ABA-Verified Burn Center

Strong Memorial Hospital Kessler Family Burn/Trauma Unit
Rochester, New York

If you or a family member received burn treatment at Strong Memorial Hospital's Kessler Family Burn/Trauma Unit in Rochester, your medical records are critical evidence in a New York burn injury claim. New York's 3-year statute of limitations under N.Y. C.P.L.R. Β§ 214 means acting promptly is essential.

Facility Information
FacilityKessler Family Burn/Trauma Unit
LocationRochester, NY
ABA Statusβœ… Verified Burn Center
AffiliationUniversity of Rochester Medical Center
Region ServedWestern New York / Finger Lakes / Southern Tier
SpecialtyAcute burn and trauma care, skin grafting, reconstruction
Western NYPrimary Academic Burn Center
ABAVerified Burn Center
3 YearsNew York Statute of Limitations
FreeCase Review Available

About the Strong Memorial Hospital Kessler Family Burn/Trauma Unit

The Strong Memorial Hospital Kessler Family Burn/Trauma Unit at the University of Rochester Medical Center is western New York's primary ABA-verified burn and trauma center, serving the Rochester metropolitan area, the Finger Lakes region, the Southern Tier, and the broader western New York corridor. As an academic medical center Level I Trauma facility, Strong Memorial provides the full spectrum of burn care β€” from acute resuscitation through skin grafting, wound management, and reconstructive surgery β€” for patients across a broad regional catchment area that includes both urban industrial Rochester and the region's extensive rural and agricultural communities.

Rochester's historical identity as a manufacturing and technology hub β€” Eastman Kodak, Xerox, Bausch & Lomb, and their descendants continue to anchor the regional economy β€” combined with a significant chemical manufacturing sector, active construction market, and one of the nation's most productive agricultural regions creates a diverse and significant burn injury landscape across western New York.

Western New York Burn Hazards

  • Precision manufacturing and optics: Rochester's legacy in precision optics, imaging, and photonics manufacturing involves chemical processes, laser systems, and high-voltage electrical equipment that create burn risk for production workers and maintenance contractors.
  • Chemical manufacturing: Western New York hosts significant chemical manufacturing operations, particularly in the Rochester-Buffalo corridor. Chemical process incidents, reactor failures, and caustic material handling create severe chemical burn risk.
  • Agriculture β€” Finger Lakes and Southern Tier: The Finger Lakes and Southern Tier regions are among New York's most productive agricultural areas. Grain handling, cold storage ammonia systems, crop chemical application, and farm equipment fires create burn risk for agricultural workers throughout the region.
  • Construction: Rochester's active urban development and regional construction market generates electrical burns, welding injuries, and gas line incidents throughout western New York. New York Labor Law provides significant protections for construction workers.
  • Utilities: Rochester Gas & Electric (RG&E) employs linemen and substation workers on high-voltage electrical infrastructure throughout western New York where arc flash injuries can be catastrophic.

Your Legal Rights After Treatment at Strong Memorial

New York workers' compensation provides the exclusive remedy against your direct employer for workplace burn injuries. New York law preserves your right to file third-party claims against contractors, equipment manufacturers, chemical suppliers, and property owners. New York follows pure comparative fault β€” you can recover even if partially at fault. New York Labor Law Β§Β§ 240 and 241 provide additional protections for construction workers. The statute of limitations is 3 years under N.Y. C.P.L.R. Β§ 214. Claims against New York government entities require a 90-day Notice of Claim. Contact a New York burn injury attorney immediately.

Your options typically include workers' compensation against your direct employer and third-party personal injury claims against the plant operator (if different from your employer), equipment manufacturers whose products lacked safety guards or caused the accident, and chemical suppliers whose products were improperly labeled or defectively designed. Rochester's manufacturing environment frequently involves multi-party contractor arrangements where a subcontractor's employee is injured on a premises controlled by a different company β€” this creates third-party liability exposure for the premises owner under New York law. Get a free case evaluation to identify all responsible parties.

Three years from the date of injury under N.Y. C.P.L.R. Β§ 214. Claims against Monroe County, the City of Rochester, or other local governments require a Notice of Claim within 90 days of the injury. Claims against the State of New York must be filed in the Court of Claims within 90 days of accrual. Workers' compensation claims should be reported promptly and formally filed as soon as possible. The 90-day notice requirements for government defendants are strict β€” contact a New York burn injury attorney immediately if any government entity may be involved.

Yes. Agricultural ammonia (anhydrous ammonia used as fertilizer, or liquid ammonia used in cold storage refrigeration) can cause catastrophic chemical burns. Your legal options depend on your employment status β€” New York farmworkers have workers' compensation rights, though coverage requirements vary. Regardless of workers' comp status, you may have a third-party claim against the equipment manufacturer (if defective valves, fittings, or controls contributed to the release), the property owner, or the chemical supplier. New York's pure comparative fault system means recovery is not barred even if you had some fault in the incident. Get a free case evaluation immediately.

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The Clock Is Running on Your New York Burn Claim

New York has a 3-year statute of limitations and a 90-day notice requirement for government claims. Don't wait β€” get your free case review today.

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