
EXPERIENCED LEGAL TEAM UNDERSTANDS THE TYPES, CAUSES AND SEVERITY OF BURNS
Since 1959, Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler PLLC has fought tirelessly on behalf of injured parties, including victims of severe burns. To obtain complete compensation for you, our legal team conveys to opposing counsel, a judge or a jury the nature and full extent of your burn injury. We have experience with burn injuries resulting from:
- Fires — Contact with an open flame can cause serious injuries.
- Electrical — An arc flash from an industrial source courses through the body, damaging muscles, nerves and internal organs. Substantially damaged muscles may release chemicals into the bloodstream, disturbing electrolytes and causing kidney failure.
- Chemical — Caustic substances, such as acids and bases, have a corrosive effect on flesh. The eyes and lungs are particularly vulnerable.
- Thermal — Contact with a hot surface or scalding from boiling liquid or escaping steam destroys tissue.
Third-degree burns destroy epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous tissue, causing fluid loss and inducing shock. Burns cause permanent, disfiguring scars, impair muscle, nerve, blood vessel and organ functions, and leave a victim at greater risk of life-threatening infections.
LIABILITY ISSUES VARY DEPENDING ON THE CAUSE AND VENUE OF THE BURN INCIDENT
To receive compensation, you must demonstrate that someone other than you is responsible for your burn injury. Our legal team thoroughly investigates burn incidents to determine the parties who might be at fault.
- Home fire — Many home fires result from resident negligence. However, propane tank, water heater and natural gas leak explosions are often traced back to defective products, for which a manufacturer or installer would be strictly liable.
- Auto fire — A negligent driver might be solely responsible for a fire following an auto accident, but auto part defects and design defects have been linked to car fires in the past.
- Industrial fire — Factory fires, arc flashes, chemical releases or scalding incidents sometimes result from employee negligence, so an injured worker’s only recourse is workers’ compensation. However, if a defective machine part or design caused the burn incident, the victim may file a third-party lawsuit to recover civil damages.
- Premises fire — If you are guest at a private residence, a patron of a business, or a passenger on any mode of transportation, the owner is responsible for unsafe conditions that lead to injury, especially if the owner violated fire laws in any way.
Our firm is dedicated to exploring every possible avenue by which to recover full compensation for your losses.
Let our experienced legal team litigate your burn injury case in Tacoma
Burn injury victims require compensation to address a lifetime of needs. At Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler PLLC, our personal injury attorneys dedicate themselves to securing the maximum damage award possible. Call us at 253-383-5388 or contact our Tacoma office online to arrange your free consultation.
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Do you have a case?
At Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler PLLC we have the skill and experience to take on a wide range of personal injury cases throughout Washington state. From motor vehicle accidents to workplace injuries – our reputation and success rates keep opposing counsel on edge.

Frequently Asked Questions
We have answers to some of the most common Washington personal injury questions. These are resources for injury victims.
Do I need a lawyer to file a personal injury lawsuit?
It is not necessary to retain a lawyer to file your personal injury lawsuit. You should base your decision to involve an attorney on a reasonable assessment of the pros and cons. Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler PLLC is a highly reputable personal injury law firm that has served Washington since 1959. We deliver value to our clients that far outweighs the fees we collect. But before you retain any attorney, you have to be satisfied that the benefits exceed the costs. We offer these points for your consideration.
What is the statute of limitations in Washington for personal injury?
A statute of limitations is state law; throughout the country, different states set different time limits for identical causes of action. Within each state, different causes of action have different time limits. In Washington, for personal injury lawsuits, the statute of limitations is three years.
How much does a personal injury lawyer cost?
The great advantage of filing a personal injury lawsuit is that most attorneys operate on a contingency fee basis. That means that rather than charging upfront legal fees or an hourly rate, the attorney works without compensation until the case resolves through a jury verdict or settlement. At that time, the attorney takes a percentage of the award. The contingency fee arrangement helps plaintiffs who could not otherwise afford the costs of civil litigation to pursue just compensation without worrying about expenses. It also means that your ability to retain an excellent lawyer does not depend on your ability to pay, but rather on the attorney’s assessment of the strength of your case, or the importance of delivering justice to someone in your particular circumstances.
How do I file a personal injury lawsuit in Washington state?
At Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler PLLC, we want our clients to have an accurate picture of what a personal injury lawsuit entails. The process is rarely quick and easy; defense counsel and insurance companies often employ delay tactics to wear a plaintiff down. We offer this page as a primer for anyone who has a cause of action and is considering a personal injury lawsuit.
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