You have likely experienced a burn injury at some point in your life. First-degree burns – like sunburns, cooking burns, and even burns from eating hot food – are so common that you might not think of them as a big deal. However, second and third-degree burns can cause serious injuries and may even be life-threatening. If your burn injury resulted from someone else’s negligence, you may be eligible to seek compensation for financial losses and non-economic damages like pain and suffering.
Treating burn injuries can be expensive. Treatments may include debridement, skin grafts, and reconstructive surgeries. These injuries also result in significant pain. The physical pain can be overwhelming and, in some cases, last a lifetime. The emotional pain may be equally intense – burns can cause disfigurement, leading to isolation and loneliness.
A catastrophic injury attorney at Smiley Injury Law could help you hold the negligent person accountable for your losses. Let a Mandeville burn injury lawyer work to secure the compensation you need to support your recovery.
Some medical professionals recognize three degrees of burns, while others recognize four.
First-degree burns affect the skin’s outer layer – the epidermis. These burns typically lead to mild swelling, redness, and pain, but they usually heal independently without scarring or other long-term effects. However, repeated first-degree burns, like sunburns, can lead to cumulative damage that increases a person’s risk of skin cancer and other skin issues.
Second-degree burns extend below the epidermis to the skin’s second layer – the dermis. They may cause swelling, redness, blistering, and pain. These burns often result in scarring and take longer to heal than first-degree burns. The severity of the injury often depends on how much of the body is affected.
Third-degree burns go through all layers of the skin and can damage the nerves. They may not appear red but look charred or white, similar to burnt meat. These burns typically do not resolve on their own, carry a high risk of infection, and may lead to lifelong scars.
Fourth-degree burns are the most severe, extending beyond the skin and impacting underlying tissues, including muscles, tendons, and bones. Medical treatments often involve surgery and sometimes amputation. These burns can also progress, requiring a person to undergo a series of skin grafts and other extensive treatments. They also carry a high risk of complications, including infections and organ damage.
The degree of the burn, as well as the location and size, can help medical professionals predict the need for future treatment. A burn injury attorney could help you find a healthcare professional in Mandeville to assess the extent of your burn injury.
Heat is the most common cause of burns. Known as thermal burns, they result from fire, steam, or other heat sources. However, heat is not the only cause – chemicals, electricity, and radiation may also lead to burn injuries.
Many people do not realize that they are more familiar with radiation burns than they may think. For instance, sunburns are not caused by heat but by radiation from the sun’s UV rays. X-rays, nuclear sources, and radiation therapy may also lead to radiation burns. While some of these burns may seem minor initially, they can lead to significant tissue damage that is not always visible on the surface.
Chemical burns – while more common in industrial or workplace settings – can occur anywhere. Common sources include ammonia, bleach, household cleaners, pool chemicals, and battery acid. These burns often cause extensive damage beneath the skin’s surface and may not be immediately apparent, which can lead to prolonged contact and further damage.
Electrical burns can result from natural or man-made sources of electricity. Lightning strikes, powerlines, malfunctioning appliances, and in-home power sources may cause electrical burns. Like chemical or radiation burns, electrical burns can extend deep below the skin’s surface without noticeable signs of surface damage.
A burn injury lawyer in Mandeville may need to know the type of burn to help establish liability. Understanding how the burn occurred could help identify who is legally responsible. In cases where multiple people may be held liable, the state’s comparative negligence rules could significantly increase the compensation available to the person seeking financial recovery.
Severe burn injuries can lead to emotional trauma, chronic pain, disfigurement, amputations, and other lifelong complications. The financial, emotional, and physical toll can feel overwhelming. While a Mandeville burn injury lawyer cannot undo the harm, they could help you pursue the compensation you deserve for your injuries. Work with the attorneys at Smiley Injury Law today.
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