subject: Have You Been Burned In An Accident? [print this page] Sustaining a burn injury can be extremely painful and also difficult to treat, based on how severe the burn is. The more severe the burn, the more painful and long the treatment can be. In addition, scarring can take place, which is psychologically jarring for the burn victim.
Treating a burn injury can cost a lot of money. If you have suffered this type of injury because of an accident you may be entitled to recover damages. If someone else's negligence was the cause of your burn injuries, an injury lawyer will work hard on your behalf to help you fight for what you deserve.
Additionally, a injury lawyer knows what type of evidence is necessary in a complicated injury claim. They will investigate all aspects of your accident and collect necessary medical records, hospital bills, police reports and any other paperwork that is pertinent to your case.
Accidents That May Result in a Burn Injury
The most common types of accidents that may result in a burn injury include:
* motor vehicle accidents;
* motorcycle accidents;
* building fires;
* failure with wiring;
* hot machinery;
* electrical malfunction;
* household fires (which may, for instance, be caused by a defective product);
* flammable liquid fuel explosions;
* hot water/scalding;
* industrial accidents; and
* gasoline spills.
If an accident was the result of someone else's intentional misconduct, recklessness or carelessness you may be able to file a personal injury claim for your burn injuries.
You may also be able to receive compensation that not only takes care of your physical damages, such as medical bills and lost income, but the emotional damages you have suffered, as well. This may include pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life or disfigurement.
Assessing the Severity of a Burn Injury
The extent of damage that has occurred to the skin's tissue will indicate the severity of a burn injury. Burn injuries can be minor, requiring no need for medical attention or they can be severe, requiring months of painful treatments.
The 3 types of burn injuries that an individual may suffer as the result of an accident are:
Superficial Burn Injury - this type of burn injury is mild and typically requires no medical intervention. The surface layer of the skin is all that is effected and tends to be red and painful.
Partial-Thickness Burn Injury - this is a more serious type of burn injury to have. The injury occurs to the dermis layer of skin. Depending on how deep the damage is, the skin may both blister and turn a light shade of pink, or the skin could become red and blotchy.
Full-Thickness Burn Injury - this is the most severe type of injury where the nerves in the skin are damaged. The injury affects every layer of skin and will generally change the coloring of the skin. Typically it turns white; however, it may also turn brown or black. Also, the skin will tend to feel like leather and appear to be waxy.
Internal Burn Injuries
Burn injuries don't just affect the skin. Internal burn injuries that alter breathing can also occur, depending on the characteristics of the accident. Damage to the airways and lungs can occur.
Some of the symptoms of an internal burn injury may include:
* burnt nose hairs;
* severe sore throat;
* soot in mouth or nose;
* voice is scratchy or altered;
* wheezing; and
* difficulty breathing.
If you have sustained a burn injury from an accident, an injury attorney could help you to be compensated for the damage that was incurred.
