San Jose Burn Injury Lawyer
Burns Heal Slowly. Insurers Want to Settle Fast.
Burns from a car accident can mean surgery, lasting scars, and a real risk of infection. Our San Jose burn injury attorneys fight for the full value of your claim, with the insurance company or in court.
$75+ million
recovered for injured clients
800+ five-star reviews
on Google and Yelp
No fee
unless we win
Available 24/7
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One of the Most Life-Changing Injuries a Crash Can Cause
Of all the injuries a California car accident can cause, burns are among the most catastrophic. They can come from a fuel or gas explosion, contact with a hot engine or other hot surface, or exposure to the chemicals inside a vehicle. And they don’t end when the wound closes: the scarring, the emotional toll, and the risk of serious infection make burns different from almost any other crash injury.
The insurer knows burn claims are expensive. That’s exactly why it will look for reasons to deny yours or offer a fraction of what it’s worth.
You may have a burn injury claim if:
You were burned in a crash that another driver caused, in whole or in part
Your burns came from fire, an explosion, a hot surface, or vehicle chemicals
You have scarring, disfigurement, or treatment that is still continuing
The crash happened within roughly the last two years
Talk to us before the insurer puts a number on your burns. The consultation is free, and you pay nothing unless we win.
What to Do After a Burn Injury in a Crash
Get medical care right away, even if the burn looks minor.
A burn’s depth isn’t always clear at the scene; the most serious burns reach through the skin into nerves and deeper tissue.
Follow your wound-care plan exactly.
Burns carry a serious risk of infection. Keep every appointment and report any change to your doctor, and make sure it’s written down.
Photograph your injuries as they heal.
Take pictures regularly, from the first days through the final scars. They show what a medical chart can’t.
Keep the vehicle and anything that burned.
How the fire started matters to who is responsible. Don’t let the car be repaired or scrapped until it can be examined.
Write down the emotional toll, too.
Nightmares, anxiety in a car, avoiding mirrors or public places: these are real losses, and they belong in your claim.
Don't let the insurer value your burns early.
Scarring and the need for more treatment may not be clear for months. Don’t give a recorded statement or accept an offer until we’ve reviewed your case.
How We Build a Burn Injury Case
Burn claims turn on two questions: who caused the crash, and how deep and lasting the damage is. We answer both with evidence.
Doctors classify burns by how deeply they penetrate:
- First-degree burns, similar to a sunburn
- Second-degree burns, which can be superficial or deep depending on how many layers of skin they reach
- Third-degree burns, which destroy layers of skin and can reach into nerves and internal tissue
We work from your medical records and photographs to show the insurer exactly where your injuries fall, how they were treated, and what scarring and future care they leave behind. At the same time, we investigate the crash itself: the police report, the scene, the vehicles, and how the fire, explosion, or chemical exposure happened.
The process starts with an insurance claim. Even with solid proof, insurers deny claims or offer lowball amounts; they are looking out for their own interests, not yours. If the insurer won’t settle fairly, we take your case to court.
What Compensation Covers After a Burn Injury
Burn injuries are among the most expensive to treat, and their costs keep coming long after the crash.
Medical costs, which can be immense
Emergency and specialist burn care, surgeries, hospital stays, wound care, and the future treatment your doctors expect.
Lost wages
The income you lose while you heal, and the earnings you lose if your injuries keep you from returning to your work.
Scarring and disfigurement
Visible, permanent changes to your body are a separate, compensable loss, not just a footnote to your medical bills.
Pain and suffering
The physical pain of burns and their treatment, and the emotional harm that follows, including anxiety and the effect on how you live your life.
California Burn Injury Law: Your Rights After a Crash
Four things to prove
Your claim rests on negligence: the other driver had a duty to drive safely, broke that duty through careless conduct, and directly caused the crash in which you were burned, and you suffered losses as a result.
More than one party may be responsible
When a fire or explosion made injuries worse, the cause may reach beyond the driver, for example to a defect in a vehicle. We look for every party who contributed.
Partly at fault? You can still recover
California follows pure comparative negligence: your compensation is reduced by your share of fault, never eliminated.
Two years to file, sometimes less
You generally have two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit, and as little as six months for a claim against a government entity. Burn treatment can take months; don’t let it run out the clock.
Protect the Value of Your Claim
Burn recovery is long, and the defense will look for any gap. You have a legal duty to mitigate your damages: follow your wound-care instructions, keep every appointment, and complete the therapy your doctors prescribe. Skipped care can be used to argue that an infection or a worse scar was your own doing.
Two habits protect you:
- Keep a recovery journal with photos. Daily pain, dressing changes, sleep, and the activities you’ve had to give up, with dated pictures of your injuries as they change.
- Route every insurer contact through us. Adjusters are trained to get admissions on tape; a casual “it’s healing fine” can cost you when the scars are permanent.
We coordinate with your medical providers so billing can wait until your case settles.
What Our Clients Say
I would like to share a good experience that I had with Ms. Jimin’s office and hopefully it will help people save time, frustration, and stress. Jimin is just very…
Claudia R.
I was introduced to Jimin through a friend after we had a bumper accident on a highway. Jimin came to us directly and very clearly explained the whole process, as…
Joshua Kim
Jimin is extremely straightforward, confident, and detailed. Do not judge her by her young looks! She's very knowledgeable and experienced. I experienced my first major car accident and needed a…
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Your San Jose Legal Team
Founding attorney Jimin Oh has handled thousands of auto accident cases and is a member of Million Dollar Trial Lawyers. She built this firm after her own husband was seriously injured in a car accident; she knows how long and painful a serious recovery can be, and she built a team around that understanding. Every case gets an attorney, a case manager, and a treatment coordinator, so someone is always keeping track of your treatment while we build your claim. Based at 1253 Park Ave, minutes from the Santa Clara County courthouse.
San Jose Burn Injury FAQs
How do car accidents cause burn injuries?
Burns can come from a fuel or gas explosion, a vehicle fire, contact with a hot engine or other hot surface, or exposure to the chemicals inside a vehicle. However the burn happened, if another driver caused the crash, you may have a claim.
What's the difference between first-, second-, and third-degree burns?
First-degree burns are similar to a sunburn. Second-degree burns can be superficial or deep, depending on how many layers of skin they reach. Third-degree burns destroy layers of skin and can reach into nerves and internal tissue. The deeper the burn, the more treatment, scarring, and compensation are usually involved.
Can I be compensated for scarring?
Yes. Scarring and disfigurement are recoverable losses in California, alongside medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
The insurer denied my claim or made a low offer. What now?
That’s common, even when the proof is solid. Insurers protect their own interests. We negotiate from the evidence, and if the insurer still won’t settle fairly, we take the case to court.
What if a vehicle defect started the fire?
Then the vehicle’s manufacturer may share responsibility with the at-fault driver. Keep the vehicle, and don’t let it be repaired or destroyed until we’ve had a chance to have it examined.
What if I was partly at fault for the crash?
You can still recover. California reduces your compensation by your share of fault; it doesn’t bar your claim.
How long do I have to file?
Generally two years from the injury, and as little as six months for a claim against a government entity. Call early, especially if the vehicle needs to be preserved.
What does hiring you cost?
Nothing upfront. We work on contingency and get paid only if we win, as a percentage of your recovery. No hidden fees.
Get Your Free, Confidential Case Review, 24/7
Every week you wait, the vehicle, the scene, and the evidence of how your burns happened get harder to recover. Call now or send the form; we respond fast, 24/7, in English, Spanish, or Korean. Your consultation is free and confidential. No fee unless we win.
Call (408) 256-2871Free Case Review
Solution Now Law Firm
1253 Park Ave
San Jose, CA 95126
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