What is Considered a Burn Injury?

The skin on our bodies is our largest vital organ. It protects us from germs, the environment, and even from internal injuries. When we suffer from a burn injury, it can be mild to severe. The skin may grow back without an issue or a skin graft may be required.

There are three types of burn injuries:

• First degree – A first degree burn means that just the top layer of the skin is burned. Although this burn is the least serious, it can still be painful. The tell-tale sign of a first degree burn is skin that appears red after exposure to the hot object, liquid, or steam.
• Second degree – A second degree burn involves the first two layers of your skin. It may start off red like a first degree burn, but you may also develop blisters. These burns are extremely painful. They may cause scarring.
• Third degree – A third degree burn affects every skin layer. It could also affect the muscle, tendon, or ligament underneath. The burned area may turn white or black. It becomes extremely dry. Disfiguration and extreme pain are involved with third degree burns.

Burn injuries can do more than cause scarring. Burn injury victims may have damage to their nerves, muscles, tissue, and loss of mobility. Victims may also have breathing problems or need an amputation. They may also develop severe or life threatening bacterial infections.

If the burn injury victim is no longer able to work, they may not be able to pay their bills or take care of their family. The inability to work coupled with the expense of being treated for their burn injury can cause financial problems, anxiety, and depression.

If your injuries were caused by a defective product, car accident, workplace explosion, or another person’s negligence, you are likely entitled to compensation. Our White Plains burn injury lawyers will review your case, and provide you a detailed analysis of your legal options. Recovery and treatment for burn injuries can be extensive; you should never have to pay out of pocket for someone else’s mistake or wrongdoing.

Common Causes of Burn Injuries

Our White Plains burn injury lawyers help burn victims get compensation for their injuries if they were caused by another party’s negligence.

Common accidents that might cause burn injuries include:

• Car accidents
• Truck accidents
• Electrical burns on a construction site
• Gas explosions
• Motorcycle accidents
• Chemicals or chemical explosions
• Electrocution
• Defective appliances or wiring

The American Burn Association (ABA) estimates that burn injuries result in an estimated 40,000 hospitalizations each year. Hundreds of thousands of people receive some form of medical treatment for burn injuries every year. Contact with flame is the most likely cause of a burn injury followed by scalding from a hot liquid and contact burns with hot solids.

Thermal burns which are caused by contact with a hot object, liquid, direct flame, or steam are the most prevalent. Moderate to severe thermal burns require immediate attention from a doctor or burn specialist. Contact with a hot substance can char multiple layers of skin and damage underlying tissue. Thermal trauma may result in skin infections or shock.

Burn injuries can be devastating, requiring years of medical treatment. Some of the most severe harm can be done through ways other than direct contact with fire, such as lung damage or asphyxiation due to smoke inhalation and heart problems resulting from electrical burns.

Burn Injury Facts and Statistics

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, California, Texas and New York have the largest number of fire-related deaths. Substantially more men are injured and killed each year in fires, and people between the ages of 40 and 44 have the highest fire injury rate.

The ABA estimates that one person dies every 2 hours and 41 minutes in the United States. Injuries related to fire and smoke inhalation killed 3,275 people, 310 of which were vehicle crash fires.

In the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Action Plan for Child Injury Prevention, burns are listed as one of the five leading causes of deaths for children, costing millions in medical expenses and lost wages.

Treatment and Recovery for Burn Injuries

Treatment for burn injuries depends on the nature and degree of the burn. In addition to skin and tissue damage, a burn can cause shock, loss of sensation, and muscular swelling. As noted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, treatment and recovery related to burn injuries are associated with the depth of the injury.

A massive burn over a large portion of the body can generate “one of the most intense inflammatory states seen in clinical medicine.” A person’s intense inflammatory response may cause them to go into shock, requiring fluid resuscitation.

If severe, a burn injury victim may be given IV fluid to help minimize further damage to internal organs and prevent dehydration. A third-degree burn can require years of skin grafting surgeries, costing a victim tens of thousands of dollars in medical expenses. A burn injury victim may also need physical therapy and rehabilitation.

Because of the potential for disfigurement and the body’s extreme response to burn injuries, many victims require years of pain management and psychological support. Unfortunately, in some cases, burn injuries can be catastrophic where a victim is unable to return to work or continue a normal life without medical assistance. A burn injury of this nature should be investigated by an attorney.

Liability in Burn Accidents

If your burn is the result of another person’s negligence or wrongdoing, you might be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Dangerous worksites, defective products, and industrial accidents may all result in liability. If you have a burn-related injury, you should always have your case reviewed by an experienced White Plains burn injury lawyer.

Determining liability requires a thorough investigation into the cause of the fire or explosion. At Denlea & Carton, our attorneys will work to reconstruct the accident, determining what or who caused your injuries. Burn injury cases can require complex litigation; you need an attorney with the experience and background to go after negligent manufacturers or employers who failed to provide a safe workplace.

Under Section 214 of New York’s Civil Practice Law & Rules (CVP), regardless of whether you are filing a claim for damages under product liability, negligence, or premises liability, you have three years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. Failure to commence an action for damages within the three-year statute of limitations can result in your recovery being barred.

Burn Injury Victims May Be Eligible for Compensation

If you or someone you love was burned as a result of an accident, you may be eligible to receive compensation. Our White Plains burn injury lawyers are here to help burn victims protect their legal rights and get the financial recovery that they deserve. Medical treatments for burn injuries can be expensive and painful.

Some burn injury victims need continuing medical treatment. Burn injury victims may be able to receive compensation for past, current, and future medical expenses; lost wages; pain and suffering; and loss of consortium. To have your potential burn injury case evaluated, call our legal team to schedule your initial consultation.