Michigan Burn Injury Lawyers
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A vehicle fire, airbag burn, hot engine component, or scalding fluid can cause a painful wound that results in a permanent scar. You may be worried about your health, appearance, future treatment, and whether Michigan law recognizes the full effect of the injury.
Burn and scarring claims depend on more than medical bills. The evidence must show how the injury developed, whether the scarring is permanent, how it affects your life, and which insurance coverage applies. A fault dispute may also reduce what you recover or bar pain-and-suffering damages if you are more than 50% responsible.
At Matz Injury Law, we personally handle burn and scarring personal injury claims throughout Michigan, including the Upper Peninsula. We identify the available benefits and damages, document the injury’s full effect, and review any offer before you give up the right to seek more.
Why Clients Choose Us for Burn and Scarring Claims
Matz Injury Law has represented injured people throughout Michigan since 1977. That experience helps us recognize the medical, insurance, and personal evidence that can affect a burn or scarring claim.
We have recovered more than $300 million for Michigan personal injury clients across the cases we have handled. A past result cannot predict the outcome of your case, but our record reflects decades of work documenting injuries, calculating losses, and preparing claims for negotiation or trial.
Our contingency fee is 22%. You do not pay an attorney’s fee unless we recover compensation for you.
You Work Directly With Steven or Jared Matz
Steven or Jared Matz personally handles every case we accept. You can discuss your treatment, scarring changes, and any questions that arise as your claim moves forward.
Direct attorney involvement matters because burns and scars can change throughout recovery. We can begin organizing photographs, medical records, and evidence of the injury’s effect on your daily life without routing your case through layers of intake staff.
Client Testimonials
“My parents were involved in a fatal car accident, where we needed guidance dealing with the insurance company. A month after the accident the insurance agency had stopped addressing our calls and emails. Retaining Steve Matz and his team was the absolute best decision we made for my mom. He was professional from start to finish and we had a settlement quickly. Steve answered all of our calls and emails, and assured us that he would take care of our family during this time.” — Sarah M.
“I cannot recommend Steve and his team highly enough. From the very first consultation, the team was professional, compassionate, and incredibly knowledgeable. They took the time to explain every step of the process, answered all my questions, and made sure I felt confident and supported throughout my case. Their attention to detail and dedication truly made a difference. They fought hard on my behalf and achieved a result that exceeded my expectations.” — Tifani R.
Meet Our Michigan Burn Injury Lawyers
What Are Burn and Scar Injuries?
A burn damages the skin or underlying tissue through heat, chemicals, electricity, or friction. A scar forms as the body repairs a burn or deep wound. Some scars affect appearance, while others cause pain, sensitivity, tightness, or limited movement.
A burn or scar can form part of a personal injury claim when another person or business caused the underlying accident. In a motor vehicle case, the nature and permanence of the injury also affect whether you may seek non-economic damages from the at-fault party.
What Types of Accidents Cause Burns and Scarring in Michigan?
Many types of accidents can cause permanent scarring and disfigurement, including:
- Car accidents, including motor vehicle and motorcycle accidents
- Truck accidents and vehicle collisions involving defective products
- Burn injuries, including third-degree burns.
- Dog bites often leave permanent scars
- Traumatic brain injuries that result in reconstructive surgery
- Medical malpractice causing nerve damage or requiring plastic surgery
- Catastrophic injuries, such as amputations
- Sporting accidents
- Bicycle and pedestrian accidents
- Slip-and-fall accidents
- Defective products
- Toxic material or chemical exposure
Burns can also result from explosions, unsafe property conditions, or workplace incidents. In those cases, liability depends on who created the hazard and whether workers’ compensation or a third-party claim applies.
What Damages Can You Recover for a Burn Injury?
Burn injury compensation in Michigan depends on how the accident happened, which insurance applies, and how the injury affects your health and life. In a motor vehicle case, you may have a claim for no-fault benefits and a separate claim against an at-fault party.
Economic Losses
Sometimes referred to as special damages, economic damages have a monetary value. Depending on the type of accident, you could recover:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical expenses
- Replacement or repair of personal property
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Death-related expenses
Non-Economic Damages
General damages, known as non-economic damages, do not have a monetary value. They are usually reserved for those whose injuries cause long-term or permanent disabilities, scarring, and disfigurement. Non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering, including emotional distress
- Loss of quality of life
- Loss of consortium or companionship
- Inconvenience
Exemplary Damages
Michigan does not use punitive damages to punish a defendant in an ordinary personal injury case. In limited cases, exemplary damages may compensate an injured person for humiliation, outrage, or indignity caused by malicious, willful, or wanton conduct. These damages require facts beyond ordinary negligence, so a severe burn alone does not establish a right to them.
Can You File a Personal Injury Claim for Scarring or Disfigurement?
Yes. If your scarring or disfigurement was a result of someone’s negligence, you can file a claim against the defendant or their insurance company. You can file a claim for scarring, excessive scarring, or disfigurement if another person’s negligence or gross negligence caused the scarring or disfigurement, regardless of the type of accident that led to it. An injury lawyer can help you navigate Michigan law to recover the compensation you deserve.
What Determines the Value of a Burn Injury Claim?
There is no fixed value for a burn or scarring claim. The evidence must show the financial losses and the ways the injury has affected you physically and personally.
Factors that may influence the value include:
- The location, size, color, texture, and visibility of the scar
- Whether doctors consider the scar permanent
- The pain involved in the initial injury, treatment, and recovery
- The need for grafts, reconstructive procedures, or future care
- Any loss of movement, sensitivity, or function
- The effect on your work, relationships, confidence, and daily activities
- The available insurance coverage and any dispute over fault
Medical providers may classify scars as keloid, contracture, or hypertrophic scars. The label helps describe how the scar developed, but the claim’s value depends on the complete record rather than the name alone.
How Do You Prove a Burn Injury Case?
Burn injuries often change as swelling decreases and scars mature. Evidence collected throughout recovery can show that progression and connect the injury to the accident.
Useful evidence may include:
- Photographs taken at regular intervals under similar lighting
- Emergency, surgical, dermatology, and rehabilitation records
- Opinions from treating doctors or qualified medical expert witnesses
- Vehicle inspections, crash photographs, recall records, and event data
- Receipts, wage records, and estimates for future care
- Statements describing how the injury affects your work and daily life
We gather and organize this evidence, consult the appropriate professionals, and present the injury in a way that addresses both its medical severity and its personal effect.
Do You Need a Lawyer for a Burn Injury Case?
You are not required to hire a lawyer, but legal help may add value when you have permanent scarring, need ongoing treatment, face disputed fault, or receive an early offer. A Michigan burn injury attorney can also determine whether a no-fault insurer, an at-fault driver, a product manufacturer, or more than one party may owe compensation.
We coordinate the insurance and liability issues, preserve evidence, document your losses, and review the terms of any proposed release. That work gives you a clearer picture of what the offer covers and which rights would end if you accepted it.
How Does Comparative Fault Affect Your Michigan Burn Injury Claim?
To be eligible to file a personal injury claim in Michigan, the injury must meet specific criteria based on state law. A victim must prove that the negligent party’s actions led to the injury. In some cases, a defendant will agree to a settlement, while in others, they may dispute it, and the case will go to court.
Since Michigan operates under a comparative negligence philosophy, a victim who is found partially responsible for their own injury will have their compensation reduced based on their percentage of guilt. For example, victims who are found 20% responsible for their injuries will only receive 80% of the compensation for their injuries.
An insurer may assign you a percentage of fault that you disagree with. We compare that position with police reports, photographs, witness accounts, vehicle data, and other evidence before evaluating how comparative fault may affect your claim.
What Are the Steps to File a Burn Injury Lawsuit in Michigan?
A burn claim may involve no-fault benefits, a third-party liability claim, or both. These steps can help protect the evidence and identify the correct path:
- Get medical care and follow your provider’s treatment plan.
- Photograph the burn and scar throughout the healing process.
- Call an experienced Michigan burn injury lawyer.
- Keep medical bills, wage records, travel receipts, and other expense records.
- Identify the applicable insurers and every party that may share responsibility.
- Investigate the crash, vehicle, or product before evidence disappears or repairs alter it.
- Obtain medical support for the scar’s diagnosis, treatment needs, and permanence.
- File each insurance claim or lawsuit within the deadline that applies to it.
- Evaluate settlement terms and prepare for litigation when the parties cannot agree.
We can track the different deadlines, handle communications with the insurers, and prepare the evidence while you continue treatment.
Review Your Burn and Scarring Claim With Our Michigan Lawyers
An early offer may not account for future treatment, permanent scarring, or the full effect of the injury on your life. We offer a free consultation to review your coverage, fault issues, and potential damages before you decide what to do next.
Call us at 866-226-6833 or use our contact form to speak with our team.
Written By Steven Matz
Steven J. Matz is the founder of Matz Injury Law, specializing in personal injury litigation with a focus on car accident victims. With over 40 years of legal experience, Mr. Matz has achieved numerous million-dollar settlements. He holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been recognized among Michigan’s Top Attorneys. Steven J. Matz is a frequent lecturer on legal ethics and personal injury law, and serves on the Michigan Attorney Discipline Board.
