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ChatAccording to the Cleveland Clinic, burns are defined as tissue damage brought on by heat, chemicals, electricity, radiation or the sun. And burns are relatively common – nearly 500,000 Americans seek medical care for accidental burns each year. If you are burned because of someone else’s negligence, call a burn lawyer right away!
Burns can range from mild to life-threatening. Our personal injury law practice routinely works with a variety of burn injury victims. If someone else caused your burn injuries, we want to help you see the legal compensation you deserve!
Today’s blog is meant to educate our Rhode Island and Massachusetts communities about burn injuries, as burns are commonplace injuries in all sorts of personal injury cases. Questions about your accident? Call us any time, free of charge.
What Personal Injury Accidents Cause Burn Injuries?
Personal injury victims can sustain burn injuries in many ways. Take the following two scenarios, for example:
Scenario 1: Someone rear-ends you on the highway going 75 MPH. Your vehicle takes the hit hard, causing you to flip over and skid down the highway with your airbags deployed. You may sustain burn injuries from the friction between you and the road or airbags, from any flames or hot metals resulting from the crash, or even from leaking chemicals such as battery acid, coolant, or brake fluid.
Scenario 2: You’re on the clock, working like normal. When, all the sudden, a machine malfunctions and sends sparks your way. You’re subsequently burnt head to toe.
As you might imagine, our clients sustain burn injuries in motor vehicle accidents, workplace accidents, and even medical procedures.
What Are the Different Types of Burns?
According to Stanford Medicine, there are four major types of burns that can result in different degrees of severity. The four types include:
- Thermal burns – burns from external heat sources that come in contact with your skin, such as from hot metals and liquids, steam, and flames.
- Chemical burns – burns from strong chemicals, such as acids, detergents, or solvents (think: car fluids from the scenario above!).
- Radiation burns – burns from excessive exposure to radiation or UV rays (think: X-ray and sun exposure).
- Electrical burns – burns from an electrical current.
Any of these types of burns can be further staged by severity – first, second, or third-degree burns. The categorizations mean the following:
- First-degree burns – only affect the outer layer of your skin (epidermis). An example of a first-degree burn is mild sunburn.
- Second-degree burns – are more severe than first-degree burns, but not as severe as third-degree burns. These burns materialize on the skin as red and blistered, as well as potentially swollen and painful.
- Third-degree burns – also known as “full thickness” burns that destroy the epidermis and dermis, and potentially muscles, tendons, and bones. Third-degree burn sights appear white or charred and victims will have no feeling/sensation in the area. These burns are often life-threatening and require immediate medical attention.
If you see any signs of a burn (blisters, pain, swelling, white/charred skin, and/or peeling skin) after a personal injury accident, seek medical assistance immediately. Medical professionals are best equipped to determine the degree and severity of your burns and come up with a treatment plan. A burn lawyer can help you financially recover after medical treatment!
What Should I Do If I Sustain a Burn Injury?
This answer depends on the severity of your burns. In the case of a first-degree burn, you may be able to cool, clean, protect, and monitor it from home. For some second-degree burns and all third-degree burns, call 911 and adhere to medical guidance. Generally, it’s best to avoid submerging serious burns in water.
How Are Burns Treated?
Treatment depends on the type and severity of burn you sustain. Generally, it’s important to keep all burns clean and properly bandaged or dressed, if applicable. In many cases, victims need antibiotics to prevent infection. In severe cases, victims may require a skin graft to encourage healing.
It is critical that you seek medical attention after sustaining a burn injury in a personal injury case. Always follow doctor’s instructions to prevent consequences like dehydration, scars, bacterial infection, and critically low blood pressure.
How Can a Personal Injury Law Firm Help Me with my Burn Injury?
While a burn lawyer at Bottaro Injury Lawyers can’t provide a medical care plan, we help our Rhode Island and Massachusetts victims see the legal compensation they deserve after sustaining burn injuries. Damages may include but are not limited to medical expenses, physical therapy/rehabilitation expenses, future medical care, lost wages/earning capacity, and permanent disfigurement and scarring.
We hope that today’s blog raises your awarenesses of the commonality and seriousness of sustaining burn injuries in personal injury accidents. Contact a burn lawyer at Bottaro Injury Lawyers for more details!
It’s Good to Know Mike Bottaro – 24/7 Top-Rated Personal Injury Help
At Bottaro Injury Lawyers, we care for people. Attorney Mike Bottaro and his award-winning legal team handle all types of personal injury cases throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts. We can even help on cases in other states as well. We pride ourselves on our honesty, integrity, and results. Contact us 24/7 in any method you prefer for a fast, free, and confidential consultation about your case. Text or call us at 401-777-7777 or fill out our free and confidential online form. We are here to serve and help you!
