Burn Injuries: Seeking Compensation for Thermal, Chemical, or Electrical Burn Accidents

Severe burn injuries can turn someone’s life upside down. It can leave victims scarred physically and emotionally. Recovery isn’t always easy, either. It may take them time to return to their normal lives, or worse; they may not be able to do it at all. The severity will depend on the types of burn injuries sustained.

Fortunately for burn victims, there is hope. You can fight for your right to compensation with the help of a burn injury lawyer. 

If you or a loved one has suffered a burn injury, you’ve come to the right place. This blog will help you understand burn injuries and their different types. We’ll also share with you a guide on how to get compensated for your pain. 

What is A Burn Injury?

Burn injuries happen when heat, chemicals, electricity, or radiation comes in contact with our skin. The severity of these burns depends on how deep the damage goes below the surface of our skin. 

But typically, they’re categorized into three; first-degree, second-degree, and third-degree burns. 

First-degree Burns

These injuries only affect the top layer of the skin and typically heal on their own. Although they’re the mildest burn injuries, victims can still experience redness, swelling, and pain in the affected area. 

Second-degree Burns

When a victim has a second-degree burn, their skin’s first and second layers are damaged. These result in painful blisters and typically take weeks or months to heal. They’re also known for resulting in scars. 

Third-degree Burns

Third-degree burns damage all of our skin layers, including underlying tissues. These injuries can be fatal, and they require complex skin grafts to heal. 

Different Types of Burn Injuries

There are five types of burn injuries a person could experience:

Thermal Burns

These burns happen when a heat source increases our skin’s temperature, causing cell death to the tissue. Hot metals, liquids, flames, and steam can cause thermal burns. 

Electrical Burns

Electrical burns happen when our skin is exposed to either direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC). They’re caused by live wires, machinery, and even home appliances. These injuries aren’t immediately visible since they mostly damage our skin’s lower layers. 

Chemical Burns

Solvents, alkalines, and acids aren’t the only materials that can cause chemical burns. Even cleaning products can damage our eyes and skin if we come into contact with them. 

Friction Burns

Friction burns occur when the skin is rubbed against a rough surface. They can cause mild redness to severe blistering and open wounds.

Radiation Burns

These injuries are caused by prolonged exposure to high levels of radiation. X-rays, radiation therapy, PET, and CT scans can cause this type of burn injury. 

Although they’re not common, they pose a life-threatening danger to patients. It could take days or weeks before these burns heal.

Long-term Damage Caused by Burn Injuries

If a burn injury isn’t treated immediately, it could lead to long-term damage, like: 

Infection

Burn patients are more prone to infection since they no longer have a barrier protecting them from bacteria. 

Nerve Damage

Burn injuries can cause numbness and tingling. However, there are severe cases wherein it could lead to permanent nerve damage. 

Hypertrophic Scarring

Hypertrophic or keloid scars are raised scars that appear after the wound heals. These scars can be itchy and painful, which could cause a great deal of discomfort to patients. 

Contractures

A contracture happens when the skin and the tissues underneath it heal in a way that freezes joints into one position.

Psychological Effects

A traumatic event that causes catastrophic burn injuries could also lead to anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic disorder (PTSD).

What Compensation Can You Claim For Burn Injuries?

Since burn injuries can cause extensive damage to victims, they have the right to ask for compensation for economic and non-economic damages. 

Economic damages include medical bills, lost income, and property damage. If you have sustained permanent injuries, you can also be compensated for the income you’ll lose. 

On the other hand, non-economic damages focus on the mental and emotional effects of your injuries. For instance, if you lost your partner because of what happened, you can include non-economic damages in your claim.

How to File A Claim For Different Types of Burn Injuries

Although burn victims are entitled to compensation, they must take the correct steps to protect themselves and their right to file a claim. Here’s what you need to do if you suffer from severe burn injuries. 

Seek Medical Attention

You must seek immediate treatment whether your burn injuries are severe or not. Doing so will help you lower your chances of sustaining long-term damage. Additionally, it will help link the accident to your injuries. 

Observe Your Injuries

Burn injuries tend to change over time. So, it’s vital you document their progression while you work on your personal injury claim. 

Take photos and make sure you document each stage of healing. We also suggest you keep a journal. Write about how you feel as you undergo treatment. Your journals and photos will help you build a strong case for your injuries. 

Contact A Lawyer

There’s no denying that burn injury lawsuits can be extremely challenging. They have a complex nature that can be overwhelming for patients; we recommend you work with burn injury attorneys like Adamson Ahdoot’s team. 

Adamson Ahdoot is a full-service civil litigation firm with over 100 years of combined legal experience. With our help, you can trust that the best lawyers will handle your case with the intimacy and attention to detail of a boutique firm with the expertise of a larger one.

Our compassionate attorneys will provide you with all the support and guidance you need during this difficult time. We’ll help you build a strong case by gathering evidence and assessing all the damages you’ve suffered. 

Adamson Ahdoot’s goal is to increase your chances of winning fair compensation. With our help, you can focus on healing while we represent you during negotiations. 

Call us at (800) 310-1606 and start building a robust claim today.