Burn Injury
A burn injury can be a serious and painful accident that typically requires hospitalization and extensive recovery.
Causes of Burn Injury
There are several causes of burn injuries. The most common causes of burn injury includes:
- Fire (e.g. structure fire, car fire)
- Electricity (e.g. power lines not properly insulated or faulty electrical wiring)
- Toxic exposure
- Radiation
- Friction
- Heat / Cold
Gas Fire and Explosion Injuries
Natural gas explosions and other kinds of preventable gas fires and explosions can result from negligently maintained pipelines, human error, defective products, or improper handling of propane and other gases. For example, a product defect such as a faulty gas grill, stove and propane tank can cause gas fire and explosion injuries.
Types of Burn Injuries
Types of burn injuries are typically classified in three categories.
- First-Degree Burn
- Second-Degree Burn
- Third-Degree Burn
Burn Injury Recovery
Second- and third-degree burns are often linked to dangerous construction sites and defective products that are not properly wired. Because the skin is the body’s first line of defense against illness, severe burn injuries often lead to further health problems over time. Recovering from extensive burns is long and difficult, and usually involves numerous reconstructive surgery.
Even with revolutionary medical technology available to plastic surgeons, someone’s negligence can leave an indelible mark on a face, forehead, or extremity that may not be correctable through face lift surgery or blepharoplasty.
Because burns and scars are always difficult for insurance company representatives to evaluate, it is crucial that the person with burns or scarring retain legal representation. In the event the burns or scarring are fairly extensive, you should retain an attorney who has experience with similar cases. Burn injury cases are outside the traditional realm of “pain and suffering,” because of the permanent damage to human flesh.
Insurance representatives are unlikely to provide adequate compensation to burn injury victims, considering whom they work for and the fact that scars last a lifetime. In a burn/scar case, you typically have only one opportunity to obtain compensation for lifelong damage to your appearance.
Burn Injury Lawyer
If you or a loved one has suffered burn injuries from auto accident, structure fire, toxic exposure, or contact with a faulty, improperly insulated or inadequately maintained power line, it is important to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer.