Burn Injury Information

A guide to understanding Burn Accidents and Burn Injuries, including a list and explanation of both the types of Burn Injuries and the causes of Burn Injuries, a guide for determining liability, and the statute of limitations.

Understanding Burn Injuries · Types of Burn Injury · Burn Injury Causes · Determining Liability · Statute of Limitations

Understanding Burn Injuries

A serious burn injury can be one of the most traumatic personal injuries a person can experience. Fires and burn injuries can occur anywhere, such as in buildings, homes, motor vehicles, at work, and other places where fire safety precautions are not taken. Burn injuries require lengthy treatment and healing as layers of skin grow back and are one of the most expensive catastrophic injuries to treat. Lingering pain and scarring are concerns after a serious burn injury. Emotional trauma is another serious effect of burn injuries. In many cases, burn injury victims also suffer from smoke inhalation. Most burn injuries can by prevented through careful attention to heat sources, proper maintenance of machinery, and proper maintenance of heating devices. Other burn injuries, such as those caused by a defective product, cannot be avoided despite attentiveness to safety measures. Whether you sustain a burn injury at home or on the job, an experienced burn injury attorney can help you obtain compensation for your losses and expenses.

Types of Burn Injury

Burn injuries can be classified as first degree burns, second degree burns, or third degree burns, depending on the severity of the burn and the resulting skin damage. Below is an explanation of the different degrees of burn injuries.
First degree burns : In first degree burn cases, only the first layer of skin is burned. First degree burns are characterized by reddened skin that will heal in approximately one week and may peel. Second degree burns: In second degree burn cases, the first and second layer of skin is burned. Second degree burns are characterized by moist-looking skin and blisters. Third degree burns: In third degree burns cases, all layers of the skin are burned and the underlying tissue is damaged. Third degree burns are characterized by a white or black dry wound. Permanent scarring is inevitable.

In addition to the three degrees of burns, there are four primary types of burns:
Thermal burns: Thermal burns are caused by contact with flames, steam, hot liquids, and other sources of intense heat. Light burns: Light burns are caused by contact with sunlight or other sources of ultraviolet light. Chemical burns: Chemical burns are caused by contact with an acid or an alkali. Radiation burns: Radiation burns are caused by contact with nuclear radiation or ultraviolet light.

Burn Injury Causes

Burn injuries can occur in many locations and may be caused by a wide range of factors, including:

Determining Liability

Fire and burn litigation is extremely complex. Determining liability in burn injury cases involves pinpointing the cause of the burn, gathering and analyzing evidence, testing the products and materials involved in the burn injury, and identifying the responsible parties in a timely manner. A person who has suffered severe burn injuries as a result of another’s negligence or because of a defective product has the right to compensation for damage to their health, their earning power, and the loss of well being. For example, property owners and manufacturers may be held liable for locked fire exits, broken or malfunctioning fire alarms, and defective sprinkles and fire extinguishers. In order to successfully recover compensation, a burn injury lawyer must show that the victim has been injured, the injury was not a pre-existing condition, and the injury was the result of another party’s actions. In order to prove these points, testimony from fire safety experts, such as retired fire fighters, engineers, and other safety professionals, may be required.

Statute of Limitations

If you or a loved one has suffered a burn injury, it is in your best interest to file a claim as soon as possible. When you file a claim quickly, evidence is more easily gathered to prove your case. In addition, filing promptly ensures that the statute of limitations will not expire. Burn injury cases have a specific statute of limitations in each state. The statute of limitations is a time limit that governs the period in which an injury victim can file a lawsuit. After this period expires, you lose your right to bring a claim in connection with your burn injury caused by someone else's negligence or a defective product. A burn injury attorney can help you meet the appropriate time limitations and guide you through the process of sucessfully filing a claim.

All content on Accidents.com is for informational purposes only and is NOT intended as legal or medical advice. Please seek advice from a professional on any related topics.

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