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When a person is injured in an accident, you may think of broken bones, lacerations, or maybe even head trauma. Not many people think about burns unless a person is inside a house that is on fire. However, burns can happen in a variety of ways and they’re more common than you may think, causing 10,000 fatalities every year.
There are many types and degrees of burns. Burn wounds are placed into six categories:
- Scalds. These burns are caused by grease, liquids, or steam.
- Contact burns. These occur when your skin touches a hot object, such as frying pans or other appliances.
- Fire. These burns occur when you come into contact with flames, such as in a house fire.
- Electrical. Electrical burns occur when a person comes into contact with electrical wiring or, less commonly, lightning.
- Radiation. These burns come from forms of radiation, such as X-rays or more commonly, prolonged exposure to UV rays in the form of sunburns.
- Chemical. These burns come from skin exposure to strong acids or bases, such as household chemicals, bleach, nail polish remover, and cleaning products.
When is Negligence Involved in a Burn Injury?
There are several ways in which a burn can occur due to someone else’s negligence. They include the following:
- Household fires. Most burn injuries that are treated in emergency rooms are caused by fires that happen at home. These can be accidental in nature or they can be caused by product defects. In some cases, the fires are caused on purpose, such as for insurance reasons. This is called arson and it is illegal.
- Industrial accidents. These are the second most common causes of fires. These tend to happen in factories and on construction sites, where chemical spills and hazardous materials are common. These accidents tend to be fatal.
- Defective products. When an appliance, car, or other product does not work as intended, it can shock a person or explode, causing them to suffer a burn injury.
- Car accidents. A high-impact car crash can cause a vehicle to catch fire and burn the occupants. If the person is trapped inside the car and cannot escape, they can suffer fatal burns.
- Electrical burns. If wiring or some other electrical part is faulty, it can cause a burn.
- This is typically caused by boiling hot water on the skin. If someone intentionally pours a pot of hot water on a person, for example, they can suffer scald burns.
Getting the Legal Help You Need
Burns can cause a great deal of scarring, disfigurement, and pain. They can require multiple surgeries, skin grafts, and other costly medical treatments. No two cases are alike, so you need competent legal help on your side.
If your burn injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, the burn injury lawyers at Walner Law can help you obtain the compensation you deserve. We can assist you with moving forward after such a tragic incident. Schedule a free consultation by filling out the online request form or calling (312) 313-2888.
