Texas Burn Injury Lawyers

Trial Lawyers for Serious Burn and Explosion Injuries

Matthews & Associates is a national trial firm that has recovered millions for victims of catastrophic injuries across Texas, including severe burns from fires, explosions, and defective products. We built our reputation holding utility companies, manufacturers, and negligent property owners accountable, and we prepare every case to be tried.

Our results in serious injury and burn litigation include:

• $17 million for a young girl burned in an explosion and fire caused by a utility company's negligence, settled during trial.
• $73 million for a woman injured by a defective vaginal-mesh implant
• $34 million for a woman injured by a defectively designed blood-clot filter

From our principal office in Houston, we represent burn victims and families throughout Texas on a contingency basis, so there is no fee unless we recover for you. 

Call (888) 923-7001 or contact us online for a FREE consultation about your burn injury claim.

Types and Severity of Burns

Burns are classified by how deeply they damage the skin and underlying tissue, and that depth largely determines the severity of the injury and the treatment required.

Third- and fourth-degree burns frequently require hospitalization, skin grafts, and reconstructive surgery, and they commonly leave permanent scarring and loss of function.

Common Causes of Burn Injuries in Texas

Many serious burns result from preventable negligence. Across Texas, and particularly in the Houston area's heavy industrial corridor, common causes include:

• Refinery, petrochemical, and industrial plant accidents involving flammable materials and high-voltage equipment
• Gas explosions and utility failures
• Apartment and house fires caused by faulty wiring or code violations
• Defective products, appliances, and equipment
• Truck and highway collisions, including fuel-fed fires
• Chemical spills and exposure to hazardous substances
• Workplace and construction-site accidents

Texas's concentration of oil, gas, and chemical operations exposes both workers and nearby residents to burn hazards that employers and property owners have a duty to control.

Who Is Liable for a Burn Injury

Liability depends on how the burn happened, and identifying every responsible party is often what determines the full value of a claim. Depending on the circumstances, responsibility may fall on:

• Property owners and landlords who ignore fire hazards, faulty wiring, or code violations
• Product manufacturers whose defective appliances, vehicles, or equipment caused a fire or explosion
• Utility companies responsible for gas leaks, power failures, or unsafe equipment
• Employers and third parties in industrial and construction settings
• Negligent drivers in collisions that result in fire

When a burn happens on the job, a party other than your employer may share responsibility, which can open a separate claim beyond workers' compensation.

Compensation Available in a Burn Injury Claim

Because severe burns cause lasting harm, compensation in these cases is often substantial. A full claim can include:

• Medical care: emergency treatment, skin grafts, and reconstructive surgery, plus future procedures and rehabilitation
• Lost earnings: wages lost during recovery and diminished earning capacity when a survivor cannot return to their prior work
• Physical and emotional harm: pain, mental anguish, and the psychological toll of the injury
• Permanent effects: disfigurement, scarring, and loss of function

When a defendant acted with gross negligence, punitive damages may also be available.

How Burn Injury Settlements Are Valued

No two burn injuries are the same, so there is no fixed formula for what a case is worth. Serious burn claims rank among the highest-value personal injury cases because the harm is often permanent and the future costs are substantial. Several factors drive the valuation:

• Severity and depth. Third- and fourth-degree burns that destroy tissue and damage nerves carry far greater value than superficial injuries.
• Total body surface area. Burn specialists measure the percentage of the body burned, often using the "rule of nines," because larger burns mean longer treatment and greater lifetime impact.
• Location of the burn. Burns to the face, hands, or joints can cause disfigurement and loss of function that affect both quality of life and earning capacity.
• Future medical needs. Skin grafts, reconstructive surgeries, and rehabilitation often continue for years and should be projected, not counted only from past bills.
• Lost earning capacity. When a survivor cannot return to their prior work, the claim should account for a lifetime of reduced income.
• Non-economic harm. Pain, emotional trauma, and the psychological toll of visible scarring are all compensable.

Insurers often anchor early offers to past medical bills alone. Building the full, long-term picture, frequently with burn specialists, life-care planners, and economists, is central to how we pursue maximum compensation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Is a Burn Injury Case Worth?

It depends on the severity and depth of the burn, the percentage of the body affected, the cost of future surgeries and care, and the impact on your ability to work. Because severe burns often cause permanent harm, these claims tend to rank among the highest-value injury cases.

How Long Do I Have to File a Burn Injury Lawsuit in Texas?

In most cases, two years from the date of injury (Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 16.003). Fire and explosion evidence can degrade or be cleared away quickly, so it is wise to involve an attorney well before that deadline.

Do I Have a Claim if I Was Burned at Work?

Possibly, and it may reach beyond workers' compensation. If a party other than your employer, such as a product manufacturer, contractor, or property owner, contributed to the burn, you may have a separate third-party claim for additional damages. This is common in refinery, industrial, and construction burns.

What if My Child Suffered a Burn Injury?

Claims involving children account for a lifetime of future care and can follow different timing rules than adult claims. Because a child may need repeated surgeries as they grow, valuing these cases requires careful long-term planning.

Can I Recover if I Was Partly at Fault?

Often, yes. Under Texas's modified comparative negligence rule, you can recover as long as you were not more than 50% responsible, with your compensation reduced by your share of fault.

Call For a FREE Consultation: (888) 923-7001

Evidence from a fire or explosion can disappear quickly, and Texas generally allows only two years to file a personal injury claim. The sooner we begin, the more we can do to preserve proof and build the full value of your case.

Call (888) 923-7001 or contact us online for a FREE and confidential consultation.