Serving Newport Beach & all of Orange County.
A serious burn is one of the most painful and life-altering injuries a person can suffer. Treatment can mean skin grafts, reconstructive surgery, and permanent scarring — and the costs, both financial and personal, can last a lifetime. If your burn was caused by someone else’s negligence in Orange County, Leslie Law Firm can help you understand your rights and pursue full compensation. Consultations are free and you pay nothing unless we win.
Burn injuries by the numbers
Burns are far more common than most people realize, and the severe ones are among the most demanding injuries to treat. According to the American Burn Association and the National Fire Protection Association:
| Measure | Figure | Source (year) |
|---|---|---|
| Fire or burn-related injuries treated per year | ~398,000 | American Burn Association (2021) |
| Additional injuries from hot objects or substances (scalds/contact) | ~252,000 | American Burn Association (2021) |
| Burn admissions to hospitals per year | ~29,165 | American Burn Association / HCUP (2020) |
| Survival rate for patients admitted to a burn center | 97.6% | American Burn Association (2020–2024) |
| Fire and smoke-inhalation deaths per year | ~3,800 | NFPA (2021) |
The Burn Association’s data also shows where and how burns happen: about 46% of burn-center admissions are flame or flash burns (the leading cause, with scalds close behind), and roughly 61% of burn incidents occur at a private residence. Survival rates are high, but survival is only the start — the road through burn care is long and expensive.
Sources: American Burn Association, Burn Incidence Fact Sheet; National Fire Protection Association.
Types and degrees of burns
Burns are classified by how deeply they damage the skin and underlying tissue. The degree drives the treatment, the likelihood of permanent scarring, and ultimately the value of a claim.
| Degree | Depth | Typical signs & treatment |
|---|---|---|
| First-degree (superficial) | Outer layer of skin (epidermis) | Red, dry, painful; no blisters. Usually heals on its own (e.g., mild sunburn). |
| Second-degree (partial thickness) | Epidermis and part of the dermis | Blisters, swelling, severe pain; may scar. Often needs medical care. |
| Third-degree (full thickness) | Through the dermis | Skin may look white, leathery, or charred; nerve damage can reduce pain. Typically requires skin grafts. |
| Fourth-degree | Into muscle, tendon, or bone | Life-threatening; often requires surgery, reconstruction, and sometimes amputation. |
Doctors also measure the total body surface area (TBSA) affected. The higher the degree and the larger the TBSA — especially on the face, hands, or joints — the more serious the injury and the greater its long-term impact.
How burn injuries happen — and who is liable
Burn injuries arise from many situations, and the right legal path depends on how the burn occurred. Common causes we handle include:
Motor vehicle and motorcycle fires
High-speed collisions, fuel-system failures, and motorcycle crashes can cause severe thermal burns. Liability may rest with an at-fault driver, a vehicle manufacturer, or both.
Workplace and industrial burns
Construction sites, restaurants, factories, and utilities expose workers to thermal, chemical, and electrical burns. Beyond workers’ compensation, a third party (an equipment maker or subcontractor, for example) may also be liable.
Defective products
Faulty appliances, lithium-ion batteries, flammable consumer goods, and unsafe machinery cause burns every year. Under California’s strict product-liability rule, a manufacturer can be held responsible for a defective product without proof of negligence.
Premises liability (fires on someone else’s property)
Apartment and building fires caused by faulty wiring, missing smoke detectors, or a landlord’s neglect can support a premises-liability claim. California property owners owe a general duty of reasonable care to keep their premises safe.
Chemical and electrical burns
Contact with strong acids or bases, or with live electrical sources, can cause deep burns that continue to damage tissue after the initial contact. These cases often turn on safety violations and product or premises defects.
How much is a burn injury settlement worth?
There is no single “average” burn settlement, because value depends on the specifics of the injury and who is at fault. The factors that most affect a burn claim’s value are:
- Burn degree and TBSA — deeper burns over a larger area mean higher medical costs and greater permanent impact.
- Scarring and disfigurement — visible, permanent scarring (especially on the face or hands) significantly increases non-economic damages.
- Medical treatment — surgeries, skin grafts, reconstruction, and long-term rehabilitation, including expected future care.
- Lost income and earning capacity — time missed from work and any lasting inability to return to the same job.
- Pain, suffering, and quality of life — burns are among the most painful injuries, and recovery can carry lasting physical and emotional effects.
- Liability and insurance — how clear the fault is, and how much insurance or how many responsible parties are available to pay.
Because burns so often involve lifelong care and permanent scarring, serious burn cases can be worth substantially more than a typical injury claim. The best way to understand your case’s value is a free consultation.
California deadlines and legal rules for burn claims
California law sets strict deadlines and rules that shape every burn injury claim:
- Two-year filing deadline. Most personal injury claims, including burns, must be filed within two years of the injury (California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1).
- Six months for government claims. If a government entity is responsible (for example, a public utility or agency), you generally must file a formal claim within six months (Government Code § 911.2).
- Pure comparative negligence. If you were partly at fault, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, but you can still recover (Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804).
- Strict product liability. For burns caused by a defective product, a manufacturer can be liable without proof of negligence (a rule California established in Greenman v. Yuba Power Products (1963)).
Sources: California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1; California Government Code § 911.2; Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804; Greenman v. Yuba Power Products (1963) 59 Cal.2d 57.
Burn care in Orange County
Severe burns require specialized care that ordinary emergency rooms are not equipped to provide. Orange County is served by the UCI Health Regional Burn Center in Orange — the region’s American Burn Association–verified burn center, most recently reverified in 2025. Serious burn patients across Orange County are frequently treated there, and the intensity of that care is one reason burn cases carry such high medical costs.
Source: UCI Health Regional Burn Center (ucihealth.org).
Why Leslie Law Firm
For more than four decades, Leslie Law Firm has represented seriously injured people throughout Orange County and Southern California, recovering more than $100 million for our clients. We understand what burn survivors face — the surgeries, the scarring, the financial strain — and we build cases designed to account for a lifetime of impact, not just today’s bills. Based in Newport Beach, we serve clients across all of Orange County. Consultations are free, and you pay no fees unless we win.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a burn injury settlement worth?
There is no single average, because value depends on the burn’s degree and size, the extent of permanent scarring, the medical care required (including future surgeries), lost income, and how clear the other party’s liability is. Severe burns that cause permanent disfigurement or require skin grafts and reconstruction tend to be worth significantly more than minor injury claims. A free consultation is the best way to understand your specific case.
What are the degrees of burns?
Burns are classified as first-degree (superficial, affecting only the outer skin), second-degree (partial thickness, with blisters and possible scarring), third-degree (full thickness, usually requiring skin grafts), and fourth-degree (extending into muscle, tendon, or bone and often life-threatening). The higher the degree and the larger the area affected, the more serious the injury.
How long do I have to file a burn injury claim in California?
For most burn injury claims you have two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit (California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1). If a government entity is responsible, you generally must file a formal claim within six months (Government Code § 911.2). Missing these deadlines can permanently bar your claim, so it is important to act quickly.
Who can be held liable for a burn injury?
It depends on how the burn happened. Potentially responsible parties include an at-fault driver, an employer or a third party in a workplace burn, the manufacturer of a defective product, or a property owner or landlord in a premises-related fire. Some cases involve more than one liable party, which can affect the total compensation available.
What should I do after a serious burn?
Get appropriate medical care first — severe burns should be evaluated at a burn center. Then, if you can, preserve evidence (photos of the scene and the injury, the product involved, and any incident reports) and speak with an attorney before giving a recorded statement or accepting an insurance offer, since early offers are often anchored to policy limits rather than the true cost of a burn injury.
This page provides general information about California burn injury law and is not legal advice. Laws change and every case is different; for guidance on your specific situation, consult a licensed California attorney. Statistics and figures are current as of July 2026.
Sources
- American Burn Association — Burn Incidence Fact Sheet (2020–2024 burn-center data; 2021 injury figures).
- National Fire Protection Association — fire death statistics (2021).
- UCI Health Regional Burn Center, Orange, CA — regional ABA-verified burn center.
- California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1 (two-year limitations period); Government Code § 911.2 (government-claim deadline).
- Li v. Yellow Cab Co. of California (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804 — pure comparative negligence.
- Greenman v. Yuba Power Products, Inc. (1963) 59 Cal.2d 57 — strict product liability.
