Burn Injury Information
California Burn Injury Lawyers
A burn injury can be one of the most painful, traumatic, and dangerous injuries that a person can suffer. In serious cases, multiple surgeries and skin grafts are often necessary. Nerve damage, disfigurement, and loss of function in the injured area are common. Besides physical injury, emotional scars can last a lifetime and devastate families. According to the American Burn Association, 2.4 million people receive medical treatment for burn injuries every year. Between 8,000 and 12,000 burn injury victims die from their injuries. Another 10,000 people die from complications of burn injuries, such as infection or pneumonia. In many cases, a burn injury is the result of someone else's negligence. If you or a loved one has suffered a burn injury from a defective product or the negligent acts of another person, you should contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. At Bailey Partners, our experienced burn injury attorneys can help you recover the compensation that you deserve. Contact us today for a free initial evaluation of your case.
Severity of Burns
Burn injuries are usually classified into several different categories, depending upon severity:
• First degree: First degree burns cause blistering of the top layer of the skin (the epidermis) with minimal tissue damage. Sunburn is a typical example.
• Second degree: Second degree burns damage both the top layer and the underlying layer of skin (the dermis) and cause swelling, blisters, and possible damage to sweat glands and hair follicles.
• Third degree: A third degree burn causes damage to all layers of the skin and the underlying tissue. Permanent scarring usually results. Plastic surgery and rehabilitation is often necessary.
• Airway burns: Airway burns occur when the trachea or lungs are burned by intense heat or smoke inhalation.
Causes of Burn Injuries
Burn injury can come from many different sources. The most common include:
• fire
• heat
• steam
• electricity
• hot liquids
• chemicals
• radiation
• explosions
• flammable liquids or gases
Who is Liable for your Burn Injuries?
If you or a loved one is the victim of burn injuries, it is possible that the accident was caused by someone else's negligence. Any person or entity that caused a burn injury by negligence or intentional misconduct can be held responsible for the harm they have done. A list of potentially liable parties depends upon the circumstances of each case, but the most common include:
• Motor vehicle operator: Many burn injuries occur in motor vehicle accidents, and the negligent driver may be held liable for those injuries.
• Product manufacturers and distributors: Defective products have caused many burn injuries. In these cases, the manufacturer, designer, distributor, retailer, and even the installer of a defective product might be liable. For example, a car manufacturer can be liable for injuries caused by a defective gas tank design that is susceptible to explosions from rear-end collisions.
• Property owner: When dangerous conditions on someone else's property cause a burn injury, the property owner might be liable. Business owners, landlords, and private property owners have a duty to ensure the safety of customers, tenants and guests. If the property owner or one in control of the property knew, or should have known, about a dangerous condition and failed to correct it, they can be held responsible for resulting injuries.
California Burn Injury Attorney
Burn injuries can be devastating to the victim as well as the victim's family. If you or a loved one has been injured by the negligent acts of someone else, contact Bailey & Partners as soon as possible. We can help you recover damages for your burn injuries, such as past and future medical expenses, loss of income, pain and suffering, ongoing care and rehabilitation, and other possible damages.
