One of the most terrifying injuries a person can sustain is a severe burn to the skin. Burns can be painful and require time and care to heal. Additionally, the extent of scarring depends on the severity of the fire damage. There are many ways in which a person can sustain such a complex injury.
Everyone wants to avoid getting burned, but accidents often occur. People must exercise caution with their children, as they are prone to getting hurt.
If someone else’s fault results in you or someone you care about getting burned, contact a burn injury lawyer. You don’t have to handle the responsible party; they should cover your costs. The Ward Law Group will gather all the pertinent evidence to fight for fair compensation.
What is a Burn Injury
A burn occurs when heat, sunlight, chemicals, or electricity hurt the skin and tissues.
Burn injuries range from minor to life-threatening, depending on when and where the tissue burned.
It is essential to get the required medical assistance based on the severity of the injury. If it is a minor injury, an individual could apply cold water to the burn to relieve the pain. Some people use medicine from their first aid kit, but seeing a doctor for the proper treatment is better.
If you see these situations, go to the hospital and get medical help.
If you see that the burn covers the hands, feet, face, groin, buttocks, a major joint, or a large body area, or if it is a deep burn or it is affecting all layers of the skin, in other words.
Suppose the burn causes the skin to look leathery or charred or has black, brown, or white patches. If chemicals or electricity cause the burn and you experience difficulty breathing, you should immediately go to the hospital.
Types of Burn Injuries
Burn injuries typically occur when the body absorbs energy from various sources. Heat, radiation, chemicals, or electricity can cause injuries, depending on how someone comes into contact with the power.
Thermal burns
They arise from external heat sources that elevate the skin and tissue temperature, leading to tissue cell death or charring. Contact with hot metals, scalding liquids, steam, and flames can cause thermal burns.
Radiation burns
They occur due to extended exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun or other radiation sources, such as X-rays.
Chemical burns
Strong acids, alkalies, detergents, or solvents cause these burns through skin and eye contact.
Electrical burns
The result is the passage of electrical current through the body, whether it is an alternating current (AC) or a direct current.
Common Causes of Burn Injuries
Let’s check the more common causes of burn injuries:
Heat Sources
Contact with flames, hot liquids (scalds), steam, or hot objects can lead to thermal burns. People in restaurant kitchens frequently burn themselves.
Sun Exposure
Spending sun exposure can lead to frequent minor burns and good tanning. However, if you stay in the sun for too long, you may not feel well. If you know you must expose your skin to sunlight for an extended period, apply sunscreen.
Electrical Contact
Electrical burns can result from accidental contact with live electrical wires, faulty electrical appliances, or lightning strikes. Electrical technicians may also get into an accident at work, causing severe injuries or even death.
Faulty electrical equipment, short circuits, or improper handling of electrical devices can cause burn injuries.
Chemical Exposure
Chemical burns can result from contact with strong acids, alkalis, corrosive substances, or certain chemicals. Industrial accidents involving exposure to heat, chemicals, or electrical hazards can also lead to burn injuries.
Friction Burns
Friction burns can happen from rough surfaces or fast rubbing, like road rash or injuries from sports.
Complications Of Burn Injuries To Be Aware Of
Burn injuries can cause serious problems and have severe consequences. It is crucial to know about them. This knowledge will enable us to assist someone injured or deal with our burns more effectively.
Burned skin is highly susceptible to infection. Bacteria and other microorganisms can easily penetrate the damaged skin barrier and cause infections, such as cellulitis or sepsis. Prompt and proper wound care is crucial to minimize the risk of disease.
As burn wounds heal, they can result in the formation of scars. Severe burns may lead to the development of thick, raised scars called hypertrophic or keloid scars.
If the burn affects a joint or a large skin area, it can cause scar tissue that limits movement. This may need physical therapy or surgery.
When a fire survivor gets out of the building, besides the burn injury on their skin, they may get respiratory complications due to inhaling smoke, toxic fumes, or hot air during the fire. These conditions can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention.
Like other serious injuries that a person can sustain, burn injuries can have long-lasting psychological and emotional effects on individuals. Survivors may experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, body image issues, or social isolation.
Another complication severe burns can cause is fluid loss and a drop in blood volume, leading to hypovolemia (low blood volume) and shock. This is a medical emergency and requires immediate medical intervention. In some cases, particularly with extensive burns, there is a risk of organ dysfunction or failure.
Degrees of Burn Injuries
Burn injuries are classified into three categories depending on how deep and severe they penetrate the skin’s surface:
First-degree burn:
These burns are known to be superficial; they only affect the epidermis or outer layer of skin. When people get a first-degree burn, the area affected turns red; it is painful, dry, and without blisters. There is no long-term tissue damage, just on rare occasions; the characteristic of a first-degree burn is that it shows an increase or decrease in skin color.
A great example of a first-degree burn is when people are exposed to sunlight and get a mild sunburn.
Second-degree burn:
A second-degree burn affects the outer layer of the skin, known as the epidermis, and also attacks part of the dermis layer. The burn site turns red, and now we can see a blister, which may be swollen and painful.
Third-degree burn:
This is the most damaging type of burn injury; it destroys the epidermis and dermis layers of skin. They may also damage the underlying bones, muscles, and tendons. The burn site appears white or charred. There is no sensation in the area since the nerve endings are destroyed.
A burn injury to be considered significant damage must affect 10 percent of a child’s body and 15 – 20 percent of an adult’s body. Considerable injuries require hospitalization and extensive rehabilitation.
Who’s Liable For My Burn Injury in NYC?
A New York burn injury lawyer can determine who is liable for your damages depending on how and when you received the burn injury. For example, the electrical panel on a building might malfunction due to a lack of maintenance by a negligent landlord, or maybe you were hit on your motorcycle while a negligent driver was tailgating you on the road. As a result, you felt and got road rash.
Workers in a construction site that does not have all the safety features to avoid a potential fire. There are many ways an accident caused by a negligent party can happen. You should always get a backup from an experienced burn injury lawyer to determine liability based on evidence.
Compensation for New York Burn Injury Lawsuit
You are entitled to compensation for your losses if you sustained a burn injury with extensive damage due to somebody else’s negligence.
A burn injury lawyer can help you get monetary compensation for the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages and income
- Temporary and permanent disability
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium, and more.
Contact a New York Burn Injury Attorney for Help
When you are hospitalized due to severe injuries, you need a helping hand to do all the due diligence and find all the evidence to build a solid case to get compensation. A burn injury is painful and may need time with treatment and reasonable care to heal, and afterward, you may get a scar that will be with you for the rest of your life.
You should seek assistance from an experienced burn injury lawyer in New York, The Ward Law Group. With more than 25 years of experience in personal injury lawsuits, they will fight for you and bring justice to your home. Call now at 855-DOLOR-55 for a free consultation.