A burn injury can leave you with psychological and physical scars as well as ongoing pain. Burns can be caused by exposure to hazardous chemicals, hazardous conditions on a poorly-maintained property, explosions, electrical fires, defective tools, accident burns at social gatherings, and others. No matter the type of burn you have suffered, speaking to an experienced burn injury lawyer at the Law Offices of Bryan Musgrave can help you understand your rights to potential compensation. The facts and circumstances surrounding your accident will determine whether you have a valid claim for damages.
Types and Degrees of Burn Injuries
According to the American Burn Injury Association, there are an estimated 486,000 burn injuries that require medical treatment in the United States each year. Of the people who are injured, 40,000 are hospitalized, and 30,000 are admitted to acute hospitals.
Burns can be divided into the following four categories:
- Thermal burns from fire, scalding liquids, steam, and other extreme heat sources
- Chemical burns from chemical, alkali, or acid explosions
- Light burns from exposure to ultraviolet rays or sunlight
- Radiation burns from exposure to radiation sources
Burns are also divided into three degrees of severity:
- First-Degree Burns: When people suffer first-degree burns, the top layer of skin is damaged. This is the least severe type of burn and causes minor damage. First-degree burns may produce minor inflammation, skin that feels warm to the touch, and redness. In most cases, first-degree burns heal within a week.
- Second-Degree Burns: Second-degree burns cause damage to deeper layers of the skin and cause symptoms that include blistered, extremely red skin. Second-degree burns can take weeks to heal and may leave scarring.
- Third-Degree Burns: Third-degree burns are the most severe type of burn. The damage caused by third-degree burns goes through all of the skin layers and can damage the bones and organs. When people suffer from third-degree burns, they may have black or white wounds, charred skin, and permanent damage to their nerves. In addition, they may develop hypothermia, blood loss, or shock, which can lead to death. Immediate medical attention is necessary to treat third-degree burns.
Compensation for Burn Injuries
Burn treatment is among the most expensive types of medical care. People who have been severely and extensively burned may require years of treatment and rehabilitation and may suffer substantial limitations on their quality of life and future earnings capacity.
If someone else’s negligent or careless acts caused your burn injuries, you should hire an experienced personal injury lawyer from the Law Offices of Bryan Musgrave to fight for your rights. Our attorneys are prepared to work hard to help you recover the compensation to which you are entitled for the losses you have suffered. We have decades of experience helping negligence victims recover maximal compensation for their economic and non-economic losses. Attorney Bryan Musgrave is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, which is an elite organization that only accepts lawyers who have recovered damages in the millions or tens of millions of dollars in a single case.
Get Help from the Law Offices of Bryan Musgrave
Suffering severe burn injuries or losing a loved one in a fire because of the actions of others can be devastating. Filing a personal injury claim might help you hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions and recover compensation for your losses. Contact the Law Offices of Bryan Musgrave today to request a free consultation to learn more about your rights.