Each year, millions of Americans are the victims of debilitating burn injuries that necessitate ongoing medical treatments and professional care services. Many victims often struggle to afford their injury-related expenses, especially when their burns lead to physical disfigurement, life-threatening infections, and permanent nerve damage. Unfortunately, most of these burn injuries are caused by the negligent or criminal actions of a person, company, or public entity. For example, thousands of Americans acquire first-, second-, or third-degree burns from defective products, arson cases, automobile collisions, and work-related accidents.
Common causes of burn injuries include:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Residential fires
- Commercial structural fires
- Industrial accidents
- Construction accidents
- Defective products
- Work accidents
- Clinical negligence
- Medical negligence
- Gas pipeline explosions
- Propane tank explosions
Doctors need to thoroughly examine the degree and depth of a patient’s symptoms before making an official diagnosis. The most common injuries scale between first and third-degree burns. Occasionally, however, a patient sustains fourth-degree burns that damage their underlying bones, muscles, and tendons. There are different treatment programs available depending on the burn surface area.
Types of Burn Injuries
Burn injuries can also be classified by cause and type, with the most common being: thermal burns, radiation burns, chemical burns, and electrical burns.
- Thermal burns: These occur when a person’s skin makes contact with extreme heart sources, such as: fire, scalding liquids, hot metals, and intense steam. Physically interacting with these sources of heat can cause cell and tissue death. Thermal burns are a common childhood injury.
- Radiation burns: These burns are sustained after prolonged exposure to sources of radiation, including x-rays, ultraviolet light, and nuclear radiation.
- Chemical burns: These burns are often sustained by people who handle caustic chemicals, such as: alkalies, acids, detergents, and solvents.
- Electrical burns: This injury is caused by electrical currents passing through the body. If someone is exposed to a bad electrical outlet or exposed wires, they may suffer an electrical burn.
Even low-intensity treatment for moderate burn injuries can set a victim back about $200,000. Unfortunately, many burn injury survivors are unable to hold gainful employment due to the extent of their injuries. If you’re medical bills are piling up, give our national burn injury attorneys a call.
Schedule a Consultation
If you’ve been injured in an explosion or a fire, you may have grounds to pursue restitution by filing a personal injury claim. However, before taking legal action, it’s important to discuss your case with a qualified and experienced attorney. At Goeing Goeing McQuinn, PLLC, we can help you determine the long-term financial impact of your injuries. With this information, we can help you pursue damages that account for past and future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, and other non-economic damages as determined by the court.
Contact Goeing Goeing McQuinn, PLLC at (859) 253-0088 to schedule a consultation.