Burn Injury Attorney Serving Fort Myers

After a Serious Burn, Get Personalized Legal Support from a Firm Established in 1982

A burn injury can create immediate medical concerns as well as questions about treatment costs, missed work, insurance coverage, and future care. We explain whether the facts warrant further investigation and what steps may be available.

At Lusk, Drasites & Tolisano, we have provided legal services since 1982 from our Cape Coral office, serving personal injury clients in Fort Myers and surrounding Southwest Florida communities. We examine how the burn occurred, who may be responsible, the extent of the injury, and the losses connected to it. Our firm was among the first in Cape Coral willing to confront large corporations and defense firms, and we bring that same resolve to significant personal injury claims.

Call Lusk, Drasites & Tolisano today at (239) 908-4930 or contact us online to schedule a consultation with our burn injury attorneys serving Fort Myers.

Understanding Burn Injury Claims in Fort Myers

Burn injuries may result from fires, hot liquids or steam, heated surfaces, chemicals, electricity, radiation, friction, vehicle crashes, defective products, unsafe premises, or workplace incidents. The source and circumstances matter because they help determine which parties, insurance policies, records, and legal theories require review. Chemical and electrical burns can also cause serious tissue damage even when the visible injury appears limited, so medical evaluation should guide diagnosis and treatment.

A residential or commercial fire may raise premises liability questions, while a malfunctioning appliance or other unsafe product may require a product liability analysis. Workplace burns can involve workers’ compensation and, depending on who caused the incident, a possible third-party claim. We review the available evidence rather than assuming that every burn accident creates the same type of case.

A burn claim may require close review of medical records, incident reports, insurance communications, photographs, witness information, and damaged products or equipment. Our trial lawyers and litigators review these materials to identify potential sources of liability and insurance coverage.

Our approach includes:

• Personalized Legal Support: We take the time to understand the incident, your injuries, and the concerns affecting your claim.
• Broad Legal Capability: Our full-service practice can address related legal issues under one firm when they arise.
• Contingency Fees: We handle many personal injury cases on a contingency basis.
• Local Perspective: We serve Fort Myers residents through a Southwest Florida firm with longstanding ties to nearby communities.

The Physical, Emotional & Financial Effects of Burns

The effects of a burn injury may extend well beyond emergency treatment and differ based on burn depth, affected body area, location, inhalation injury, age, and other health conditions.

Burn injuries can result in:

• Physical Pain & Limitations: A serious burn may require ongoing wound care, surgery, skin grafts, reconstructive care, rehabilitation, or treatment for reduced mobility.
• Scarring & Disfigurement: Lasting changes in appearance or function may affect daily activities and long-term care needs.
• Emotional & Psychological Effects: Severe burns can be associated with trauma, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and a need for psychological support.
• Financial Strain: Medical treatment, rehabilitation, future care, and lost wages can create substantial financial pressure.

We examine records and supporting information to identify the effects connected to the injury. Any potential legal recovery depends on the evidence, applicable law, available insurance, and the specific circumstances of the claim.

Healthcare professionals assess burn depth and determine the appropriate treatment. Different areas of the same injury may have different depths.

Common medical descriptions include:

• Superficial or First-Degree Burns: These impact only the outer layer of skin, called the epidermis. They typically cause redness, minor swelling, and pain. Sunburns are a common example.
• Partial-Thickness or Second-Degree Burns: These involve the outer layer and the underlying layer of skin, called the dermis. They can cause blisters, severe pain, and swelling. Scarring is possible if the burn is deep.
• Full-Thickness or Third-Degree Burns: These destroy the epidermis and dermis and could reach underlying tissues. The skin could appear white, blackened, or leathery, and the area may be numb because of nerve damage.
• Deeper Burns: Burn-care professionals may describe injuries extending into fat, muscle, or bone as fourth-degree burns. These injuries may require grafting, reconstructive procedures, amputation, or other care determined by medical providers.

Common Causes of Burn Injuries

The cause of a burn helps identify potentially responsible parties, but the injury alone doesn’t establish liability.

Common causes include:

• Thermal Burns: Caused by heat sources like fire, hot liquids, steam, or hot objects.
• Chemical Burns: Caused by contact with corrosive substances such as acids, alkalis, or strong cleaning agents.
• Electrical Burns: Caused by exposure to electricity, often resulting in deep tissue damage that may not be immediately visible on the surface.
• Radiation Burns: Caused by radiation exposure from sources such as sunlight or medical treatments.
• Friction Burns: Caused when skin scrapes against a rough surface, including in some motorcycle and motor vehicle incidents.
• Inhalation Injuries: Caused by breathing smoke, hot gases, steam, or chemical fumes during a fire or hazardous exposure.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What Should I Do Immediately After a Burn Injury?

Seek medical attention first, particularly for a severe, deep, chemical, electrical, inhalation, or large-area burn. Follow healthcare professionals’ instructions, photograph the injury and incident scene if possible, preserve damaged clothing or equipment, and gather witness information. Once your immediate medical needs are addressed, a legal consultation can help you understand your options.

How Can Your Team Help Investigate My Claim?

We can review photographs, medical records, incident reports, witness information, damaged clothing or equipment, product information, and insurance communications. This evidence may help identify potentially responsible parties, available coverage, and the legal issues involved.

What Losses May Be Considered in a Burn Injury Claim?

Depending on the facts, a claim may involve medical expenses, future treatment, rehabilitation costs, lost income, pain and suffering, scarring, disfigurement, disability, and other legally recoverable losses. The available categories and their value depend on the evidence, the effects of the injury, and Florida law.

How Long Do I Have to File a Negligence Claim in Florida?

As of 2026, Florida law generally provides two years to file an action founded on negligence. Exceptions and different deadlines may apply based on the incident date, defendant, and type of claim. Because missing the applicable deadline can prevent a case from proceeding, we recommend having the specific circumstances reviewed promptly.

Discuss Your Fort Myers Burn Injury Claim

You don’t have to determine the potential parties, insurance issues, and legal deadlines by yourself. We can review the circumstances, explain possible next steps, and answer your questions during a free personal injury consultation.

Contact Lusk, Drasites & Tolisano today or call (239) 908-4930 to discuss your claim with our Fort Myers burn injury lawyers.