Written by Editorial disclosure: This website is owned and operated by Phillips Law Offices. The firms listed on this site are selected and described by the site’s editors, not by an independent third-party rating service. Phillips Law Offices is featured prominently as the site’s owner.
Burn injuries are among the most painful and devastating injuries a person can suffer. Severe burns cause excruciating pain, permanent scarring and disfigurement, psychological trauma, and often require years of treatment including multiple surgeries. When burns are caused by someone else’s negligence, whether from fires, explosions, chemical exposure, or defective products, victims deserve full compensation for their suffering.
Burn injury cases often involve complex liability questions and require understanding of burn treatment, reconstruction, and long-term care needs. This guide highlights a burn injury lawyer in Chicago who have the expertise to handle these challenging cases.
Understanding Burn Injuries
Burn Severity Classifications
- First-degree burns – Affect only the outer skin layer (epidermis). Painful but usually heal without scarring.
- Second-degree burns – Extend into the dermis. Cause blistering, severe pain, and potential scarring.
- Third-degree burns – Destroy full skin thickness. May be painless due to nerve destruction. Require skin grafts.
- Fourth-degree burns – Extend into muscle, bone, and tendons. Life-threatening and require extensive surgery.
Types of Burns
- Thermal burns – Caused by fire, flames, hot liquids, or hot surfaces
- Electrical burns – From contact with electricity; often cause internal damage
- Chemical burns – From acids, alkalis, or other caustic substances
- Radiation burns – From exposure to radiation sources
- Friction burns – Road rash and similar injuries
- Inhalation injuries – From breathing hot gases or smoke
Common Causes of Burn Injuries
- Residential fires – Faulty wiring, heating equipment, cooking accidents
- Workplace accidents – Industrial fires, chemical exposure, electrical accidents
- Motor vehicle accidents – Post-collision fires and explosions
- Defective products – Exploding batteries, flammable products, faulty appliances
- Gas explosions – Natural gas leaks, propane accidents
- Chemical accidents – Industrial and household chemical exposure
- Electrical accidents – Power line contact, faulty electrical systems
- Scalding – Hot water and liquid burns, often affecting children
- Restaurant and cooking accidents – Grease fires, hot oil burns
Consequences of Severe Burns
Physical Effects
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of mobility and function
- Contractures (tightening of skin limiting movement)
- Nerve damage and chronic pain
- Increased infection risk
- Temperature regulation problems
- Amputation of severely burned limbs
Treatment Requirements
- Emergency care and burn center treatment
- Multiple skin graft surgeries
- Reconstructive and cosmetic surgery
- Physical and occupational therapy
- Compression garments worn for years
- Pain management
- Psychological counseling
Psychological Impact
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Depression and anxiety
- Body image issues and social isolation
- Fear of fire or triggering situations
Liability in Burn Injury Cases
Property Owner Negligence
Landlords, businesses, and property owners may be liable for fires caused by:
- Faulty electrical systems
- Lack of smoke detectors or fire extinguishers
- Blocked fire exits
- Failure to address fire hazards
Employer Negligence
Employers may be liable for workplace burns from:
- Inadequate safety training
- Missing protective equipment
- OSHA violations
- Hazardous working conditions
Product Liability
Manufacturers may be liable for burns caused by:
- Defective batteries (lithium-ion fires)
- Flammable products
- Faulty appliances and heaters
- Exploding pressure cookers or grills
Motor Vehicle Negligence
Drivers may be liable for burns from post-collision fires and explosions.
How to Compare Firms
There is no objective ranking of the “best” injury lawyer in Chicago, and you should be sceptical of any list that claims otherwise — including lists published by law firms themselves. What does exist is a set of questions that reliably separate a firm that will do the work from one that will not. Ask each firm you speak to:
- Who will actually handle my file? The lawyer in the advertisement is often not the lawyer doing the work. Ask for the name of the person who will run your case and how often you will hear from them.
- How many cases like mine have you taken to trial? Settlement value is influenced by whether the other side believes you will try the case. A firm that never tries cases negotiates from a weaker position.
- What is your fee, and what happens to costs if we lose? Contingency fees are standard, usually around one third. Case costs — filing fees, expert witnesses, medical records — are a separate question, and you should get a clear written answer about who pays them if the case does not succeed.
- What is my deadline? A firm that cannot tell you which limitations period applies to your specific facts is not the right firm. Some Illinois deadlines are one year, not two.
- What is this case realistically worth, and why? Be wary of a number promised at the first meeting, before anyone has reviewed your medical records.
Where Phillips Law Offices Fits
A disclosure, because it matters when you are weighing this advice: this guide is published by Phillips Law Offices, and we are one of the firms you could hire. We have handled Illinois injury cases since 1945 and we work on contingency, so there is no fee unless we recover for you. You should still do exactly what this guide recommends and speak to more than one firm before signing anything. Most reputable firms, ours included, offer a free consultation precisely so you can compare.
If you want to talk it through, call (312) 346-4262 or request a free case review. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome; every case depends on its own facts.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
- Emergency and burn center treatment
- Multiple surgeries and skin grafts
- Reconstructive and cosmetic surgery
- Future medical costs
- Physical and occupational therapy
- Pain management and medication
- Lost wages and earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement
- Psychological trauma and PTSD treatment
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Wrongful death damages
Illinois Burn Injury Law
Statute of Limitations
Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, personal injury claims must be filed within two years.
Comparative Negligence
Under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116, compensation may be reduced by your percentage of fault.
Official Resources
- American Burn Association
- 735 ILCS 5/13-202 – Statute of Limitations
- OSHA – Workplace safety information
- Illinois Courts
Fighting for Burn Injury Victims
Burn injuries cause unimaginable pain and permanent disfigurement. Victims face years of treatment and profound emotional trauma. When burns result from negligence, victims deserve full compensation.
Firms like Phillips Law Offices have the experience to handle burn injury claims. Contact an experienced attorney today.
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This guide is part of our Hiring a Chicago Injury Lawyer section, where you can find every related guide on this site.
More Illinois Injury Guides
- How to Choose a Catastrophic Injury Lawyer in Chicago
- How to Choose a Product Liability Lawyer in Chicago
- How to Choose an Asbestos and Mesothelioma Lawyer in Chicago
Attorney Advertising. This article provides general information about Illinois law and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Deadlines and outcomes depend on the specific facts of your case — speak to a licensed Illinois attorney about your situation. Contingency fees cover legal fees only. Clients may remain responsible for case costs and expenses such as filing fees, expert witnesses, and medical records; ask any firm to put its cost policy in writing.
