IT'S MORE THAN MONEY.
Colorado Burn Injury Lawyers
We represent burn survivors and their families across Colorado. The degree of your burn drives the value of your claim, and we build the medical proof to recover the full lifetime cost of grafts, scar care, and reconstruction. You pay nothing unless we win.
No fee unless we winBurn injuries are classified into four degrees based on how deep the damage runs. In Colorado, the degree of your burn shapes both your treatment and the value of your legal claim.
- First-degree burns affect only the outer skin layer. Fourth-degree burns reach through muscle and tendon to the bone, often requiring years of reconstructive surgery.
- Colorado caps non-economic damages, but economic damages such as medical bills and lost wages are not capped, which is why a detailed Life Care Plan is essential in serious burn cases.
- The standard deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit in Colorado is two years from the date of injury (C.R.S. 13-80-102), shorter than the deadline for most car accident claims.
CGH Injury Lawyers represents burn survivors across every county in Colorado, from apartment fires and defective appliances to industrial flash fires and chemical exposure. We connect the medical reality of your injury to the full compensation you are owed, with no upfront fees and a free first consultation.
The classification system
Understanding burn injury degrees
The American Burn Association uses a four-tier system to classify burn severity. Each degree reflects not just the depth of tissue damage, but the expected recovery timeline and the likelihood of permanent scarring or disability.
First-degree burns (superficial)
Damage only the epidermis, the outer skin layer. Common causes include brief contact with a hot surface or mild sunburn, producing redness, minor swelling, and pain without blistering.
- Heal in three to seven days without scarring
- Treated with cool compresses and over-the-counter pain relief
- Rarely support a claim unless part of a pattern of negligence
Second-degree burns (partial-thickness)
Penetrate the epidermis and reach the dermis. Superficial partial-thickness burns blister and heal in two to three weeks; deep partial-thickness burns damage hair follicles and sweat glands and often leave permanent scars.
- Treated with wound care, debridement, and sometimes skin grafting
- Significant infection risk during healing
- Permanent scarring on the face, neck, or hands can support substantial non-economic damages
Third-degree burns (full-thickness)
Destroy the epidermis and dermis entirely, reaching the fat layer beneath. The skin may look white, charred, or leathery, and is often less painful at first because nerve endings are destroyed.
- Require hospitalization, surgical debridement, and skin grafting
- Months of rehabilitation to prevent contractures
- Demand a Life Care Plan covering graft revisions, scar management, and lost earning capacity
Fourth-degree burns (deep full-thickness)
Extend through all skin layers into muscle, tendon, and bone. These are catastrophic injuries, often caused by prolonged exposure to fire, electrical current, or industrial chemicals.
- May require escharotomy, amputation of non-viable tissue, and long-term reconstruction
- Survival depends on body surface area affected and speed of intervention
- Frequently lead to wrongful death or permanent disability claims (C.R.S. 13-21-203)
Why burn cases are different
Thermal, chemical, electrical, and scald burns each tell a different story
The source of a burn shapes both the medical treatment and the legal strategy. A scald from a miscalibrated water heater points to a landlord; a chemical or electrical burn at a refinery points to a third party beyond your employer.
By cause of burn
- Thermal burns from fire, flame, and hot surfaces
- Scald burns from hot liquids and improperly calibrated water heaters
- Chemical burns from industrial acids, solvents, and caustic substances
- Electrical burns from defective wiring, equipment, and downed lines
The treatment reality
- Emergency phase: fluid resuscitation, pain management, infection prevention, and airway protection
- Surgical phase: debridement and skin grafting to close deep wounds
- Rehabilitation phase: physical therapy to prevent contractures, often over months or years
- Many survivors are treated at the UCHealth Burn Center in Aurora, one of a small number of verified burn centers in the country
The hidden cost of a serious burn
Insurance companies focus on the emergency room bill and the first surgery. They ignore the graft revision you will need years from now, the scar management, the psychological counseling, and the lost earning capacity when scarred hands can no longer perform your trade. In serious burn cases, the initial medical bills tell only a fraction of the story, which is why a Life Care Plan prepared by a medical economist calculates the present value of all future care.
How we handle your case
Building your burn injury claim
We connect the medical facts of your burn to a legal strategy that reflects the true, lifetime cost of your injury. A burn claim moves through five stages, and we prepare every case as if it will be tried.
-
Free case evaluation
We review how the burn happened, explain your rights, and answer your questions at no cost and no obligation.
-
Investigation and evidence
We preserve the defective product or hazard, gather maintenance records and code-violation notices, and bring in fire-origin and burn-care experts.
-
Build the Life Care Plan
We partner with medical economists, burn surgeons, and vocational experts to calculate the lifetime cost of grafts, scar care, and lost earning capacity.
-
Demand and negotiation
We present the full, documented cost of your injury to every responsible party and negotiate from a position of trial readiness, not from the first offer.
-
Litigation and trial
If an insurer refuses a fair resolution, we file suit and are prepared to present your case to a Colorado jury.
Insurance adjusters offer settlements based on your current bills. They will not volunteer to pay for the graft revision you will need years from now or the retraining a scarred hand requires. A trial-tested attorney forces them to account for the full medical reality.
Who pays for your recovery
Burn injury liability in Colorado
Many burns are not accidents. They result from preventable negligence, and Colorado law recognizes several pathways to hold the responsible parties accountable.
Premises liability
Under the Colorado Premises Liability Act (C.R.S. 13-21-115), property owners owe a duty of care to lawful visitors. Tenants and customers are invitees who receive the highest duty of care.
- Scalding water from miscalibrated water heaters
- Defective appliances provided by a landlord
- Missing smoke detectors and outdated electrical systems
Workplace and third-party claims
Workers compensation provides immediate coverage but limits your total recovery. When a contractor, manufacturer, or other non-employer entity caused the burn, you can file a third-party claim in addition to workers comp.
- Full lost wages, not the partial cap under workers comp
- Non-economic damages for pain, suffering, and disfigurement
- Punitive damages where gross negligence is proven
Product liability
Colorado follows strict liability for defective products. You do not have to prove the manufacturer was negligent, only that the product was defective, the defect caused your injury, and you used the product as intended.
- Space heaters, stoves, and pressure cookers
- Lithium-ion batteries and industrial machinery
- Manufacturer, distributor, and retailer may all share liability
What if you were partly at fault?
Colorado uses a modified comparative negligence rule (C.R.S. 13-21-111). You can recover damages as long as you were less than 50 percent at fault, and your award is reduced by your share of fault. If you left a stove unattended but your landlord failed to install a required fire extinguisher, you may still recover the majority of your damages.
Compensation
What compensation can you recover after a Colorado burn injury?
Colorado law lets burn survivors recover two broad categories of damages: economic losses you can document with bills and records, and non-economic losses for the human cost of disfigurement and pain.
Economic damages (not capped)
- Emergency, surgical, and hospital costs
- Skin grafts and reconstructive surgery, including future revisions
- Long-term wound care, scar management, and physical therapy
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Home modifications and assistive equipment
Non-economic damages
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement
- Emotional distress and psychological trauma
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium for a spouse or family
Colorado caps non-economic damages such as pain and suffering at $1.5 million for claims accruing on or after January 1, 2025 (C.R.S. 13-21-102.5), with inflation adjustments starting in 2028. Disfigurement and physical impairment damages are not subject to that cap, and economic damages are never capped, which is why a detailed Life Care Plan documenting every future cost is the heart of a serious burn case.
The degree-to-damages framework
How burn severity drives legal strategy
Most firms separate medical facts from legal strategy. We connect them. The table below shows how the degree of a burn shapes the structure of a Colorado claim.
| Burn degree | Typical legal impact | What the claim must account for |
|---|---|---|
| First-degree (superficial) | Rarely supports a standalone claim | Documented only when part of a larger pattern of negligence |
| Second-degree (partial-thickness) | Permanent scarring can support substantial non-economic damages | Scar management, especially for visible areas like the face, neck, and hands |
| Third-degree (full-thickness) | Often reaches the level requiring a full Life Care Plan | Graft revisions, contracture care, counseling, and lost earning capacity |
| Fourth-degree (deep full-thickness) | Catastrophic; may support wrongful death or permanent disability claims | Reconstruction, amputation care, and lifetime attendant support |
This table is a general guide. The legal impact of any specific burn depends on the medical evidence, the impairment rating, and the facts of the case.
The team handling your case
CGH Injury Lawyers is a Colorado firm founded in 2016, formerly Cheney Galluzzi & Howard. Managing Partner Kevin Cheney is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). We front the cost of fire-origin experts, burn surgeons, and medical records, and we only get paid if you do. Every burn case is handled by a licensed Colorado attorney.
Related practice areas
Burn injury cases we handle
Severe burns often qualify as catastrophic injuries and overlap with other case types. Explore the practice areas that most often connect to a Colorado burn claim.
Closely related
By case type
All practice areas
I wish I could leave more than 5 stars!
Grace Macaluso, 5-star Google review
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about Colorado burn injury claims
How long does a burn injury settlement take in Colorado?
Minor burns may settle in three to six months. Catastrophic third- and fourth-degree burns often take one to three years because you must reach maximum medical improvement before finalizing a claim. Settling too early can waive your right to compensation for complications that arise later.
What is the average burn injury settlement?
There is no standard average. Settlement value depends on the total body surface area affected, the location of the burns, your age and occupation, and the defendant's degree of fault. Burns to the face and hands command higher non-economic damages. Reputable attorneys do not quote averages; they build individualized Life Care Plans.
Can I sue my employer for a workplace burn in Colorado?
Generally no. Colorado's workers compensation system is the exclusive remedy against your employer, meaning you cannot sue your employer for negligence. You can, however, pursue third-party claims against equipment manufacturers, subcontractors, or property owners whose negligence contributed to your injury.
Do I need a lawyer for a burn injury claim?
If your burn is second-degree or higher, yes. Insurance companies use teams of lawyers and medical experts to minimize payouts. You need an advocate who understands both the medical complexities, such as debridement, grafting, and contractures, and the legal nuances, such as the Premises Liability Act, comparative negligence, and Life Care Plans.
How long do I have to file a burn injury lawsuit in Colorado?
You generally have two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit (C.R.S. 13-80-102). Exceptions exist: under the discovery rule the clock may start when you discovered the harm, and for a minor the deadline is paused until their 18th birthday. Do not wait, because evidence degrades and witnesses forget.
Are burn injury damages capped in Colorado?
Colorado caps non-economic damages such as pain and suffering at $1.5 million for claims accruing on or after January 1, 2025 under C.R.S. 13-21-102.5, with inflation adjustments starting in 2028. Two categories are not capped at all: economic damages such as medical bills and lost wages, and compensatory damages for physical impairment or disfigurement, which in a severe burn case often make up the largest part of the recovery. Economic damages such as medical bills and lost wages are not capped, which is why a detailed Life Care Plan is essential.
What if I was partly at fault for the burn?
Colorado follows a modified comparative negligence rule (C.R.S. 13-21-111). You can recover damages as long as your share of fault is less than 50 percent, and your award is reduced by your percentage of fault. Insurance adjusters often inflate the injured person's fault to reduce payouts, and an attorney can challenge that assessment.
What should I do after a burn injury?
Seek medical care even if the burn seems minor, because infections can be life-threatening. Document the scene with photos of the hazard and your injuries, preserve the defective product or clothing, report the incident, avoid giving recorded statements to adjusters without counsel, and consult an attorney before accepting any settlement.
Start your claim
Get a free case review today
Tell us what happened. We will review your Colorado burn injury case at no cost and no obligation.
Cities we serve
We handle these cases for clients across Colorado. View all locations we serve.
Specific burn injury cases we handle
IT'S MORE THAN MONEY.
A serious burn changes everything. We handle the rest.
Free consultation. No fee unless we win. Available across Colorado.
Read next: Catastrophic injuries and Life Care Planning in Colorado