Each year, the American Burn Association Annual Meeting brings together burn care professionals, medical researchers, and legal advocates who share a commitment to improving outcomes for burn survivors and their families.
This national conference provides a space for education, collaboration, and connection, with the shared goal of supporting survivors and their families as they navigate the aftermath of a serious burn injury.
Pritzker Hageman burn injury attorney Raymond Trueblood attended and exhibited at the 2025 ABA Annual Meeting to connect with fellow advocates and further strengthen his support for clients throughout every stage of their recovery.
In the conversation below, Ray shares key takeaways from the event and how the experience continues to shape his approach to advocating for burn survivors and their families.
What inspired you to attend the 2025 American Burn Association Annual Meeting?
Ray: There is a certain kinship between legal and medical professionals who study and treat burn injuries: our clients are their patients! Our roles are different, but at the end of the day, we’re all trying to help burn survivors overcome the challenges caused by their injuries. I attended this conference because I wanted to meet these burn care specialists, offer them resources to respond to their patients’ questions about legal issues, and learn more about the incredible work they do every day.
How do events like this help you better understand what your clients are experiencing and how to fight for what they need?
Ray: Burn survivors and their families have a wide range of needs, and it takes a community of dedicated professionals to help meet them. The ABA Annual Meeting brings together surgeons, nurses, social workers, hospital administrators, mental health professionals, medical supply vendors, and burn survivors themselves. Each offers valuable insight, shaped by their unique perspective and lived experience with burn injuries. Attending these meetings helps us better understand the nuances of supporting burn survivors and the dedication that so many skilled and compassionate professionals invest in our clients and their recovery.
How did being part of this year’s ABA meeting deepen your understanding of the challenges that burn survivors face during recovery?
Ray: Events like this help us understand the bigger picture, including new treatments and common experiences among burn survivors, their families, and the professionals who help them navigate the newfound challenges they face. Meeting so many motivated, compassionate, and knowledgeable burn care professionals also inspired me and helped me appreciate the breadth of services available to our clients.
What has working with burn survivors taught you about what it means to be an advocate?
Ray: Burn injuries are among the most disruptive challenges anyone can face. Survivors deserve strong, compassionate advocacy at every stage of their recovery. Many of the burn cases we handle involve stories of incredible triumph and perseverance. Healing from a burn injury is a lifelong journey and the courage our clients show every day drives me to fight even harder on their behalf. Learning their stories reminds me that there’s virtually no limit to how hard we can fight in pursuit of justice!
If someone is thinking about taking legal action after a serious burn injury, what do you want them to know before they take that step?
Ray: Don’t wait to talk to a lawyer! If you’re considering legal action after a serious burn injury, the most important thing to know is that you don’t have to go through it alone.
The legal process can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re focused on healing or caring for a loved one, so legal questions often fall to the bottom of the list. But waiting too long makes things more difficult. Important evidence can disappear, and witnesses may forget key details.
Many people don’t realize there are strict deadlines, called statutes of limitations, that limit how long you have to file a claim. The more time that passes, the harder it becomes to gather and preserve what’s needed to build a strong case. The sooner you talk to a lawyer, the sooner you’ll have someone in your corner to help protect your rights, guide you through the process, and take some of the burden off your shoulders so you can focus on recovery.
Related Resources
- Pritzker Hageman Attends 2025 American Burn Association Annual Meeting
- The Pritzker Hageman Burn Injury Legal Team
- Taking Legal Action in Hopes of a Better Future
- Legal Action After a Burn Injury: Do I Have a Case?
- Finding and Hiring a Burn Injury Attorney
Legal Action after a Burn Injury
The Pritzker Hageman Burn Injury Legal Team, in collaboration with the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors, has put together a handbook covering important topics related to legal action after a burn injury.
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