Survivors of severe burns endure some of the most painful and disfiguring injuries imaginable. Not only do burn injury victims suffer immense scarring and intense physical pain, they face incredible emotional and psychological trauma. If your burn injury was the result of someone’s negligence, an experienced attorney can help you pursue the justice and compensation you deserve.
Degrees of Burn Injuries
Burn injuries are defined by the degree of damage they inflict. These classifications include:
- First-degree burns: Burns affecting the outer layer of skin, such as a mild sunburn. Skin may be red and painful, but no blisters are present.
- Second-degree burns: Burns affecting the outer layer of skin as well as the layer underneath, called the dermis. Blisters are present and the burn will be painful to touch. Skin is swollen and bright red, and may appear shiny and wet.
- Third-degree burns: Burns destroying two full skin layers. Skin may appear yellow, white, brown, or black. These burns damage nerve endings, so the victim will not experience pain in these areas. This is sometimes called a full-thickness burn.
- Fourth-degree burns: Burns destroying all layers of skin, as well as bones, muscles, and tendons. These are the deepest and most severe burns. Fourth-degree burns can be life-threatening.
Types of Burns
Burns are often categorized by the type of injury suffered. General types of burn injuries include:
- Thermal burns: Caused by contact with flame, hot liquid, steam, or other source of extreme heat
- Chemical burns: Caused by contact with alkali, acid, or other harmful chemical
- Radiation burns: Caused by contact with radiation sources such as X-rays, radiation therapy, nuclear radiation, or ultraviolet light (sunburns)
- Electrical burns: Caused by contact with electrical current
- Friction burns: Caused by rubbing against a hard object, such as a road during a motorcycle accident
- Inhalation burns: Caused by inhaling hot air, smoke, fumes, or gasses
- Cold burn: Caused by prolonged contact with something very cold, or being outside in freezing temperatures (frostbite)
Causes of Burn Injuries
A severe burn injury can occur in a variety of situations, such as:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Construction accidents
- Workplace injuries
- Defective products
- Electrical accidents
- Chemical spills
- Fires at hotels, apartments, or businesses
Signs of Burn Injuries
If you have experienced a burn injury, you may experience common symptoms such as:
- Redness
- Swelling
- Pain
- Blisters
- Whitened skin
- Numbness to touch
- Headache
- Fever
Severe Effects of Burn Injuries
Severe burn injuries can have a devastating effect on the lives of victims. Serious burns can cause:
- Disfigurement
- Amputation
- Bone and joint damage
- Disability
- Loss of sensation
- Cardiac arrest
- Infection
- Emotional anguish
Burn Injury Treatments
Depending on the severity of the burn injury, treatment may include:
- Surgery
- Skin grafting
- Medication
- Physical, respiratory, and occupational therapies
- Phycological treatment
Potential Compensation in a Burn Injury Case
If you have suffered a serious burn, you may experience severe injuries that will take months or even years to treat. It’s important to seek the full and fair compensation you deserve during this time. Potential damages in a burn injury case may include:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Rehabilitation costs
- Pain and suffering
If burn injuries caused the death of a loved one, you may be entitled to seek compensation in a wrongful death claim to cover end-of-life expenses and other financial hardships.
Burn Injury Case Evaluation
The right way to find out if you have a good case is to contact an experienced lawyer. An attorney can determine the strength of your claim and explain all of your legal options. Your attorney will handle every aspect of your case so you can focus on healing.
