Burned on Someone Else's Property? You May Have Options.

Burn Injury Unsafe Property Claim: Fire & Explosion Claims Against Owners

If you were badly burned on someone else’s property, you may have a claim against the owner. This is called a burn injury unsafe property claim.

When a landlord or business fails to keep a place reasonably safe, a fire, explosion, or other hazard can cause a serious burn. Every situation is different, and a lawyer can review the facts of yours.

This page is for people facing catastrophic, life-altering burns. These include third- and fourth-degree burns, skin grafts, permanent scarring, or amputation. It is also for families who lost a loved one in a burn incident.

A burn injury property owner liability lawyer can help you gather proof. The lawyer can also work to hold the responsible party accountable.

Request a free, confidential case evaluation. There’s no cost to talk and no obligation.

When a Property Owner Can Be Held Responsible for a Burn Injury

Each case turns on its own facts.

This area of law is called premises liability. In plain terms, the person who controls the property must fix or warn about dangers.

Here are common owner failures that cause serious burns:

• Missing, dead, or disabled smoke detectors
• Broken or absent fire sprinkler systems
• Blocked, locked, or missing fire exits
• Faulty, old, or overloaded electrical wiring
• Gas leaks and unmaintained water heaters
• Exposed heating elements or hot surfaces
• Unsafe storage of chemicals or flammable materials
• Ignored fire code violations

Explosions often trace back to gas line failures, propane or pool-heater problems, or broken commercial equipment.

In Florida rentals, landlords have specific safety duties. We are a Florida-based firm. We represent clients throughout Florida.

The 4 Things You Have to Prove (The Elements of Negligence)

Your lawyer’s job is to gather evidence for each one.

1. For example, they ignored a known hazard or code violation.
2. This includes medical bills, lost income, and pain.

Every case is different, and the details of what happened matter. That is why careful investigation matters so much in these cases.

What Our Burn Injury Unsafe Property Claims Cover

CHG Personal Injury Lawyers handles burn injuries of every severity, from minor burns to severe burns that can cause permanent scarring and lasting harm. Burns like these can result from unsafe conditions on someone else’s property.

We handle claims arising from:

• Apartment and residential fires
• Hotel and motel fires
• Restaurant and commercial fires
• Gas and propane explosions
• Chemical burns
• Electrical burns
• Severe scald injuries

The injuries we focus on include:

• Third- and fourth-degree burns
• Burns that need skin grafts and reconstructive surgery
• Airway and inhalation injury (damage to the breathing passages from smoke or heat)
• Permanent scarring and disfigurement
• Amputation from burns
• Wrongful death

Sometimes a burn happens during a violent act on unsafe property. For example, an attack may occur where an owner failed to provide working locks, lighting, or security. That situation may involve negligent security as well. Lawyers sometimes use the term “negligent security” for these kinds of cases. If that describes what happened to you, tell us during your case evaluation.

Compensation You May Be Able to Pursue

Every burn case is different. No honest lawyer can promise a specific dollar amount.

What we can do is fully account for your losses. We can then pursue fair compensation for them.

Economic damages (money losses you can document) may include:

• Emergency, ICU, and hospital care
• Surgeries, skin grafts, and wound care
• Future medical and reconstructive treatment
• Lost wages and lost earning capacity
• Home modifications and in-home care

Non-economic damages (harms that have no receipt) may include:

• Pain and suffering
• Disfigurement and scarring
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life

If a family lost a loved one, a wrongful-death claim can seek compensation for the family’s losses. This is the most catastrophic outcome of all. Families often have many questions after a loss, and our team is glad to talk through them.

Several factors affect a claim’s value. These include:

• The severity of the burn and the total body surface area (TBSA, the share of your skin that was burned)
• Whether the injury is permanent
• The person’s age and income
• How clearly the owner was at fault

Severe burns often carry a lifetime of costs. A full accounting is critical.

How the Process Works, Step by Step

The process starts with a free evaluation. Then it moves through investigation, claim-building, negotiation, and, if needed, a lawsuit. Here is what to expect.

1. Free case evaluation. We listen and review what happened. Every situation is different, and the details of what happened on the property matter.
2. Investigation. We move fast. We secure the scene, fire-marshal and incident reports, maintenance and inspection records, code-violation history, and photos. Evidence can disappear quickly.
3. Building the claim. We work with medical experts, fire origin-and-cause experts (specialists who find where and how a fire started), engineering experts, and life-care planners (professionals who estimate future care needs and costs). Together they document your injuries and future needs.
4. Insurance demand and negotiation. We present your full, documented losses to the owner’s insurer.
5. Litigation if needed. If a fair settlement is not offered, we are prepared to file suit and try your case.

Catastrophic cases take time to build the right way. Florida sets filing deadlines by statute. They depend on the type of claim and the facts.

Under Fla. Stat. §95.11, the time limit depends on the type of action; an action founded on negligence must be filed within two years. Act early to protect your evidence and your rights.

CHG charges no attorney’s fees and no case costs unless there is a recovery. The case evaluation is always free.

Common Defenses Property Owners and Insurers Raise

Owners and insurers often fight burn claims. They may shift blame or dispute the facts. Knowing their common arguments helps you see why representation matters.

• “We didn’t know about the hazard.” We use maintenance records and inspection history. These show what they knew or should have known.
• “You were partly at fault.” Under Fla. Stat. § 768.81(6), in a negligence action to which this section applies, a party found greater than 50 percent at fault for his or her own harm may not recover any damages. This does not apply to personal injury or wrongful death claims arising out of medical negligence under chapter 766.
• “The cause is unclear.” Fire origin-and-cause experts trace what actually happened.
• “Someone else did it.” They may blame a contractor or utility. We identify every responsible party.

Under Fla. Stat. §768.81, in a negligence action to which this section applies, a person found more than 50 percent at fault for their own harm may not recover any damages. This does not apply to personal injury or wrongful death claims arising out of medical negligence under chapter 766. Any award is also reduced by the injured person’s share of fault.

Insurers know this rule. They may push blame onto you. We push back with evidence.

Answering “Am I Liable If Someone Hurts Themselves on My Property?”

The answer often depends on the specific facts of each situation. First, did you act reasonably? Second, was the hazard known, or should it have been known?

An owner is not automatically responsible for every injury. However, ignoring a known danger can create liability.

If you are the injured person, the same question works in reverse. Did the owner act reasonably? Or did they let a known danger cause your burn?

This is general information, not legal advice. Every situation depends on its own facts. Talk to an attorney about yours.

Why CHG Personal Injury Lawyers

Severe burns are a core part of our catastrophic-injury work. They are not a sideline. Here is what you can expect from our team.

• Focused practice. We handle life-altering injuries, including severe burns, spinal cord injuries, and amputations.
• Licensed attorney. Our attorney, Igor Hernandez, is admitted to The Florida Bar. We represent clients throughout Florida.
• Bilingual resources. We publish educational content in English and Spanish. You can read about your options in your language.
• Outside expert support. We work with fire, medical, and life-care experts. They help show the full scope of your losses.
• Plain-language guidance. No jargon. No pressure. Just clear answers.

We cannot promise any result, and no honest firm can. What we can promise is careful, dedicated work on your case.

Frequently Asked Questions

Talk to a Burn Injury Property Owner Liability Lawyer: Free Case Evaluation

A serious burn changes everything. Evidence can disappear fast. Acting early helps your case get built the right way.

Contact us for a free, confidential case evaluation. There is no obligation. We also offer bilingual resources. You can learn more at our severe burn injuries hub.

Request your free case evaluation now.