By Michael Shemtoub, trial attorney, Beverly Law. Updated November 2026.
Burned because of someone else?
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In the first minutes
- Call 911 for a serious burn. MedlinePlus says to call if the burn is about the size of your palm or larger, if it is a full-thickness burn, or if you are not sure how serious it is (MedlinePlus).
- For a minor burn with unbroken skin, run cool water over it or soak it in cool water, not ice water, for at least 5 to 30 minutes (MedlinePlus).
- Do not put oil, butter, ice, cream or home remedies on a severe burn, do not break blisters, and do not pull off clothing that is stuck to the skin (MedlinePlus).
- If electricity may have caused the burn, do not touch the person directly; use a non-metallic object to separate them from the wire first (MedlinePlus).
Ask about a burn center
The American Burn Association lists the burns that should be referred to a burn center, including burns of the face, hands, feet, genitals and major joints, full-thickness burns, electrical and chemical burns, and burns with inhalation injury (ABA referral guidelines). If your burn fits, ask the emergency doctor about a transfer. Our burn center directory lists the centers in California, Texas and Washington.
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The same day
- Photograph the burn, the place it happened and anything involved: the cup and lid, the heater, the appliance, the wiring, the chemical container, the car.
- Keep the object that burned you. Put it in a bag or box and do not clean, repair or throw it away. A loose lid or a failed part can show exactly what went wrong.
- Write down names and phone numbers of witnesses and of any employee or manager you spoke with.
- Keep the receipt, the app order, the work order or the lease. They show where and when it happened and who was in charge.
- Ask the business, landlord or employer to write up an incident report, and ask for a copy.
The first week
- Ask in writing that video be kept. Store and drive-thru cameras can record over footage on short cycles. Our preservation letter template shows what to ask for.
- Photograph the burn every day for two weeks, with a ruler or coin for scale.
- Keep every bill, prescription, mileage note and missed-work record in one folder.
- Do not give a recorded statement to an insurance company before you talk with a lawyer.
- Check your deadline with our deadline calculator. Claims against a city, county, state agency or public hospital can have much shorter notice periods.
As treatment goes on
- Keep a short journal: pain, sleep, dressing changes, therapy, what you can no longer do.
- Save the names of every doctor, therapist and clinic, and the dates of each visit.
- Ask your doctors what grafts, scar care or later surgery they expect. Those future costs are part of a burn claim.
Talk to a burn injury lawyer
Beverly Law offers a free case review in English or Spanish at (310) 552-6959. You owe no fees or costs unless we win. Read more on our burn injury lawyer page.
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Burn injury lawyer — Beverly Law
If you or your child was burned because of someone else in California, Texas and Washington, talk to a burn injury attorney. Free, confidential, English or Spanish. You owe no fees or costs unless we win.
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Important: This page is general information, not legal or medical advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different; talk to a lawyer about yours. Texas cases are handled by the firm’s Texas-licensed attorneys, Joyce Ondich and John Efstathiou. Last reviewed: November 6, 2026.