Burn injury claims in Fort Worth: where to get care and how to prove what happened

For a chemical or electrical burn, call 911 first. In Fort Worth, JPS and Texas Health Harris Methodist are the Level I trauma centers, and JPS says it has been adding burn care. The Fire Department writes a report on every fire it answers. A burn lawsuit generally must be filed within 2 years.

Last checked November 9, 2026 · Official sources (31)

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Road map of Fort Worth showing I-35W and the hospital district on South Main Street where burn patients are treated
Fort Worth Fire writes a report on every fire it answers. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Where are serious burns treated in Fort Worth?

JPS says it has begun ramping up its burn care offerings. It also runs a Wound Care Clinic at 1350 S. Main Street, Suite 3300, phone 817-702-8400. The city's other Level I trauma center is Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth.

We could not confirm a separate American Burn Association verified burn center in Fort Worth from an official source. Ask the hospital directly which unit treats major burns and whether it will transfer you.

How do I tell how bad a burn is?

TypeWhat it looks likeWhat to do
Partial thicknessBoth skin layers are hurt, with blistering.Get medical care.
Full thicknessDeep layers of skin, white or blackened, may be numb.Call 911. Pain is not a guide.
Chemical or electricalMay look smallCall 911.
Smoke, steam or fumesAirway burns are possible.Call 911.

Watch for infection: pus, fever, more pain or red streaks. When scar tissue tightens enough to limit movement, that is called contracture.

How do I get the fire report in Fort Worth?

  1. Get the incident date and address.
  2. To get the Fort Worth Fire Department's report, file a public information request online.
  3. Ask for the full report, not only a summary. The department writes one for every incident it responds to.
  4. Take photos of the burn and the scene before cleanup, and keep the damaged item.

What caused my burn, and who may be responsible?

Common causes include faulty heaters, furnaces or industrial equipment. Hot water can burn in 6 seconds at 140 degrees or 30 seconds at 130 degrees. A landlord, maker, employer or property owner may each be involved.

A product claim in Texas must start within 15 years of the sale, and in a design defect claim you must show a safer alternative design.

What if I was burned at work in Fort Worth?

A burn at work may not be covered, because not every Fort Worth employer carries workers' comp. Check coverage first. Workers' comp can pay lifetime income benefits for third degree burns over at least 40 percent of the body with grafting. You can reach OSHA's Fort Worth office at (817) 428-2470.

Fort Worth's largest employers include Lockheed Martin, Alcon Laboratories, Bell Flight and BNSF. A burn on the job at any large employer can start a comp claim.

How long do I have to file a burn claim in Texas?

Two years to sue. For a burned child, the years spent as a minor do not count against the 2-year limit. If a government is involved, notice is due within six months. A jury that puts you more than 50 percent at fault ends the claim.

Punitive damages need clear and convincing proof of fraud, malice or gross negligence. A hospital lien attaches only if you were admitted within 72 hours.

Questions

Is a burn that does not hurt less serious?

No. A painless burn can still be one of the most serious.

Is a child's burn treated differently?

For a burned child, Cook Children's calls itself a Level II pediatric trauma center.

Can a scar from a burn be part of a claim?

Yes. See our scar page for how disfigurement is counted.

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Sources (31)

  1. MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “The burn is caused by chemicals or electricity.”
  2. Texas DSHS, Texas Trauma Facilities, checked 2026-11-08. “JOHN PETER SMITH HOSPITAL 11/1/2028 E FORT WORTH 76104”
  3. Texas DSHS, Texas Trauma Facilities, checked 2026-11-08. “TEXAS HEALTH HARRIS METHODIST HOSPITAL FORT WORTH 1/1/2029 E FORT WORTH 76104”
  4. JPS Health Network, 10 years of Level I trauma, checked 2026-11-09. “JPS has begun ramping up its burn care offerings over the past year or so.”
  5. City of Fort Worth, Fire Investigations, checked 2026-11-09. “The policy of the Fort Worth Fire Department is to investigate all fires that occur within it’s jurisdiction. A report is generated for every incident to which the Fire Department responds.”
  6. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003, checked 2026-11-08. “not later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues”
  7. MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “The most serious burns can be painless.”
  8. City of Fort Worth, Fire Investigations, checked 2026-11-09. “To obtain a copy of a fire report, please file a public information request online.”
  9. Texas Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.001, checked 2026-11-09. “the time of the disability is not included in a limitations period”
  10. MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “Second-degree burns on the hands, feet, face, groin, buttocks, or over a major joint”
  11. JPS Health Network, Wound Care Clinic, checked 2026-11-09. “1350 S. Main Street, Suite 3300 Fort Worth, TX 76104 817-702-8400”
  12. MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “Partial-thickness burns (formerly known as second-degree burns) affect both the outer and underlying layer of skin.”
  13. MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “Full-thickness burns (formerly known as third-degree burns) affect the deep layers of skin.”
  14. MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “You can also burn your airways if you breathe in smoke, steam, superheated air, or chemical fumes”
  15. MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “Red streaks spreading from the burn”
  16. MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “Scarring after traumatic injury or burns”
  17. MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “Faulty space heaters, furnaces, or industrial equipment”
  18. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, checked 2026-11-09. “Burns will also occur with a six-second exposure to 140 degree water or with a thirty second exposure to 130 degree water.”
  19. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.012(b), checked 2026-11-09. “a claimant must commence a products liability action against a manufacturer or seller of a product before the end of 15 years after the date of the sale of the product by the defendant”
  20. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 82.005(a), checked 2026-11-09. “the burden is on the claimant to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that: (1) there was a safer alternative design”
  21. Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation, checked 2026-11-09. “Not all Texas employers provide workers' compensation insurance, but most do.”
  22. Texas Labor Code § 408.161, checked 2026-11-09. “third degree burns that cover at least 40 percent of the body and require grafting”
  23. OSHA, Texas Area Offices, checked 2026-11-08. “8713 Airport Freeway, Suite 302 Fort Worth, TX 76180-7610 (817) 428-2470”
  24. City of Fort Worth, 2025 City Facts, checked 2026-11-09. “n Alcon Laboratories n Bell Flight Fort Worth n Burlington Northern Santa Fe LLC”
  25. Texas Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003, checked 2026-11-09. “not later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues”
  26. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.101, checked 2026-11-08. “not later than six months after the day that the incident giving rise to the claim occurred”
  27. Texas Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.101, checked 2026-11-09. “not later than six months after the day that the incident giving rise to the claim occurred”
  28. Texas Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 33.001, checked 2026-11-09. “a claimant may not recover damages if his percentage of responsibility is greater than 50 percent”
  29. Texas Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 41.003, checked 2026-11-09. “exemplary damages may be awarded only if the claimant proves by clear and convincing evidence”
  30. Texas Property Code § 55.002, checked 2026-11-09. “must be admitted to a hospital not later than 72 hours after the accident”
  31. Cook Children's, Pediatric Trauma Surgery, checked 2026-11-09. “As a Level II Pediatric Trauma Center”

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