Burns can be some of the most painful injuries. Those who suffer severe burns often need multiple medical treatments and extensive rehabilitation. They may be unable to work as they recover, and they may need continuous care.
If you have suffered a severe burn, you may be facing financial hardships during your recuperation. If another person’s negligence or intentional misconduct led to your burn injury, you might be entitled to recover compensation in a civil liability case. A financial judgment from the person responsible for your burns could help. A Clear Lake City burn injury lawyer could assess the viability of your case and guide you through the legal process. Our dedicated catastrophic injury attorneys could help you every step of the way to focus on your recovery.
How Do Severe Burns Occur?
People suffer burns in many different places and for various reasons. However, there are a few instances where severe burns may lead to a viable civil lawsuit. Our knowledgeable attorneys in Clear Lake City could help someone file a burn injury lawsuit depending on the cause of their accident.
Car Accidents
Fires can occur after a car accident from exposed wires or gasoline. A person injured in a car accident could pursue a personal injury suit against the at-fault driver who caused their crash.
Workplace Accidents
Chemical or scalding burns can occur in any workplace, including construction sites, factories, or restaurants. An individual may suffer burn injuries at work due to fire exposure, faulty wiring, chemicals, hot liquids, or explosions.
An injured employee could pursue a claim for workers’ compensation against their employer, and possibly a third-party complaint against another responsible person if either party failed to uphold their duty of care.
Electrocution
Exposed wires can give people electric shocks that can burn their skin and nerves. If a construction worker sustains an electric shock, they could pursue a workers’ compensation claim. Similarly, if a tenant suffers a burn from faulty wiring in their apartment, they could pursue a personal injury suit against their landlord.
Defective Products
Faulty wiring and other defects in products such as space heaters, grills, and other household appliances can lead to serious burns. An injured person could pursue a product liability case against the manufacturer, distributor, or installer of the defective product because it was inherently unsafe or did not have sufficient operating instructions or warnings.
Classification of Burns Based on Severity
The injuries that a person sustains in a burn vary in intensity. Doctors generally label burns according to their severity, as follows:
- First-Degree Burns: These are the least dangerous types of burns. They only affect the outer layer of the skin and typically do not result in permanent scarring.
- Second-Degree Burns: In addition to damaging the outer layer of skin, these types of burns also damage an underlying layer of skin. Second-degree burns can leave scars.
- Third-Degree Burns: These burns destroy nerves underneath the skin. Damaged skin is often numb, stiff, and discolored.
- Fourth-Degree Burns: These burns cause damage to muscles, nerves, tendons, bones. They can become fatal without medical attention.
Because burn injuries can worsen with time, it is essential to begin working with a seasoned legal professional as soon as possible to document the severity of your burns. Many injured parties suffer from intense pain and may have to undergo multiple difficult medical treatments. In addition to physical pain, people often suffer from emotional losses, such as post-traumatic stress, anxiety, or depression. A skilled lawyer in Clear City Lake could assess an individual’s burn injury and identify the appropriate value of their claim.
Call a Clear Lake City Burn Injury Attorney for Help
Unfortunately, burns can cause terrible physical and emotional pain. However, individuals should not have to suffer financial struggles as well during this time. A financial award from the person responsible for your burns could allow you to put your full focus into your physical and emotional healing. Schedule an initial free consultation with one of our Clear Lake City burn injury lawyers today.