A serious burn injury can leave you with painful treatments, mounting medical bills, and an uncertain road ahead. At Christensen Law, our Detroit burn injury lawyers understand how much you and your family are carrying right now, and we are here to listen. Since 1991, we have stood beside Michigan accident victims, and we have fought hard to hold negligent parties accountable.
We are trial attorneys who treat every client like family, and we are not afraid to take an insurance company all the way to court. While your doctors work to heal your body, we work to protect your rights, so you can focus on healing. Our promise is simple: Listen, Protect, Win.
We know you may be frightened about money, about work, and about what comes next. That is exactly why we take on the costs and the burden of your case, so you never have to choose between your health and your claim.
If you or someone you love suffered a catastrophic burn, call us 24/7 at (313) 546-1091 for a free, no-pressure consultation.
CHRISTENSEN LAW HAS A 24 HOUR RAPID RESPONSE SERVICE
How Can a Detroit Burn Injury Lawyer Help Your Family?
A Detroit burn injury lawyer helps your family by investigating what caused the fire or explosion, dealing directly with the insurance companies, and building a strong case for the full compensation you are owed. From the very first day, we take the legal weight off your shoulders. That way, you can spend your energy on recovery and on the people who matter most.
Insurance adjusters are trained to pay as little as possible, and they often start working against you within hours of the accident. They may ask for a recorded statement, request an independent medical exam, or float a quick, lowball offer before you understand the value of your claim. We step in early, handle every conversation with the insurer, and shield you from these tactics.
Our team moves fast to preserve evidence, interview witnesses, and consult with medical providers who can explain the true cost of your care. We work closely with you and your doctors to account for every current and future need, including surgeries, rehabilitation, and long-term support. Because we prepare each case as if it will go to trial, insurers know we are ready to fight for a full and fair result.
You will also never wonder where your case stands. We keep you informed at every step, and we give you straight answers in plain language, not confusing legal jargon. When you have a question, a real member of our team will be there to answer it.
From day one, our focus is on you, not on a fast payout that serves the insurance company more than it serves your family. We measure success by the recovery and the peace of mind we bring to the people we represent.
Types of Serious Burn Injuries We Handle
We handle the most severe burn injuries, from deep partial-thickness wounds to full-thickness burns that require surgery and skin grafts. As a rule, the deeper the burn, the more complex and costly the recovery tends to be.
Doctors generally group burns into the following categories, and the more serious ones often lead to the catastrophic cases we take on:
- First-degree burns affect only the top layer of skin. They cause redness and pain, and they usually heal on their own.
- Second-degree burns reach the deeper layer of skin, causing blisters, swelling, and lasting scars. Severe second-degree burns can require hospital care.
- Third-degree burns destroy the full thickness of the skin and often the nerves beneath it. These wounds almost always need surgery, skin grafts, and a long rehabilitation.
- Inhalation injuries happen when a survivor breathes in smoke or hot gases during a fire. They can cause serious, hidden damage to the lungs and airway.
No matter how severe your burn, we have the resources to bring in the medical and financial professionals needed to show its true impact on your life. Burns also carry hidden costs, like repeat surgeries, scar revision, and the emotional toll of a long recovery. Our goal is to see that no part of your suffering is overlooked.
What Causes Catastrophic Burn Injuries in Detroit?
Most catastrophic burn injuries in the Detroit area come from high-speed crashes, electrical accidents, and fires caused by someone else’s carelessness. When a vehicle’s fuel system ignites, or a worksite ignores basic safety rules, the people nearby pay the price.
Many of the burn cases we see begin as truck, car, or motorcycle crashes on busy roads like I-75, I-94, and the Lodge Freeway. A ruptured gas tank, a downed power line, or a chemical spill can turn a survivable collision into a life-altering burn. Motorcyclists and pedestrians hit by a vehicle face an especially high risk, because they have so little protection.
Beyond the road, serious burns can result from electrocution, defective wiring, propane and gas explosions, and dangerous conditions on commercial or industrial property. When a property owner or company fails to fix a known hazard, that choice can leave families dealing with devastating harm. In these cases, we focus on accountability, and we work to identify every party whose negligence contributed to the fire.
Identifying the cause early is one of the most important steps in a burn case. Physical evidence can disappear quickly, and a trucking company or property owner may move to limit their exposure right away. The sooner we begin, the better we can protect the proof your case depends on.
How Does Michigan’s No-Fault System Cover Burn Injury Victims?
Under Michigan’s No-Fault system, your own auto insurance pays for your medical care and lost wages through Personal Injury Protection, known as PIP, no matter who caused the crash. These first-party benefits are meant to start covering your treatment right away. For burn survivors who need months of specialized care, this coverage is a critical lifeline.
Michigan’s No-Fault system can feel confusing because it does not work the way most people expect. In plain terms, you turn first to your own policy for medical bills and wage loss, and only later, in serious cases, can you pursue the at-fault driver for additional harm. We help you understand which benefits apply and how to claim them without delay.
PIP medical benefits can cover hospital stays, surgeries, skin grafts, and ongoing rehabilitation at a burn center. They can also pay for attendant care, which is the in-home help many burn survivors need with daily tasks during recovery. A family member who provides that care may even be paid for their time.
When a burn results from another driver’s fault, you may also bring a third-party lawsuit for pain and suffering if your injury meets Michigan’s serious impairment threshold. Catastrophic burns and permanent scarring will often clear that bar. Sorting out coordinated coverage and these overlapping claims is complicated, so it helps to have a trial lawyer reviewing every policy involved.
If your burn did not involve a motor vehicle, your claim instead moves forward through the at-fault party’s liability insurance. We review every available source of coverage because catastrophic burns can cost far more than a single policy is willing to pay.
Compensation Available After a Burn Injury
Burn injury victims may recover money for medical care, lost income, scarring, and the physical and emotional pain they have lived through. Every case is different, and the value depends on the severity of the injury and its effect on your life.
Depending on the facts of your case, we may pursue compensation for:
- Past and future medical expenses, including surgery, skin grafts, and rehabilitation.
- Lost wages and reduced future earning ability when burns keep you from working.
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement, which can deeply affect confidence and quality of life.
- Physical pain and emotional suffering, including anxiety and trauma after a fire.
- Attendant care and replacement services for help at home during your recovery.
Putting a fair number on a life-changing injury takes skill and care, and it is one of the most important parts of what we do. We build your claim around your full story, not just a stack of bills.
You can still recover compensation even if you were partly responsible for the accident. Under Michigan’s modified comparative fault rule, your recovery is reduced by your share of fault, and you are barred only if you are found more than 50 percent at fault. Insurance companies often try to shift blame onto victims, so having a trial lawyer who can push back on those arguments truly matters.
No two burn injuries are the same, and neither are two cases. We take the time to learn how your injury has changed your daily life, your work, and your relationships, so the claim we build reflects the whole picture.
Why Choose Christensen Law for Your Burn Injury Case
When your future is on the line, the firm you choose makes all the difference. At Christensen Law, we are not a high-volume settlement mill that treats clients like case numbers. We are trial attorneys who take on a smaller number of serious, life-altering cases, so we can give each family our full attention.
This focus means we have the time, the resources, and the courtroom experience to stand up to large insurance companies and corporate defense teams. When we take your case, we commit to it fully.
Our results speak for themselves. We have recovered record-setting verdicts and settlements for Michigan families, including a $17.8 million verdict in a motor vehicle injury case and a $9.5 million recovery in a wrongful death claim.
Firm founder David Christensen is a Michigan Hall of Fame attorney, a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), and holds AV Preeminent recognition from Martindale-Hubbell.
Managing partner Sarah Stempky-Kime is a recognized Leader in the Law, and she is also an ABOTA member. Our clients consistently rate us between 4.9 and 5.0 stars, and consultations are always free. From the D to the UP | Proven Expertise | Powerful Results.
Call our Detroit burn injury lawyers today at (313) 546-1091 to talk through your options at no cost.
FAQs: Detroit Burn Injury Lawyers
Below are answers to some of the questions families ask us most often after a serious burn injury in Michigan.
Nothing up front. We handle burn injury cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney fees unless we win money for you. Your first consultation is always free, and it costs you nothing to learn where you stand.
Michigan law sets firm deadlines, and missing one can end your claim before it begins. Some no-fault deadlines can arrive within a year, while other claims allow more time. Because the rules depend on your situation, it is wise to speak with a lawyer as soon as you can.
Yes. In motor vehicle cases, your PIP benefits are designed to begin paying for medical care soon after the crash, including treatment at a burn center. We can step in quickly to help open your claim, so your care is not delayed.
Not always, but we prepare every case as if it will. Many claims settle once the insurance company sees that we are ready and willing to go to court. That readiness is often what pushes an insurer toward a fair offer.
We are deeply sorry for your loss, and we are here to help when you are ready. Surviving family members may bring a wrongful death claim to seek justice and financial security for the future. We handle these cases with the compassion and care your family deserves.
No. While this page focuses on our Detroit office on Griswold Street, we serve injured people across Michigan from offices in Southfield, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, and Troy. Wherever you are in the state, we can come to you.
Contact Our Detroit Burn Injury Lawyers Today
A catastrophic burn injury is one of the hardest things a family can face, but you do not have to face it alone. Our Detroit burn injury lawyers are ready to listen to your story, protect you from the insurance companies, and fight for the justice and compensation you deserve. We treat every client like family, and we will keep you informed at every step.
Call Christensen Law 24/7 at (313) 546-1091 for a free, no-risk consultation. There is no fee unless we win your case.
Serving all of Michigan, from the D to the UP.
