Portland Burn
Injury Attorney

We Help Burn Injury 
Victims in Portland and Throughout Oregon

Burns are some of the most painful injuries a person can suffer. They can severely damage the skin and underlying tissue, leave permanent scarring, and lead to months or even years of medical treatment. Serious burn injuries often change every aspect of a victim’s life, affecting their ability to work, maintain independence, and enjoy the activities they once loved.

Johnston Law Firm has been serving injured clients in Portland and throughout Oregon for decades. Our attorneys have helped people recover compensation after devastating accidents caused by negligence, and we understand the financial and emotional challenges that follow severe burn injuries.

If you have sustained burn injuries due to an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and many other losses. Our experienced Portland burn injury attorneys can evaluate your case, explain your legal options, and pursue the financial recovery you deserve. Call us today at 503-546-3167 or contact us online for a free consultation.

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How Can Our Portland Attorneys Help With Your Burn Injury Claim?

A serious burn injury case often involves complex medical evidence, multiple insurance companies, and significant future damages. Our legal team handles every aspect of your claim so you can focus on your recovery while we protect your rights.

Here’s what we can do for you:

• Conduct a thorough investigation of your accident. We gather evidence, interview witnesses, obtain photographs, and work to identify exactly how your burn injury occurred and who should be held responsible.
• Identify every liable party and available insurance policy. Whether your injuries resulted from a vehicle collision, lithium-ion battery damage, defective product, workplace incident, or dangerous property condition, we pursue every available source of compensation.
• Handle all negotiations with insurance companies. Our attorneys communicate with insurers on your behalf, protecting you from tactics designed to reduce or deny your claim.
• Work with medical professionals to document your injuries. We help demonstrate the full extent of your burns, future treatment needs, permanent scarring, and the long-term impact on your daily life.
• Calculate the full value of your damages. We consider not only your current losses but also future medical expenses, diminished earning capacity, rehabilitation costs, and pain and suffering.
• Take your case to court when necessary. If an insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement, we are prepared to present a strong case before an Oregon jury.

Our goal is simple: to recover the maximum compensation available while making the legal process as straightforward as possible during an already difficult time.

Common Causes of Burn Injuries

Burns come in many forms and can occur for many reasons. The following are some examples of how different types of burns occur:

• Thermal: These burns occur from extreme heat, including flames or contact with hot surfaces.
• Scalds: Scalding injuries occur when the skin comes into contact with extremely hot liquids or steam.
• Chemical: Chemical burns result from exposure to toxic chemicals such as acids or other corrosive substances in gas, liquid, or solid form.
• Friction: These wounds occur when the skin is rubbed violently against a surface such as pavement, wood flooring, or carpet. While many friction burns are minor, road rash from motorcycle or bicycle accidents can be severe.

Treatment for Burns

Public health assessments estimate that approximately 600,000 individuals receive medical treatment for burn injuries annually in the United States. While roughly 400,000 of these cases are treated and released directly from emergency departments, data compiled in the American Burn Association (ABA) 2025 Annual Burn Injury Summary Report highlights 32,993 severe cases that required intensive, specialized admissions within dedicated U.S. burn centers.

Moreover, the Legacy Oregon Burn Center treats and admits approximately 300 to 500 acute burn patients each year, while managing over 1,500 regional burn consultations via telemedicine and outpatient services.

Burn injuries are generally classified as:

• First-degree: Minor burns affecting only the outer layer of skin.
• Second-degree: More serious burns that damage deeper layers of the skin.
• Third-degree: Extremely serious burns that destroy all layers of skin and may extend into muscle, tendons, or bone. 
• Fourth-degree: Burns involving deeper tissues are referred to as fourth-degree burns.

Minor burns can often be treated with basic first aid, though they should still be monitored carefully. Most second-degree burns and virtually all third-degree burns require immediate emergency medical attention and often extensive treatment.

Initial treatment typically includes diagnosing the extent of the injury, controlling pain, treating wounds and blisters, removing clothing stuck to the skin, and protecting damaged tissue. Some patients recover at home after treatment, while others require prolonged hospitalization.

For severe burns, multiple skin grafts, reconstructive surgeries, and extensive wound care may be necessary.

Serious burn injuries also create significant risks of complications, including:

• Hypothermia
• Hypovolemia (dangerous blood loss)
• Shock
• Serious infections

Many third-degree burn victims remain under close medical observation for weeks or months because infections can become life-threatening. While Portland is home to outstanding burn treatment facilities, extended care at specialized burn centers can become extraordinarily expensive.

Financial Recovery for Burn Injuries

Burn injuries can result from many different accidents, including motor vehicle crashes, house fires, workplace incidents, defective products, and dangerous property conditions. When another person’s negligence causes your injuries, Oregon law allows you to pursue compensation for your losses.

Depending on your case, compensation may include:

• Medical bills and future medical treatment
• Hospitalization and burn center expenses
• Skin grafts, reconstructive surgery, and rehabilitation
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
• Permanent scarring and disfigurement
• Physical pain and emotional suffering
• Psychological trauma
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Other accident-related financial losses

An experienced burn injury attorney can identify all potentially liable parties, gather evidence proving negligence, and seek the full compensation your injuries warrant.

Frequently Asked Questions About Portland Burn Injury Claims