Fire and burn injuries can frequently leave long-term damage. Aside from scars, victims can suffer excessive medical costs, income loss, pain, and long-term side effects. These are also very difficult to deal with if someone else’s negligence or carelessness caused the burn injuries. If a landlord violated fire-safety regulations, someone else, a tenant or guest, might pay the price. Then, a burn injury lawyer can help you figure out what to do next in similar cases.
Likewise, read to learn more basic information about fires, burns, and how a burn injury lawyer can help you:
What Is a Burn Injury?
Burn injuries are defined as damage to the organic tissue or skin caused by heat or others, including:
- Fire
- Radiation
- Electricity
- Friction
- Chemicals
According to the World Health Organization, burns also often happen in the workplace or at home. However, they are often preventable.
Levels of Injury
Burn injuries have three main degrees:
First-degree burns
Also called superficial burns, these are caused by minimal damage. Some first-degree burn signs include redness, minor inflammation, pain, and dryness as the burn heals. These can also be treated at home using various home treatments and medication.
Second-degree burns
Second-degree burns require more intensive care because their blisters can become infected. Likewise, medical care for these burns can include topical antibiotics, pain medication, and skin grafting based on severity.
Third-degree burns
Third-degree burns are considered the most severe type of burns because the damage has affected all layers of the skin. They also require immediate emergency care. They also need emergency care. Medical professionals advise never to treat a third-degree burn on your own. You must contact emergency personnel as soon as possible.
You can learn more about the types and levels of burns on Healthline here.
What Percentage of these injuries Are Considered Life-Threatening?
Burns can become life-threatening depending on how much of the body’s surface is affected. As a rule, medical care providers consider a burn life-threatening or fatal if it covers over 30% of the body’s surface. However, they already transfer a victim to a specialized burn center if their burns cover at least 10% of the body’s surface.
Other circumstances might require victims to receive treatment at a burn center, such as:
- The victim is a child
- Burned areas are key parts of the body (hands, feet, face, joints, genitalia, etc.)
- Chemical o electrical burns – might require specific treatments
- Injuries include third-degree burns
A burn injury lawyer understands these possibilities and will consider them while working on your case.
How To Manage Burn Injuries
You can treat most minor burn injuries at home. However, more severe degrees might require specialized treatments for a full recovery. These can include:
- Burn medication
- Pain medication
- Medication against infections
- Dressings
- Physical and occupational therapy
- Surgical procedures
- Skin grafts
- Plastic surgery
These extensive treatments might help you recover, but they can also cost a lot of money. Getting help from a burn injury lawyer can help you deal with these costs.
Pursuing Burn Injury Lawsuits
If someone’s negligence caused your burns, you could pursue a lawsuit to cover all of your past and future medical expenses. Also, here are some examples of burn injury cases usually handled by burn injury attorneys:
- Fires caused by faulty wiring in a dwelling
- Apartment building fire
- Lack of safety equipment such as fire extinguishers and smoke detectors
- Chemical burns
- Car fire
- Public transportation fire
- Entertainment malfunctions (fireworks/pyrotechnics mishaps)
- Coming into contact with / falling onto hot surfaces
- Hot liquid or steam
- Radiation (tanning bed malfunction)
- Abuse
- Overexposure to the sun
- Electrical currents
- Medical treatment error
- Workplace accidents
- Product/appliance malfunction
- Explosions
The best burn injury lawyer in California can also help you with similar cases. They can establish causation, prove the degree of liability, and put together a case, so you can get the highest compensation possible. Learn more about burn injury lawyers here.
How Much Compensation Do You Get For a Burn Injury?
Your burn injury’s compensation amount can greatly depend on its severity. Most second-degree burn settlements go between $25,000 and $75,000. However, the amount can go lower or higher based on factors related to your burn injury, including:
- Medical costs
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Lost earning capacity
- Loss of consortium
- Emotional damages
- Property damage
A skilled and experienced burn injury lawyer will ensure you get the maximum amount possible. An attorney prioritizes you, so you can comfortably recover from your injury and move on with your life. For instance, burn injury lawyers at Jacoby and Meyers keep an eye on all of your burn injury treatments, including future rehabilitation. They will also make sure these are included in your compensation amount.
Why Should Get a Burn Injury Lawyer?
Whether you got burned at work or your apartment wiring caused a fire, you must get a burn injury attorney to guarantee your compensation. Other people, entities, or companies might’ve contributed to your injury. They also might’ve overlooked fire safety regulations or carelessly deployed defective fire-safety equipment. Either way, you’ll need to deal with your injury until it heals or for the rest of your life.
If you need an experienced burn injury attorney, look no further than Jacoby and Meyers. Indeed, we have a team of the best burn injury lawyers in California, including Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Fresno, and Sacramento. Hire one of our burn injury lawyers to also help you get the justice you deserve. Also, they can give you advice about complicated topics, including car accident settlements and more. In addition, they can help you:
- Prove negligence
- Define the Cost of Damages
- Build a strong claim
- Negotiate a Settlement
- Proceed with important deadlines in mind
Give us a call today at 888-960-0480 for a free consultation. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to help you.
[INFOGRAPHIC] Burn Injuries in California: Should I Get a Burn Injury Lawyer?