Why Louisiana Trusts Arnold & Itkin After Burn Accidents
From deadly pipeline explosions to catastrophic refinery fires, Louisiana has seen devastating industrial accidents, and Arnold & Itkin has been at the forefront of helping burn survivors recover. Our firm is known across the state and country not just for our results, but for our relentless commitment to getting justice for people who’ve been burned, scarred, and left behind by the companies they worked for.
Attorneys Kurt Arnold and Jason Itkin have handled burn cases in Louisiana courts and secured some of the largest personal injury recoveries in state history, including the largest single-event injury verdict ever recorded in Louisiana. Their work has brought financial relief to families facing lifelong medical needs.
Why burn injury victims across Louisiana choose our firm:
- More than $25 billion won nationwide, including record-setting Louisiana recoveries
- Largest single-event personal injury verdict in Louisiana history
- Experienced trial lawyers with a track record in Louisiana state and federal courts
- Honored by Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, and Lawdragon for trial excellence
- Members of the Inner Circle of Advocates, an invitation-only group of the top 100 plaintiff lawyers in the U.S.
Our firm has gone toe-to-toe with major corporations and won against them in court and at the negotiating table, securing real outcomes that help families rebuild. To learn more about how we can help you protect your family, we encourage you to call today.
Securing Justice for Burn Victims in Baton Rouge & Beyond
At Arnold & Itkin, we’ve represented individuals who have suffered catastrophic burn injuries, as well as workers who have been injured in some of Louisiana’s most notorious industrial incidents, including fires and explosions in Geismar and the River Parishes. We’ve helped burn survivors in Ascension Parish, St. James Parish, Iberville Parish, and surrounding Louisiana parishes recover compensation after catastrophic burn accidents. For example, we won two verdicts of $18.5 million and $15.4 million for victims of the tragic Geismar explosion.
Below is a sample of what we’ve been able to do for other clients with burn accident claims:
- $222 million verdict for the widow of a plant worker struck with fatal steam burns.
- $177.5 million settlement in a burn injury claim against multiple defendants.
- $125 million settlement for the widow of a dredge worker with fatal burns.
- $92.7 million settlement for a workplace accident victim that set a statewide record for burn injury claims.
- $87 million settlement for an individual who suffered life-threatening burns in a refinery accident.
- $49 million settlement for a plant worker who survived an explosion with severe and widespread burns.
These cases held negligent parties accountable and provided compensation to individuals and families facing the consequences of catastrophic burns. By consistently challenging large corporations, our burn injury attorneys demonstrate the preparation required to pursue complex cases involving serious workplace injuries.
Our Louisiana trial team prepares every personal injury case for trial. This approach allows us to develop the strongest possible injury claim, which is why we’ve broken multiple verdict and settlement records statewide and nationwide.
Cases We’re Pursuing for Burn Victims in Louisiana & Nationwide
Burn injuries often occur in Louisiana’s refineries, oilfields, and ports due to chemical exposure, high-pressure systems, or electrical failures. Consequently, plant and refinery accidents are some of the most serious sources of occupational burn injuries in Louisiana.
We’re investigating a number of explosions and fires that led to catastrophic burn injuries:
Each of these cases began with a free consultation. This consultation gives plaintiffs a chance to discuss their case with us confidentially and without obligation. We’ll answer your questions, lay out your legal options in as much detail as we can, and if you choose, we’ll get started with handling your case as soon as we’re off the phone. Our Louisiana personal injury attorneys handle these cases on a contingency fee basis, advance litigation costs, and collect attorney fees and expenses only if we recover money for the client.
What to Know About Burn Injury Claims in Louisiana
What Is Louisiana’s Statute of Limitations for Burn Claims?
Recent changes to Louisiana law make it more important than ever to act quickly. As of July 1, 2024, the state generally extended the prescriptive period for personal injury claims from one year to two years. That means if your injury occurred on or after that date, you may have two years to file a lawsuit. For older cases, the prior one-year deadline may still apply.
Different rules can apply to wrongful death and other claims. A Louisiana wrongful death action generally prescribes one year from the date of death or two years from the underlying injury or damage, whichever is longer, while medical malpractice claims may follow different deadlines. Because the applicable period depends on the accident date, claim type, and other facts, speak with an attorney promptly about your specific deadline.
Where Are Burn Lawsuits Filed in Louisiana?
Burn cases are typically filed in the judicial district court of the parish where the incident occurred. For example:
- The 19th Judicial District Court handles cases in East Baton Rouge Parish.
- The 23rd Judicial District Court covers Ascension, Assumption, and St. James Parishes.
- The 29th Judicial District Court oversees claims from St. Charles Parish.
What Is Louisiana’s Pure Comparative Fault Rule?
For accidents occurring on or after January 1, 2026, Louisiana uses a modified comparative fault system. A claimant found 51% or more at fault generally can’t recover damages. If the claimant is less than 51% at fault, any damages are reduced by that person’s assigned percentage of fault. Louisiana law also requires fault to be considered for all contributing persons, whether or not they are parties to the lawsuit. Determining liability is especially complex in industrial accidents involving workplace safety lapses, multiple contractors, or defective equipment.
Who Can Be Held Accountable for a Burn Injury in Louisiana?
Nearly any individual or company may be held legally accountable, or liable, for a burn injury. Cases of this kind typically involve negligence and are filed as personal injury lawsuits against defendants in civil court. An injured employee may also qualify for workers’ compensation, a separate no-fault benefit system that doesn’t require proof that the employer caused the accident.
The following are examples of parties that could be held accountable for a burn injury:
- The manufacturer of a defective or dangerous product.
- An employer for failing to maintain a safe worksite.
- A pipeline operator for failing to repair or replace aging gas lines.
- The owner of an apartment building for negligent fire safety practices.
- A trucking company for failing to properly maintain a tanker truck or hazmat truck.
This type of lawsuit allows a burn survivor the chance to recover financial compensation for what they have endured and will face in the future. A settlement or award may cover medical treatment, reconstructive or plastic surgery, ongoing care, lost earnings, loss of future wages, emotional trauma, and pain and suffering. Although holding at-fault parties accountable can’t erase the pain and suffering you’ve already experienced, compensation can provide access to treatment and support.
What Compensation Is Available in Burn Injury Claims?
If your case is successful, you may be eligible for compensation that includes:
- Emergency medical treatment and hospitalization
- Skin grafts, reconstructive surgery, and rehabilitation
- Lost income and diminished future earnings
- Pain, suffering, and emotional trauma
- Permanent disfigurement or disability
- Wrongful death damages, if the injury was fatal
Whether your burns occurred at a plant, on a pipeline job, or in another serious fire, our attorneys are prepared to take your case to court and fight for the compensation you deserve.
How Claims Against Non-Employers Affect Work Injury Cases
When someone other than the employer caused a work-related burn, the injured employee may be able to pursue a separate third-party claim. The potentially responsible party could be a contractor, equipment manufacturer, property owner, or another non-employer whose actions contributed to the accident.
These personal injury cases involve different sources of recovery and different liability questions than no-fault workplace benefits. Our attorneys handle serious worksite burn cases and investigate whether non-employer parties share responsibility for the injury.
From Chemical to Flash Burns: Types of Burns in Louisiana Worksites
Fundamentally, burn injuries are the result of heat, combustion, or oxidation causing tissue damage, directly or otherwise. It’s important to note that burn injuries can occur without direct exposure to heat, fire, or explosions. We’ve seen chemical burns leave workers with severe respiratory damage or fatal burns from superheated water.
The three most common types of burns we’ve encountered include:
- Thermal Burns: A common burn caused by contact with flames, steam, hot liquids, and metals.
- Chemical Burns: These burns occur when living tissue is exposed to a destructive substance.
- Flash Burns: Burns that result from being too close to an explosion.
While chemical burns and thermal burns are a serious threat in any workplace, flash burns are especially associated with oil and gas incidents. Flammable gas can ignite when it encounters an ignition source, and enough fuel in the air can lead to a catastrophic explosion.
Inhalation Injuries in Burn Accidents
Inhalation injuries often accompany serious burns, especially in fires, explosions, and chemical plant accidents. Victims may inhale hot gases, toxic fumes, or smoke, causing damage to the lungs, throat, and eyes.
Common symptoms for inhalation injuries include:
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain or tightness
- Coughing up soot or phlegm
- Scratchy throat or hoarseness
- Headaches, dizziness, or confusion
- Eye irritation
There are three ways that inhalation injuries usually occur: heat inhalation, systemic toxins, and smoke inhalation. Heat inhalation occurs when a victim inhales extremely hot air. Damage to the upper airways and burns to the interior of the lungs are associated with this injury. As materials burn in a fire, systemic toxins are often released into the air. Those who are near a fire may experience confusion or loss of consciousness resulting from breathing in poisonous substances. Smoke inhalation can also cause serious injury during a fire.
Degrees of Burn Injuries
First-Degree Burns
Though these types of burns are less serious than their deeper counterparts, they can still be very painful. First-degree burns affect the outer layer of skin and may result from brief contact with a hot item or friction against a surface. A medical professional can assess the injury and recommend appropriate care.
Second-Degree Burns
Second-degree burns differ from first-degree burns because they extend past the first layer of skin. These injuries can cause blistering and significant pain. A thorough medical assessment may be necessary to determine the appropriate level of care, particularly when a burn covers a large area.
Third- & Fourth-Degree Burns
Third- and fourth-degree burns are considered very severe. This level of injury extends through multiple layers of skin and can reach bone and muscle and may even cause nerve damage. As these types of burns are frequently associated with prolonged exposure to fire, smoke inhalation isn’t uncommon. Injuries require prompt professional medical care and may involve intensive surgery and long-term rehabilitation.
Third- and fourth-degree burn symptoms include:
- Charring
- White coloration
- Smooth, waxy appearance of skin
- Brown discoloration
- Conspicuous lack of blisters
- Raised and leathery skin texture
Medical Care & Long-Term Recovery for Burn Victims in Louisiana
Access to specialized medical care is essential for anyone recovering from serious burns. Baton Rouge General Regional Burn Center provides services that include emergency stabilization, wound management, reconstructive surgery, and long-term rehabilitation. LSU Health New Orleans is another medical resource for Louisiana patients.
Research published in the Journal of Burn Care & Research found that statewide emergency routing protocols for burn patients in Louisiana significantly reduced both hospital stays and mortality rates, reinforcing the importance of rapid access to specialized treatment for severe burns. In addition to acute care, long-term recovery remains a major challenge for survivors. Research published in the Annals of Burns and Fire Disasters shows that major burns can lead to lasting complications, including skin contractures, muscle weakness, chronic pain, and psychological trauma. Rehabilitation often requires months, or even years, of therapy, reconstructive surgery, and emotional support.
At Arnold & Itkin, we account for our clients’ current and future medical needs when we build their legal claims.
Advanced Burn Treatment & Recovery in Louisiana
Immediate medical care is critical after a serious burn. These are among the most painful and life-altering injuries a person can endure, often requiring hospitalization, multiple surgeries, and months or years of rehabilitation.
For many survivors, recovery isn’t just physical but emotional and financial as well.
Fortunately, Baton Rouge is home to one of the Gulf South’s few verified burn centers: the Baton Rouge General Regional Burn Center. This facility provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care for burn survivors, including emergency stabilization, wound management, reconstructive surgery, and long-term rehabilitation. Their experienced team plays a vital role in helping patients heal and reclaim independence after devastating injuries.
The treatment path for burn injuries depends on the type and severity of the burn, as well as the area of the body affected. Burn care isn’t one-size-fits-all. The following sections outline common categories of medical treatment for serious burns, from emergency wound care and skin grafts to long-term rehabilitation and reconstructive surgery.
Emergency Stabilization
The first priority in severe burn cases is stabilizing the patient. Emergency care may address fluid loss, pain, airway injuries, and other immediate medical concerns. Burns covering large areas of the body can require intensive monitoring and wound care.
Wound Cleaning & Infection Control
Wound management is a central part of serious burn care. Medical professionals may clean damaged tissue, monitor the wound, and use dressings selected for the patient’s condition and stage of recovery.
Skin Grafting Procedures
When burns are too deep to heal on their own, surgeons may perform a skin graft using healthy skin from the patient or donor tissue.
Some types of skin grafts include the following:
- Split-thickness grafts used to cover larger areas
- Full-thickness grafts used for selected areas
- Other grafting techniques selected for smaller or complex wounds
Reconstructive Surgery
For severe scarring or tissue loss, reconstructive surgery may be needed well after the initial injury. Procedures can address function, mobility, comfort, or appearance based on the survivor’s individual medical needs.
Compression Therapy
Some patients recovering from burns use custom compression garments as part of scar management. The duration and type of compression therapy depend on the injury and the treating medical professional’s recommendations.
Physical & Occupational Therapy
Rehabilitation may start during recovery to address movement, strength, and function.
- Physical therapy can focus on range of motion, flexibility, and strength.
- Occupational therapy can help patients relearn everyday tasks and adapt to long-term limitations.
Psychological & Emotional Support
Survivors may experience post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, or other emotional effects. Counseling, support groups, and peer programs may be part of a long-term recovery plan.
Nutritional Support
Serious burns can create complex nutritional needs during recovery. Registered dietitians and other medical professionals may assess those needs and recommend an appropriate plan.
Scar & Skin Management
Ongoing scar and skin management may continue after wounds have healed. Treatment depends on the location and severity of scarring, its effect on movement, and the patient’s overall medical needs.
Why Louisiana Burn Injury Lawsuits Are So Complex
Burn injury claims in Louisiana often involve multiple layers of liability. Employers, contractors, property owners, and manufacturers may all share fault. Add in state-specific laws, insurance negotiations, and evidence challenges, and it becomes clear why trial preparation is essential. Our attorneys investigate the equipment, maintenance, operations, and circumstances surrounding the accident, and we prepare every personal injury case for trial. We’ve represented clients in refinery explosions, plant fires, and other high-stakes burn cases, securing some of the largest burn verdicts and settlements in state history.
What Causes Burn Injuries in Louisiana?
Louisiana workers and residents can suffer serious burns in industrial facilities, on pipelines, in commercial trucking crashes, and in residential fires. Understanding where and how severe burns occur can help victims, families, and a Louisiana burn injury lawyer identify potentially liable parties and pursue compensation.
Below are common causes of serious burn injuries in Louisiana:
Petrochemical & Refinery Accidents
An oil refinery accident may involve a fire, explosion, equipment failure, or release of hazardous substances. Operators such as ExxonMobil and Shell work with flammable materials in complex industrial operations. Equipment failure, corroded piping, or ignition sources can cause flash fires and explosions that inflict thermal and chemical burns. Past Louisiana incidents include a fire documented in an ExxonMobil refinery report and the Williams Olefins explosion in Geismar.
Chemical Plant Releases
Chemical plants may handle ammonia, chlorine, and other caustic substances. Valve failures, tank over-pressurization, or transportation incidents can expose employees to corrosive liquids or fumes that injure skin and airway tissue.
Oilfield & Pipeline Explosions
Pipeline failures and excavation strikes can create gas leaks that ignite. Workers and first responders may suffer flame and inhalation burns during an explosion or fire.
Commercial Trucking Crashes
Tanker trucks may carry diesel, liquefied petroleum gas, industrial acids, or other hazardous materials. A tank rupture during a collision can cause a fuel-fed fire or chemical release that injures motorists, truck drivers, and emergency responders. Other crashes can also spark vehicle fires and trap occupants in burning wreckage.
Power Plant & Electrical Failures
Electrical arc flashes at industrial sites or utility substations can release intense heat in a fraction of a second. Electrical failures at power plants and other worksites may cause deep tissue burns to linemen, maintenance crews, and bystanders.
Residential & Apartment Fires
Faulty wiring, space heaters, or defective smoke alarms can contribute to house and apartment fires. Tenants may face severe burns and smoke inhalation when landlords ignore known hazards or fail to maintain required fire-safety systems.
Whether the source is an industrial explosion or a residential fire, victims may have the right to pursue damages for medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. A burn injury attorney in Louisiana can investigate the cause, identify negligent parties, and pursue resources for ongoing recovery and care.
Baton Rouge: Industry, Injury Risk & Medical Resources
Baton Rouge is Louisiana’s capital and an important industrial, medical, and legal hub. Located on the Mississippi River in East Baton Rouge Parish, the city is home to major petrochemical operations, including the ExxonMobil refinery, one of the largest in the country. Fires, explosions, and chemical releases at these industrial facilities can cause serious burn injuries.
The area includes oil and gas, shipping, manufacturing, and healthcare operations. The Port of Greater Baton Rouge is also part of Louisiana’s industrial and transportation network.
Louisiana State University and regional medical institutions provide resources that may be relevant to burn survivors, including:
Verified burn center services include emergency stabilization, wound management, reconstructive surgery, and long-term rehabilitation. Louisiana judicial district courts may also handle civil burn injury claims based on where an incident occurred.
Reviews of Our Baton Rouge Burn Law Firm
“Arnold and Itkin is hands down the best law firm in town. If you or any of your loved ones have been hurt in an accident, you should call them. The staff is friendly and attentive to your needs. The attorneys won’t stop until they get you what you deserve.”
- Ivan Marin
See for yourself what people in Louisiana have to say about working with our firm! Check out our Google reviews.
Our Louisiana Burn Injury Lawyers Are Prepared to Fight for You
At Arnold & Itkin, our clients have secured billions of dollars thanks to our resources and investigations. We helped secure the largest single-event injury verdict ever recorded in Louisiana. Since then, nothing has changed. Our Louisiana burn injury lawyers continue to prepare cases thoroughly and pursue the compensation available to each client.
Absolutely no one should be forced to suffer due to the carelessness of others. Our firm understands the hardships that those who have burn injuries experience, including lost wages, medical expenses, and pain and suffering. Whether you were injured on the job or in a car accident, we have the experience to handle complex injury claims. We offer free consultations and handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, so clients pay nothing upfront and pay attorney fees and litigation expenses only if we recover money for them.
Contact us online or call (888) 493-1629 today to see how we can help.
