Personal Injury & Wrongful Death Resource Center
Causes of Serious Personal Injury: Fire/Burn Injuries
The painful and sometimes disfiguring occurrence of a burn injury can be extremely traumatic for the victim, as well as his or her family. In addition, burns are the second leading cause of death in the United States causing roughly 2.5 million deaths a year in the United States due to burns.
Types of Burns
There are different categories of burn injuries that depend on the severity and cause. Three types of serious burns include:
- First degree burn ? minimal tissue damage, red, and very sensitive when touched. Swelling, pain, peeling skin, shock (bluish lips, pale, clammy lips), white charred skin can also occur.
- Second degree burn
? can cause blisters and causes damage to the top layers of skin. Can result in scarring or require a skin
graft.
- Third degree burn ? destroys all the layers of skin, and leaves no skin cells to repair the skin. Healing time is much slower for these types of burns. Third degree burns result in extensive and permanent scarring.
Burn Hazards
Often, a burn may be the fault of another person?s negligence, particularly if you or a loved one were injured at work or in a public place. Some of the burn hazards include:
- Thermal burns such as those caused by contact with flames, radiation, or excessive heat from fire, steam, hot liquids and hot objects.
- Chemical burns can be caused by contact with dangerous substances like acids or other caustic materials.
- Electrical burns can be caused by contact with electrical components such as faulty electrical lines or cords can be the causes of these types of burns.
- Radiation burns can come from exposure to nuclear sources or ultraviolet sources, such as overexposure to Radiation treatment.
Physical Damage
If these types of burns occurred at a work place or public area, then you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, loss of wages, and psychological treatment. The physical aftermath and recovery of a burn can take many months or even years. Some of the possible physical damage include:
- Excessive pain
- Scarring
- Swelling
- Skin discoloration
- Psychological damage
- Disfigurement
- Death
Contact a Kentucky personal injury attorney
A burn accident has the potential to seriously disrupt a person?s life. The physical pain, emotional damage, scarring, recovery time, and many times permanent disfigurement can be overwhelming.
Burn accidents can occur in the home, workplace, or public areas. An employer, supervisor, landlord, electrician, and/or product manufacturer may be held liable for the financial and emotional burdens you or a loved one face as a burn victim. It is important to discuss your options with a qualified personal injury attorney to ensure the parties involved are held liable.
If your burn injury was a result of someone else?s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. The Shelton Law Group understands to how burn injuries can change someone?s life forever. We can help ensure that the individual at fault is liable for the pain and suffering you've had to endure.
