California Burn Injury Lawyers

California Burn Injuries: The Basics

A burn is damaged skin tissue caused by heat, overexposure to the sun or other radiation, or electrical or chemical contact. The severity of a burn can range from relatively minor discomfort to life-threatening damage.

One form of minor burn is a sunburn. While a bad sunburn may be painful, it will heal after a few days and does not require immediate medical attention. Burns that only affect the outer layer of skin, like a sunburn, are known as first-degree burns. 

A second-degree burn is a burn that affects the outer layer of skin and the second layer of the skin, called the dermis. A second-degree burn may result in swelling, redness, white or splotchy skin, blisters, and significant pain. Severe second-degree burns typically cause scarring.

A third-degree burn affects the fat layer beneath the top two layers of skin. The burned area may look leathery and turn shades of black, brown, or white. A third-degree burn can destroy nerves and lead to numbness. 

Complications Arising from Burn Injuries 

Even if a burn itself is not considered life-threatening, complications that arise from burn injuries can be deadly. Common complications of deep or widespread burns may include:

• Bacterial infection, which may lead to an infection in the bloodstream, also known as sepsis;
• Fluid loss that can result in loss of blood volume;
• Dangerously low body temperature;
• Breathing issues from the intake of hot air or smoke; and
• Bone and joint problems if scar tissue causes the shortening and tightening of skin, muscles, or tendons shortening and tightening.

As you can see, a burn injury may continue impacting your life long after your initial injury heals. 

Burn Injury Statistics

While the vast majority of burn injuries and fatalities occur in low to middle-income countries, the United States also sees significant numbers of burn injuries. In 2016, the American Burn Association (ABA) reported that hospitals treated about 486,000 burn injuries annually. In the United States, the majority of burn injuries happen to children between the ages of 1 to 16 and adults between the ages of 20 and 59. Approximately 250,000 children require medical attention annually for burn injuries, and 15,000 require hospitalization. The most common burn injury for children under four years old is scalding by a hot liquid. For example, scalding can occur when a small child pulls a pot of boiling water off the stove and onto their body. 

The ABA reports that approximately 3,400 burn injury deaths occur in the U.S. every year. Approximately 2,550 of those deaths occur in residential fires, while 300 deaths occur in vehicle accidents. Open flames, smoke inhalation, scalding, and electricity account for the remaining number of burn injury deaths.

Common Causes of Burn Injuries

The ABA National Burn Repository keeps track of the types of burn injuries in the U.S. These include:

• Open flames,
• Scalds from hot water,
• Chemical burns, and
• Electrical burns.

Burns can occur in many different scenarios. Many burn injuries happen in either the home or the workplace, but they can happen anywhere. Some situations that result in burn injuries include:

• Car accidents,
• Cooking,
• Welding,
• Working with fire,
• Trying to extinguish a flame, or
• Working with chemicals.

If another person caused the accident that resulted in your burn injuries, they might be liable for your damages. Contact our California burn injury attorneys at Silva Injury Law so we can review the circumstances of your injury and determine if you have a claim.

Compensation for Burn Injuries

Burn injuries inflict significant amounts of pain and cost a lot of money. If you suffer a burn injury, it is likely you will incur significant medical bills and rehabilitation expenses as you recover. You might also suffer financial losses because you are unable to work the same job or for the same amount of time you worked before your injury. Apart from financial costs, you might also experience emotional or psychological consequences as a result of your injury, such as emotional distress or post-traumatic stress disorder. An experienced burn injury attorney can help you calculate your damages and evaluate your legal options. 

If you did not cause the accident that resulted in your injuries, it is unfair for you to bear the burden of these financial expenses. We can help you seek compensation from the responsible party to hold them accountable for their wrongdoing. Contact a burn injury lawyer at Silva Injury Law today so we can start reviewing your case.

Contact Our California Burn Injury Attorneys Today

If you suffered burn injuries due to another person’s conduct, you might qualify to file a personal injury claim. We can offer valuable advice garnered from our years of experience representing victims of burn injuries and their loved ones. 

At Silva Injury Law, we believe our duty goes beyond achieving large monetary awards for our clients. We strive to be problem solvers and not problem makers. We know that the physical, emotional, and financial damage inflicted by a burn injury can put enormous stress on you and your family. Contact us today so we can help you recover the compensation you deserve.