Burns are incredibly common. In the United States, close to 500,000 people receive medical care for burn injuries each year. This number is on top of the hundreds of thousands of people who likely get minor burns and take care of them at home.
While burns are usually unintentional, they can often be caused by another person’s carelessness or recklessness. More serious second and third-degree burns require immediate medical treatment to prevent further complications, including infection, loss of function, and – in the most severe cases – death. Our Charleston burn injury lawyers can work with you to help you understand your legal options after an accident and work with you to get you the compensation that you deserve for your losses.
Based in Charleston, Johnstone & Gabhart represents accident victims throughout West Virginia. We offer free initial consultations and never charge a fee unless we recover money for you. Reach out to our law offices today to schedule an appointment with a Charleston personal injury attorney.
Burn Symptoms, Degrees, and How to Treat Them
A burn injury involves damage to the body’s tissue from contact with hot liquids, chemicals, flames, electricity, steam, and other sources. A burn can also result from too much sun – as anyone who has forgotten to apply or reapply sunscreen knows all too well.
Burns are categorized by the severity of the tissue damage:
- First-degree burns (superficial burns) only affect the outer layer of skin (epidermis). A person with a first-degree burn may experience pain and redness.
- Second-degree burns (partial-thickness burns) affect the top 2 layers of skin (the epidermis and the dermis). Second-degree burns can cause swelling and red, white, or splotchy skin. A person with a second-degree burn may also have blisters on the affected skin and may ultimately have scarring of the tissue.
- Third-degree burns (full-thickness burns) involve all layers of the skin. These burns may potentially affect tissues under the skin, including fat and muscle tissue. A third-degree burn may look leathery, and be black, brown, or white in color. Because third-degree burns often destroy nerves, a person might actually not have any pain.
First-degree burns are generally minor and can be treated at home with basic first aid. Most heal within a few weeks. However, babies and older people are more vulnerable to infection and other risks for burns, so they should be treated by a doctor for even minor burns.
More serious burns require immediate medical treatment. The complications of second or third-degree burns can be serious, including:
- Infection
- Fluid loss
- Breathing problems from inhaling smoke or hot air
- Hypothermia (dangerously low body temperature)
- Arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeats
- Pain
- Scars and changes in skin color
- Bone and joint problems due to scar tissue
- Skin cancer
- Depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues
The treatment for a burn injury will depend on the severity of the burn. A doctor or other medical professional will examine the skin to determine what degree it is. If your burn is particularly deep, covers more than 10% of your body surface area, or is on your face, feet, or groin, you may be transferred to a burn center.
For major burns, the goals of treatment are to control pain, reduce scarring risk, remove dead tissue, prevent infection, and restore function. Treatment may include:
- IV fluids to prevent dehydration and organ failure;
- Removal of dead tissue using water-based treatments like whirlpool baths;
- Medication for pain and anxiety;
- Application of burn creams and ointments (such as Silvadene) to prevent infection and prepare the wound to close;
- Specialty dressings to help the wound heal;
- Antibiotics to fight infection;
- A tetanus shot;
- Physical and occupational therapy;
- Breathing assistance for face and neck burns that can cause throat swelling;
- A feeding tube;
- Skin grafts; and/or
- Procedures to remove scabs that can cut off blood flow if they get too tight.
If you suffered a minor burn, you can often follow basic steps to help prevent further damage and allow the injury to heal. This includes preventing further harm by getting away from whatever caused the burn and then cooling the burn using cool water or ice. Once the burn has cooled, a lotion with aloe vera or cocoa butter can provide relief and prevent drying. You can then wrap the burn loosely with a clean bandage and use over-the-counter medicine to reduce pain.
How Burn Injuries Happen
Burn injuries can happen in a number of different ways. In addition to contact with heat or fire, a person can also suffer a burn due to contact with chemicals, electrical current, or radiation. Some of the most common causes of burn injuries include:
- Fire/flames
- Car accidents
- Electrical burns
- House fires
- Scalding from steam or hot liquids
- Chemical burns
- Unsafe use of fireworks
- Touching hot objects
- Industrial fires
- Faulty space heaters or other equipment
- Kitchen accidents
- Breathing in smoke, steam, or chemical fumes
- Radiation burns from medical treatment
In many cases, a burn injury is something that happens by accident – such as if you touch a hot pan in the kitchen and burn your hand. In other situations, a burn injury is caused by someone else’s careless, reckless, or intentional behavior.
For example, rechargeable batteries have become increasingly common, especially with the popularity of e-bikes and e-scooters. Unfortunately, some of these batteries aren’t manufactured in accordance with safety regulations – which can lead to fires when these products overheat. This may be the basis of a product liability lawsuit against the company responsible for making the faulty battery.
While some burns are relatively minor and will heal on their own in a few days or weeks, catastrophic burns can be life-changing. If you have suffered a burn injury because of something that someone else did – or failed to do – you may be able to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party with the help of a West Virginia personal injury lawyer. Our law firm will help you get the financial compensation that you deserve for your burn injuries.
When it comes to burn injury lawsuits, getting compensation for your intangible losses is often the biggest challenge. Many burn injury victims will recover physically but may suffer from emotional distress for years to come. This may also include the reality of dealing with scarring and disfigurement – which can affect a person’s mental health even if it doesn’t cause loss of function or other issues.
If your burn injury was caused by someone else, our law firm will help you get maximum compensation for your losses. This may include money for:
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Medical expenses
- Future medical treatment
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Scarring
- Disfigurement
We will work diligently to build the strongest possible case for compensation. Our legal team will stand by your side throughout the process, fighting to get you the best possible settlement – or taking your case to trial if necessary to get you the money that you deserve.
Help for Burn Injury Victims
Burn injuries can be absolutely devastating. Whether you were burned in a car accident, a workplace incident, or a fire caused by a faulty product, you might be able to seek compensation for your injuries. Our experienced Charleston, WV burn injury lawyers will fight for your right to full compensation.
At Johnstone & Gabhart, we are dedicated to helping our clients get top dollar for their accidents and injuries. We handle all cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that we’ll never charge a fee unless we get money for you. Give our law firm a call at 304-343-7100 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation with a West Virginia personal injury attorney.
