Proving Liability in a Burn Injury Case in Sumter, SC

Ramie Shalabi | August 29, 2025 | Personal Injury

Burns aren’t just painful—they can turn life upside down. A trip to the ER, weeks of recovery, and the stress of not knowing how you’ll cover the bills can leave anyone feeling overwhelmed. If you’re dealing with a burn injury case in Sumter, SC, it is helpful to understand what to expect and where to turn for help.

Some burns are minor, but others are severe enough that you require treatment at the Augusta Burn Center and you’ll want to speak with experienced burn injury lawyers. In situations like these, it often comes down to questions of bodily injury liability—who caused the harm, and who should pay for it?

In this post, you’ll discover:

• What causes burn injuries
• How these accidents often lead to burn lawsuits
• How to handle liability after being burned
• Why it’s essential to contact burn injury lawyers

What Situations Lead to a Burn Injury Case in Sumter, SC?

Some burns happen by pure accident. Others trace back to someone’s negligence. Here are a few situations that often end up as lawsuits:

• On the Job: Industrial plants, restaurants, and construction sites all carry risks. One mistake with chemicals or faulty machinery, and someone walks away with second or third-degree burns.
• Defective Products: Space heaters that overheat, phones that catch fire, or appliances that spark when plugged in. When a product doesn’t work the way it should, injuries follow.
• Property Hazards: A landlord ignores faulty wiring. A store leaves equipment unmaintained. Suddenly, a fire breaks out.
• Car Crashes: Fires don’t happen in every wreck, but when gas ignites, burns can be among the worst injuries.
• Medical Settings: Surgical fires may sound rare, but they happen—and when they do, they’re devastating.

Each of these scenarios can open the door to a burn lawsuit. The details matter. Who had control? Who failed to act? That’s where burn injury lawyers dig in.

Types and Severity of Burn Injuries

As we know from taking on many burn injury cases in Sumter, SC, not all burns look the same. Some heal in a week. Others leave scars for life.

• First-degree Burns: It might feel like a bad sunburn. Painful, but manageable.
• Second-degree Burns: Usually blister and leave lasting marks. Think of touching a hot stove, but on a larger scale.
• Third-degree Burns: Destroys skin and even nerves. Victims often need grafts, multiple surgeries, and lengthy rehabilitation.

Severity plays a significant role in the case. Doctors’ notes, photos, and hospital records aren’t just paperwork—they’re proof of what you’re going through and how it will affect your future.

What to Do After a Burn

If you’re reading this after an accident, here are some immediate moves to protect yourself:

• Get checked out by a doctor, even if it feels “minor.” Burns can worsen.
• Take photos of the scene and your injuries.
• Save hospital bills, receipts, and any equipment linked to the accident.
• Report the incident to your employer if it happened at work.
• Don’t give a recorded statement until you’ve spoken to a lawyer.

Small steps today can make a big difference when it comes to providing bodily injury liability and forming a strong case.

How to Prove Liability in a Burn Injury Case in Sumter, SC

Here’s the hard truth: knowing someone else caused your injury and proving it in court are two very different things.

Receiving a settlement or favorable verdict in a burn injury case in Sumter, SC, generally means proving four things:

1. Someone had a duty to act safely.
2. They didn’t.
3. That failure caused the burn.
4. You suffered damages because of it.

Sounds simple, but it rarely is. A factory worker might point to a faulty valve. A tenant might have photos of bad wiring. A consumer could save a melted charger as proof. Every scrap of evidence matters. This is when understanding burn injury liability is crucial.

Burn injury lawyers often bring in experts, too. A fire investigator can explain what sparked a blaze. A surgeon might testify about the medical toll. These voices give weight to the claim.

One more twist: South Carolina uses modified comparative negligence. If a victim is partly at fault—say, 20%—their compensation gets cut by that percentage. But if someone is more than 50% at fault, recovering anything might not be possible. That’s when DSB Law Firm’s legal representation is more than helpful. It’s necessary.

Damages You Can Seek in a Burn Lawsuit

Money doesn’t erase pain, but it can keep life moving. In a burn injury case in Sumter, SC, damages usually include:

• Medical Bills: Not just the ER visit, but surgeries, rehab, and future treatment
• Lost Income: Missed paychecks add up. Some people can’t return to the same job.
• Pain and Suffering: Courts recognize the toll of ongoing pain, trauma, and disfigurement.
• Home and Care Costs: Prescription meds, special clothing, or in-home assistance
• Punitive Damages: Rare, but possible if the other side acted recklessly or intentionally harmed you.

Why Should You Contact Burn Injury Lawyers?

You could try to handle things on your own, but let’s be honest: insurance companies don’t make this easy. They’ll argue, delay, and push for a quick settlement that may not come close to covering your needs.

Thankfully, lawyers know how to proceed in a burn injury case in Sumter, SC. They can preserve evidence before it disappears, line up experts, and push back when insurers lowball. At Dayson Shalabi Burkett Law Firm, we’ve handled cases across Sumter and the surrounding areas. We know how local courts operate, and we fight for the compensation clients actually deserve—not just what’s offered.

Contact DSB Law Firm Today

A burn injury case in Sumter, SC, isn’t just about legal rules—it’s about real people facing real struggles. Between the pain, the treatments, and the uncertainty, the last thing you should do is battle insurers alone. If you or a loved one has suffered a burn, reach out to DSB Law Firm.