Burn Injury Claims in Georgia: Degrees of Burns and What They’re Worth

Burn Injury Claims in Georgia: Degrees of Burns and What They’re Worth

When Fire or Heat Steals Someone’s Future, Georgia’s Top Burn Injury Lawyers Fight Back

Every year, thousands of Georgians suffer burn injuries in accidents caused by someone else’s negligence. Whether it happens in a car crash, a workplace explosion, a defective product malfunction, a house fire caused by faulty wiring, or a chemical exposure incident, burn injuries are among the most catastrophic — and most undervalued — injuries in personal injury law.

At Haug Barron Law Group, Personal Injury Lawyers in Atlanta, Georgia, we represent burn injury victims and their families exclusively on a contingency-fee basis. You pay nothing unless we win. Our firm has secured a $30 million wrongful death verdict in DeKalb County and has settled and won many multi-million dollar catastrophic injury cases across metro Atlanta and the entire state of Georgia.

Understanding the Degrees of Burns: Medical Classification and Legal Significance

The medical severity of a burn directly affects the compensation a victim is entitled to recover. Here is how the medical community classifies burns, and what each classification means for your Georgia personal injury or wrongful death claim.

First-Degree Burns

First-degree burns affect only the outermost layer of skin, the epidermis. Symptoms include redness, minor swelling, and pain. These injuries typically heal within a week without scarring and rarely form the basis for a significant personal injury claim in Georgia unless they are part of a broader pattern of injuries.

Second-Degree Burns (Superficial and Deep Partial Thickness)

Second-degree burns penetrate into the dermis. Superficial second-degree burns cause blistering, intense pain, and moist-looking wounds. Deep second-degree burns can destroy hair follicles and sweat glands, leaving permanent scarring. These burns often require skin grafting and can produce long-term functional limitations. They are the most common category in significant Georgia burn injury settlements.

Third-Degree Burns (Full Thickness)

Third-degree burns destroy all layers of the skin. The wound site may appear white, brown, or charred and is often painless at first due to nerve destruction. Victims almost always require extensive skin grafting, multiple surgeries, rehabilitation, and long-term psychological care. These cases involve catastrophic, life-altering damages under Georgia law.

Fourth-Degree Burns

Fourth-degree burns extend below the skin to muscles, tendons, and bone. These injuries are life-threatening and often result in amputation, permanent disability, or death. When a loved one dies as a result of fourth-degree burns, the family may bring a wrongful death claim under O.C.G.A. § 51-4-2.

Common Causes of Serious Burn Injuries in Georgia

• Motor vehicle accidents involving fuel fires, engine explosions, or gas tank ruptures on Georgia highways including I-285, I-85, I-20, and I-75
• Workplace accidents in construction, manufacturing, chemical processing, and industrial facilities
• Defective consumer products including space heaters, lithium-ion batteries, pressure cookers, and electric blankets
• Chemical exposure in apartment complexes, warehouses, or job sites where hazardous materials are improperly stored
• Gas line explosions and HVAC system fires caused by contractor negligence
• Electrical injuries from faulty wiring in rental properties, hotels, or commercial buildings
• Scalding injuries caused by commercial water heaters set at dangerous temperatures
• Grease fire and kitchen equipment failures in commercial restaurants
• Truck and tanker accidents involving flammable cargo on Georgia roadways
• Daycare and nursing home fires caused by facility negligence

What Is a Georgia Burn Injury Claim Worth?

Economic Damages

• Emergency medical treatment, hospital stays, and burn unit care
• Multiple surgeries, including skin grafting and reconstructive procedures
• Prescription medications, pain management, and wound care
• Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and rehabilitation
• Psychological counseling and PTSD treatment
• Lost wages and lost earning capacity
• Future medical care costs, including scar management and revision surgeries
• Home modifications and assistive devices required due to disability
• Domestic services if the victim can no longer perform household tasks

Non-Economic Damages

• Physical pain and suffering, both past and future
• Emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and PTSD
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Disfigurement and permanent scarring
• Loss of consortium (impact on marriage and family relationships)

Punitive Damages

In cases involving especially egregious conduct — such as a landlord who knowingly ignored multiple fire code violations, a drunk driver who caused a fuel fire, or a company that concealed a known product defect — Georgia law permits an award of punitive damages under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-5.1.

When a Burn Injury Results in Death: Georgia Wrongful Death Claims

When a burn injury proves fatal, the victim’s family has the right to pursue a wrongful death claim under O.C.G.A. § 51-4-2. Georgia’s wrongful death statute allows the spouse, children, or parents of the deceased to recover the full value of the life of the decedent — including both the economic value (earnings, benefits, household contributions) and the intangible, human value of the decedent’s life.

In addition to the wrongful death claim, the estate of the deceased may bring a separate survival action for the conscious pain and suffering the victim endured before death, as well as medical expenses and funeral costs. The Georgia wrongful death statute of limitations is generally two (2) years from the date of death — contact Haug Barron Law Group immediately after any fatal burn incident to protect your family’s rights.

Key Georgia Laws Governing Burn Injury Claims

O.C.G.A. § 51-1-6 — Negligence Per Se

When a defendant violates a safety statute and that violation causes injury, Georgia law allows the jury to find negligence per se. This applies in workplace burn cases where OSHA standards were ignored, building code violations caused a fire, or product safety regulations were breached.

O.C.G.A. § 51-1-11 — Products Liability

When a defective product causes a burn injury — such as a faulty propane tank, a defective appliance, or a vehicle with an unsafe fuel system design — the manufacturer and seller may be strictly liable under Georgia products liability law.

O.C.G.A. § 51-12-5.1 — Punitive Damages

Georgia allows punitive damages in cases of willful misconduct, malice, fraud, wantonness, oppression, or that entire want of care raising the presumption of conscious indifference to consequences. Burn injury cases involving deliberate safety violations often qualify.

O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33 — Statute of Limitations

In Georgia, most personal injury claims must be filed within two (2) years of the date of injury or death. Missing this deadline is typically fatal to any claim. Do not wait.

Why Haug Barron Law Group Is Georgia’s Top Choice for Burn Injury Cases

• $30 Million Wrongful Death Verdict in DeKalb County — one of the largest trial results in metro Atlanta history (James R. Haug & Colin A. Barron, jointly)
• Numerous multi-million dollar catastrophic injury settlements across Georgia
• AV Preeminent® Rated by Martindale-Hubbell — exceptional legal ability and ethics
• Georgia Super Lawyer 2025–Present — top 5% of attorneys in the state
• Trial-Ready Firm — we prepare every case as if it is going to trial
• Catastrophic Focus — we do not handle fender-benders; burn cases are among the highest-severity cases we are built to handle
• Member, Georgia Trial Lawyers Association (GTLA)
• Member, AAJ Trucking Litigation Section
• No Fee Unless We Win — pure contingency fee representation
• Offices in Atlanta, Sandy Springs, and Decatur — handling cases throughout Georgia

What to Do After a Serious Burn Injury in Georgia

• Seek emergency medical treatment immediately, even if you believe your burns are minor
• Document your injuries with photographs at every stage of treatment
• Preserve all medical records, bills, prescriptions, and treatment notes
• Do not give any recorded statement to an insurance company before consulting an attorney
• Preserve any physical evidence, defective products, clothing, or equipment related to the incident
• Gather witness contact information if the injury occurred in a public or work setting
• Request the incident report if the injury occurred at a workplace, hotel, or public facility
• Contact Haug Barron Law Group as early as possible — our team can send spoliation letters and preservation notices on your behalf

Have Questions About a Burn Injury Claim in Georgia?

Visit our Burn Injury FAQs to learn about burn degrees, liable parties, what damages you can recover, and your legal rights after a serious burn injury caused by someone else’s negligence.

If you or a loved one has suffered serious burn injuries — third or fourth-degree burns, permanent scarring, disfigurement, or amputation — due to another party’s negligence in Georgia, a plaintiff-only firm with burn unit medical experts, a track record of multi-million dollar catastrophic injury results, and a $30 million wrongful death verdict is your strongest ally in recovering the full compensation your injuries truly deserve. Contact Haug Barron Law Group today for a free, confidential consultation — no fee unless we win.

James R. Haug is the Founding Partner of Haug Barron Law Group, Personal Injury Lawyers, located at 8237 Dunwoody Place, Building 18, Atlanta, GA 30350. He is an AV Preeminent® Rated attorney (Martindale-Hubbell), a 2025 Georgia Super Lawyer, a member of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, and a member of the AAJ Trucking Litigation Section. James R. Haug and Colin A. Barron jointly secured a $30 million wrongful death verdict in DeKalb County and have resolved numerous multi-million dollar catastrophic injury cases across Georgia.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is unique. Contact Haug Barron Law Group for a free, confidential consultation about your specific situation. © 2025 Haug Barron Law Group, Personal Injury Lawyers. All rights reserved.