Burn Injuries
Burn injuries can cost a lifetime of medical bills, rehabilitation, scarring and other complicated consequences. Oftentimes, burn injuries are the result of an accidental fire due to someone’s negligence. This means that you could legally be entitled to damages for your financial losses and pain and suffering.
At Live Oak Injury Law Group, we are dedicated to serving you. We can help you resolve your personal injury claim with a maximum recovery at a reasonable cost. If you or a loved one has suffered from a burn injury as the result of an accident, speak with a skilled personal injury attorney today. To learn more, read below, and visit our website to schedule a free consultation.
What Are Common Causes of a Burn Injury?
Burn injuries can occur due to several types of accidents and in many different environments. The circumstances of each burn injury and the exact cause is always unique, but there are some common threads in these injury claims to consider. Below, we’ve listed some common reasons that an accidental burn injury can occur:
- Negligent Personal Services: Many burn injuries are actually chemical burns caused when a salon or cosmetologist uses the wrong product on a customer or uses the product incorrectly. The severity of the burns can vary widely, but permanent scarring can occur and the salon or the person applying the product may be liable for damages.
- Negligent Food Service: A burn injury can result from negligent handling of very hot liquid or hot serving plates in a restaurant setting. If a server spills hot water, or very hot soup on a customer, or if hot cast iron, hot pot, steam or open flame is used in the restaurant, severe scalding and burn injuries can occur, and may result in permanent scarring.
- Electrical Burns: : Burn injuries can occur if a property owner, manager or landlord fails to inspect and maintain appliances or wiring in rental properties, resulting in dangerous conditions such as frayed wires, wiring not up to building or fire code, and defective appliances. These dangerous conditions can cause fires, smoke inhalation and electric shock injuries.
- Defective or Non-Existent Smoke Alarms: Burns and smoke inhalation injuries are often caused by fires that occur in another part of a property or building, but sometimes people are injured or killed because they did not receive adequate warning. Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Alarms are required in California, however, some property owners, landlords and managers do not take reasonable steps to provide, inspect or maintain required safety devices that can save lives and prevent injury.
What Are the Different Kinds of Burn Injuries?
The severity of your burn injury will vary depending on the circumstances of your accident. In general, burn injuries follow a specific classification for severity.
First degree burns are the most common kind of burn injury that occurs. This is equivalent to a bad sunburn or touching a hot item (like a pan or dish). This kind of burn is the least severe and often results in some pain and discomfort in the affected areas.
Second degree burns are when the injury damages both the outer and inner layer of skin. This results in more intense damage and pain than a first degree burn. Common causes of a second degree burn include coming into contact with water that’s too hot, harsh chemicals, or sources of heat (like an oven or microwave).
A third degree burn is damage to both the inner and outer layer of skin that could also impact your soft tissue (like tendons, muscles, and nerve endings). These kinds of burn injuries often turn yellow and/or white throughout the healing process and are more likely to scar.
A fourth degree burn is the most severe type of burn. This is when your burn damages both layers of skin, deep tissue, and can involve your muscle and bones. Many people who suffer from fourth degree burns lose feeling in the area because of destroyed nerve endings, and these burns can sometimes be deadly.
If You Have Suffered a Burn Injury as a Result of an Accident, Speak With a Personal Injury Attorney Today.
Burn injuries can be life altering and emotionally traumatizing. If you suffered a burn as a result of another party’s negligence, you should not have to face the consequences alone. The at fault party for your burn injury should be held accountable.
At Live Oak Injury Law Group, we know how stressful suffering a personal injury can be. We are committed to getting you the maximum recovery you are entitled to under the law. If you have suffered a burn injury as the result of an accident, don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation with a skilled personal injury attorney from Live Oak Injury Law Group.
