When we think about injuries that result from another party’s negligence—injuries that might require legal action—burns from fire, chemicals or other causes are usually not the first thing that spring to mind.
But if you’ve suffered from a burn and it was someone else’s fault, it might be in your best interest to start researching burn injury lawyers.
Types of Burns
There are four types of burns that we’ll be discussing:
- Thermal burns: These are the most common and are caused by hot liquids, steam, fire and other forms of extreme heat
- Radiation burns: A radiation burn is caused by exposure to ultraviolet light (usually the sun) or radiation therapy (to treat cancer, for example). A radiation burn can be as simple as a small sunburn, but it can also encompass more severe cases like radiation dermatitis caused by ionizing radiation.
- Light burns: These are caused by light sources (including the sun).
- Chemical burns: These are caused by chemicals such as acid, or alkali materials.
Types of Burn Severity
There are different levels of severity to your injuries, and there are specific ways to treat each level. Knowing the extent of your injury can go a long way towards mitigating long-term damage. There are three categories of severity from burn injuries:
First-Degree Burns
These are the types of burns you are likely most familiar with. They only damage the top/first layer of skin. They are characterized by redness and inflammation (although only minor) of the skin. First-degree burns will likely heal within a week. Do not treat them with ice (as might be your instinct). Instead, try aloe vera gel and cool water.
Second-Degree Burns
These are the burns that you might experience once or twice in your lifetime. We call them “second-degree burns” because whatever damage you receive will penetrate through the topmost (first) layer of skin. You’ll likely see blistered, extremely red skin. Wounds from this type of burn can take a few weeks to heal, and during that time, you should make sure to keep the injured area bandaged.
Third-Degree Burns
These are the most dangerous and debilitating types of burns. If you think you are suffering from this kind of burn injury, seek medical care immediately. With a third-degree burn, the burn goes all the way through the skin. Third-degree burns can even affect your bones and organs if they go deep enough. The wound may have a black or white dry area surrounding it, and the area may be charred. Third-degree burns can cause permanent nerve damage, hypothermia, and death.
Getting Compensated For Your Burn Injuries
There are additional elements regarding burn injuries that your lawyer can help you with—particularly when it comes to financial settlements and legal damages you are owed. Damages caused by a burn injury go beyond the purely economic, which is why a good personal injury attorney will work aggressively to calculate both economic and non-economic damages.
- Economic damages are all those that come with measurable values, such as medical bills, lost wages, short- and long-term disability, and more.
- Non-economic damages are all damages that may not have costs or values, things such as the pain and suffering of your injuries, the emotional impact and trauma of your accident, and more.
Looking For A Lawyer for Your Burn Injury Case?
If you are considering taking legal action following a catastrophic injury such as a severe burn, contact BK Law today. We will explain how we will represent your case, how we will communicate our progress, and how we will treat your legal needs. We will discuss other similar cases we have successfully represented, which can be a great way to remember that you are not alone through this difficult time in your life.