Suffering severe burn injuries can be one of the most excruciatingly painful experiences that victims can endure. Burn patients often have to go through multiple surgeries and skin grafts as part of their burn care and treatment plan.
The more serious the burn wounds are, the longer it will take for the victims to heal. However, even with the best treatment available, some of the symptoms of being burnt will never completely go away. Besides the chronic pain, patients may also be left with horrific scars and disfigurements that they will have to deal with for the rest of their lives.
That is why the state of New York takes burn-related personal injury cases very seriously. With the right injury law firm on their side, victims can recover huge damages to help cover the costs of their medical care and compensate them for their pain and suffering.
The Law Office of Carl Maltese located in Long Island, NY has been working hard to assist burn victims for many years. Victims seeking compensation from the at-fault party of their insurance company can call +1 631-857-3703 and ask for an experienced personal injury attorney. They can also help with questions like can I hire a personal injury lawyer from another state?
What Is a Burn Injury?
A burn occurs when parts of the body come into direct or indirect contact with heat sources of sufficiently high temperature to cause physical injury.
Burn symptoms vary depending on the severity of the injuries the victim has suffered. Most burns are classified by the American Burn Association into the following categories:
1. First Degree Burns
These are minor burns that usually affect only the outer layer of the skin. Since only the epidermis is affected by first-degree burns, they often cause mild pain, swelling, and redness of the skin. Such burns will generally heal on their own without requiring treatment. Sunburns are good examples of first-degree burns that many people regularly suffer.
2. Second Degree Burns
Also called partial thickness burns, second-degree burns cause damage to both the epidermis and dermis layer of skin. These burns are serious enough to penetrate the lower layers underneath the skin, causing significant scarring and the formation of blisters.
Second-degree burns may sometimes require skin grafts to aid the healing process and reduce the scarring. The severity of such burns is also related to the total body surface area that has been affected. A severe second-degree burn can take many weeks to heal.
3. Third Degree Burns
The most severe burns are third-degree burns. They are also known as deep partial-thickness burns because of the depth of the injuries. Third-degree burns affect both layers of the skin as well as the underlying sweat glands, blood vessels, nerve endings, and other tissues.
With third-degree burns, skin grafts are always required to aid the healing process, sometimes with the combination of surgery.
4. Other Severe Types of Burns
Less common types of full-thickness burns include fourth-degree burn injuries that affect the fat layer, fifth-degree burns that damage the muscles, and sixth-degree burns that go so deep as to reach the bone.
What Usually Causes Severe Burns?
Many different incidents can result in victims suffering from severe burns, such as:
Electrical Burns
High-voltage electricity can cause severe burn injuries when it comes into contact with any part of the skin. Worn-out electrical cords and defective appliances are some of the main culprits that can cause electrical burns.
Fire/Flame Burns
Also known as thermal burns, these flame burns are caused by direct or indirect contact with an open fire while cooking or as a result of an accident. Breathing in the hot flames or super-heated air can also result in the victim suffering a serious inhalation injury that causes severe tissue damage to the airway and lungs.
Chemical Burns
Gasoline, paint thinner, lye, and strong acids can cause deep burns when they come into direct contact with the skin. In some cases, the victim may not even notice that they have been burnt until they start seeing the effects of skin damage.
Steam or Hot Liquids
Many people do not know that steam can cause worse burn injuries than hot water. In either case, coming into contact with steam or hot liquids can cause a type of burn called a scald. Usually, scalds can be extremely painful and will often result in blistering or red, peeling skin.
Hot Objects
Direct contact with hot surfaces is also another major cause of serious burns. The burn severity is often determined by the temperature of the hot surface and the duration of the contact. Sufficiently hot objects can cause the outer layer of skin to peel off and result in major burn injuries.
First Aid for Burned Skin
If dealing with a minor burn, victims can apply ice or use cold running water to soothe the burnt area. If there is an open wound caused by the burn, a loosely wrapped sterile bandage can be used to cover the area.
Wound care becomes more complicated when dealing with serious second-degree and third-degree burns. Here, the best solution is to call an ambulance so that the person receives proper medical attention as soon as possible.
When To Seek Medical Care
Severe burns can cause blistering, excruciating pain, shock, and even blood pressure alterations in severe cases. While home remedies to reduce pain and swelling may be sufficient for a first-degree burn, second and third burn-degrees always require medical attention.
In severe cases, prolonged hospitalization may be required to properly treat the burn injuries. As such, it is best to always seek medication when in doubt regarding the severity of the burn injury.
Damages and Compensation for a Severe Burn Injury
Just like any other personal injury case, burn injury victims are entitled to fair compensation from the at-fault party. This includes compensation for:
Medical bills
Lost wages
Property damage
Pain and suffering
Wrongful death
Long-term or permanent disability and disfigurement
A Good Personal Injury Attorney Can Help Burn Injury Victims
An important part of many in-home burn prevention strategies is to have smoke detectors installed. However, burns injuries can still happen at work or while driving on the road.
When this happens, The Law Office of Carl Maltese will be standing by to help burn victims win damages that will help them on the long road to recovery. Victims can visit the law firm's New York offices for a free consultation.