Burn Injuries: Degrees, Causes, and Effects
According to the Cleveland Clinic, burn injuries are categorized into four degrees based on severity, each with distinct symptoms and potential long-term effects:
- First-degree burns affect only the outer layer of skin (epidermis), causing redness, minor swelling, and pain, similar to mild sunburn.
- Second-degree burns damage both the epidermis and the underlying dermis, leading to intense redness, blistering, swelling, and significant pain.
- Third-degree burns extend through all skin layers, potentially affecting fat, muscle, and nerves. These burns may appear white, charred, or leathery, often accompanied by numbness due to nerve damage.
- Fourth-degree burns, the most severe, reach muscle, tendons, and bones, typically resulting in permanent disability, loss of function, or even fatality.
Common causes of burn injuries frequently intersect with personal injury claims. Our burn injury lawyer serving Selma can handle burn cases arising from such accidents as the following:
- Workplace accidents: Common in construction or industrial environments, leading to thermal, electrical, or chemical burns
- Motor vehicle collisions: Fires or explosions following car, truck, or motorcycle accidents
- Defective products: Malfunctioning appliances, electronics, or batteries that cause burns through overheating or fires
- Premises liability incidents: Scalding injuries or fires linked to unsafe property conditions, such as poorly maintained water heaters or exposed electrical wiring
Our legal team assists victims in these scenarios, seeking compensation for their losses.
Recoverable Damages for Burn Injury Victims
Burn injuries often lead to extreme physical pain and emotional trauma. In severe cases, treatment can be sought at USA Health Burn Center in Mobile, AL, which will most likely add to the financial strain placed upon you and your family.
However, you may be entitled to recover compensation through a personal injury claim, depending on the severity of the burns and the circumstances of the accident.
Common types of damages burn victims can pursue include:
- Medical expenses, including emergency care, surgeries, skin grafts, hospitalization, and ongoing treatment
- Rehabilitation costs, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and assistive devices
- Lost wages and income lost due to time away from work during recovery
- Loss of future earning capacity because of permanent injuries or disabilities impair your ability to work
- Pain and suffering, as well as emotional distress, mental anguish, and a diminished quality of life
- Disfigurement and scarring you now live with
Our lawyer can investigate your burn injury case in Selma and determine the full range of damages you can claim, fighting for the fair settlement you deserve.
How Our Lawyer Helps Burn Injury Victims
Burn injury attorney Dwayne Brown believes in handling a small caseload at any one time so that he can develop a personal relationship with each client in Selma, giving them the attention their case deserves. He and his legal team seek to educate their clients on the legal process so that they can make the best decisions for their needs.
In addition to our extensive testimonials, we have the accolades to prove how effective our “the client comes first” approach has been, with such recognition from Super Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers 100, and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
