a rear-end collision involving a commercial truck.
$14.5M
Recovery for a victim who suffered a traumatic brain injury due to unsafe property conditions.
$14.0M
Recovery for a victim injured in a motorcycle accident.
$13.5M
Recovery for victims injured in a collision involving a commercial truck.
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Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Each case is unique and evaluated on its own facts.
How Do I Know If I Have a Burn Injury Claim in California?
You generally have a valid burn injury claim when three factors are present — fault, damages, and proof. Fault means another person or company's negligence, or a defective product, caused your burn. Damages are your losses, such as medical bills, scarring, lost income, and pain and suffering. Proof includes medical records, photographs, the item or condition that caused the burn, and witness statements. California's statute of limitations applies, so contact Wilshire Law Firm for a free case evaluation with a legal professional.
Start Your Free Burn Injury Case Review
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Record breaking results
Winners of #1 Settlements in California
Our attorneys have recovered billions of dollars, including some of the biggest settlements in California.
17#1 Settlements in California, 2022–2024*
TopVerdict #1TopVerdict.com #1 settlements
1–1 of 17
#1 Truck v. Pedestrian Accident Settlement
2024
#1 Multi-Vehicle Accident Settlement
2024
#1 Equipment Malfunction Settlement
2024
#1 Car v. Stationary Object Collision Settlement
2024
#1 Bus v. Passenger Accident Settlement
2024
#1 Whistleblower Retaliation Settlement
2023
#1 Underinsured Motorist Settlement
2023
#1 Slip & Fall Accident Settlement
2023
#1 Negligent Security Settlement
2023
#1 Ladder Accident Settlement
2023
#1 Hotel Premises Liability Settlement
2023
#1 Car v. Car Collision Settlement
2023
#1 Bicycle Accident Settlement
2023
#1 Pregnancy Discrimination Settlement
2022
#1 Age/Disability Discrimination Settlement
2022
#1 Wrongful Termination Settlement
2022
#1 Meal & Rest Breaks Settlement
2022
*#1 settlements in California have been awarded by TopVerdict.com. Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Burn Injury FAQs
Our Most Frequently Asked Questions
We've answered the most common ones below. If yours isn't here, call us — we're available 24/7.
Burns are generally graded by depth: first-degree affect the outer skin layer, second-degree reach deeper layers, and third- and fourth-degree destroy full-thickness skin and underlying tissue. More severe burns often require surgery, skin grafts, and long-term care, which increases both the medical needs and the value of a claim. If your burn happened in the Los Angeles area, see our Los Angeles burn injury lawyer page.
When a defective or unreasonably dangerous product — such as a faulty appliance, a lithium battery, or industrial equipment — causes a burn, the manufacturer, distributor, or retailer may be liable under California product-liability law. More than one party can share responsibility depending on how the burn happened.
A workplace burn may involve both a workers' compensation claim and a separate third-party lawsuit — for example, against a product manufacturer or an outside contractor whose negligence contributed. The two can proceed together, and a third-party claim may allow recovery beyond workers' compensation benefits.
Generally two years from the date of injury under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. If a government entity may be involved, a written claim is generally due within six months first. Deadlines have exceptions, so confirm yours promptly.