Severe burn injuries are among the most painful, expensive, and life-altering injuries a person can suffer. Treatment involves weeks or months in specialized burn units, multiple skin graft surgeries, years of reconstructive procedures, and lifelong scar management. The non-economic impact — permanent disfigurement, PTSD, and loss of the life the victim had before — is profound. Texas Legal Giants builds the comprehensive cases these injuries demand.
Attorney BJ Kemp represents burn injury victims throughout Greater Houston on a contingency basis. No fee unless we win.
Burn Injury Severity and Legal Implications
First-Degree Burns
Affect only the outer skin layer. Painful but heal without scarring. In personal injury claims, first-degree burns typically involve limited medical costs and shorter recovery periods.
Second-Degree Burns
Affect the outer and second skin layers. Cause blistering, intense pain, and risk of infection. May require skin grafts for large areas. Can cause permanent scarring requiring reconstructive care.
Third-Degree Burns
Destroy all layers of skin. The burned area itself is often painless due to nerve destruction, but surrounding areas are acutely painful. Always require skin grafting. Cause permanent scarring and often require years of reconstructive surgery.
Fourth-Degree Burns
Extend through skin into muscle, tendon, and bone. The most severe burn injury. Often require amputation of the affected area. Life-threatening and permanently disabling.
Inhalation Injury
Smoke and chemical inhalation cause airway burns, lung damage, and carbon monoxide poisoning. Frequently co-occurs with external burns in fire accidents. Can cause permanent respiratory impairment.
Chemical Burns
Exposure to acids, alkalis, or other caustic substances. Common in industrial settings and oilfield accidents. The extent of injury often progresses over hours as the substance continues to react with tissue.
Common Causes of Serious Burn Injuries in Houston
Vehicle Fires and Explosions
Car and truck crashes that ignite fuel tanks, defective vehicle components that cause fires, and tanker truck explosions. Product liability and negligence claims may both apply.
Oilfield and Industrial Explosions
Blowouts, wellhead fires, refinery explosions, and industrial chemical releases. Houston’s energy industry generates significant serious burn injury litigation involving multiple potentially liable parties.
Electrical Burns
High-voltage contact from power lines, construction site electrical hazards, and defective equipment. Electrical burns cause both external burns and internal tissue damage along the current path.
Scalding Injuries
Hot liquid or steam exposure — common in restaurant and food service settings where premises liability applies. Commercial kitchen burns and hot water system failures.
Defective Product Fires
Lithium-ion battery fires, defective appliances, faulty electrical equipment, and flammable product failures. Product liability claims against manufacturers are a key avenue of recovery.
Building Fires
Fires caused by landlord negligence, inadequate fire suppression systems, faulty wiring, or arson. Building owner and management company liability for inadequate fire safety systems.
What damages are available in a Texas burn injury lawsuit?
Texas burn injury victims can recover: past and future medical expenses (ER, ICU, burn unit, skin grafting, reconstructive surgery, scar management — often spanning years); lost wages and earning capacity; pain and suffering (severe burns are among the most painful injuries in medicine); mental anguish and PTSD (which are nearly universal in serious burn survivors); disfigurement (a separate, substantial element of non-economic damages in Texas reflecting permanent appearance changes); and in cases of gross negligence, punitive damages.
How long does burn injury treatment typically last?
Serious burns (third-degree over significant body surface area) typically require: initial hospitalization in a specialized burn center (weeks to months); multiple skin graft operations; physical and occupational therapy; and years of reconstructive surgeries to address scarring, contractures, and functional limitations. The full medical treatment arc for serious burns commonly spans 5–10 years. We never settle a burn case before the victim’s treatment team has projected the full lifetime care picture.
How Defendants Fight Burn Injury Claims
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the statute of limitations for a burn injury claim in Texas?
Two years from the date of injury under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code §16.003. For workplace burn injuries with third-party claims, the same two-year period applies. Contact an attorney immediately — fire scenes are cleaned and altered quickly, destroying critical evidence.
Should I go to a specialized burn center?
Yes — for serious burns, specialized burn centers provide dramatically better outcomes. The American Burn Association has established criteria for burn center referral. In Houston, Memorial Hermann and Texas Medical Center burn units are major referral centers. From a legal perspective, specialized burn center records also document severity and treatment in the most authoritative way.
Can I recover for psychological trauma after a burn injury?
Absolutely. PTSD, depression, and severe anxiety are nearly universal in serious burn survivors and are documented, compensable damages in Texas. We retain psychiatrists and psychologists who document the psychological impact and project lifetime mental health treatment needs as part of the damages case.
What if my child was burned by a defective product?
Product liability claims can be filed by parents on behalf of injured children. The statute of limitations is tolled until the child turns 18, but we strongly recommend acting immediately to preserve evidence and begin treatment. Children’s burn cases often involve the most severe non-economic damages given the lifetime disfigurement impact.
How much is a serious burn injury case worth in Texas?
Serious burn cases (third and fourth-degree, significant body surface area) are among the highest-value personal injury claims due to the combination of massive medical costs, lost earning capacity, and profound non-economic damages including disfigurement. Cases involving 20%+ TBSA burns, inhalation injury, or facial burns routinely result in seven-figure settlements or verdicts. The specific value depends on burn severity, victim age and income, and the defendant’s conduct.
Related Practice Areas
Burn Injury Resources
BJ Kemp
Texas State Bar #24116608 • Houston, TX
BJ Kemp represents burn injury victims throughout Greater Houston, pursuing the comprehensive compensation that serious burns — including years of reconstruction and the non-economic impact of disfigurement — demand. Contingency basis — nothing unless we win.
(346) 971–7333 — Free Consultation