Phenix City Burn Injury Lawyer
Burn injuries can occur in the workplace, at home, or out on the road in the course of a car accident. In addition to physical scars, severe burns also commonly leave victims with significant mental and emotional distress.
The American Burn Association finds that there were 486,000 burn injuries in the United States that required hospitalization in 2016. Over 60% of the estimated U.S. acute hospitalizations related to burn injuries required specialized treatment at one of the nation’s 128 burn centers.
Burn injuries can stem from:
- Defective products
- Car accidents
- Working with caustic chemicals
- Residential and non-residential fires
- Electrical defect
Once you receive medical treatment for your burn injuries, consider consulting with an experienced attorney. A Phenix City burn injury lawyer to determine your rights to receiving compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and physical and mental pain you suffered due to someone else’s negligence.
Burn Classifications
Based on the severity of a burn, it can be classified into one of four different degrees.
- First degree
- Second degree
- Third degree
- Fourth degree
First & Second Degree
A first degree burn is a superficial burn that affects the outermost layers of the skin. Outwardly, the skin appears red without any blisters and lasts from days to weeks.
A second degree burn not only fully penetrates the outer—or epidermal—layer of skin, but also extends into the dermal layer of the skin. Afflicted skin will be bright red with blisters and swelling, is often painful to the touch, and may warrant significant medical treatment. Second-degree burns may leave a scar or permanently change the color of affected skin.
Third & Fourth Degree
A third degree burn fully penetrates both the epidermis and dermis. The burn site may appear black, brown, white or yellow, and is generally not be painful to the touch, since third-degree burns usually extend deep enough into the skin to damage nerve endings.
A fourth degree burn injury is the most severe type of burn. In this case, the burn extends beyond the skin layer into muscle, bone, or even internal organs. Fourth degree burns almost always require hospitalization and surgery, and in particularly severe cases may be fatal.
Recovery of Damages
Based on the severity of the burn, recoverable damages in a Phenix City burn injury case may vary. Necessary medical treatment may range from out-patient consultations to surgery to repair the damage made by the burns.
An experienced Phenix City burn injury lawyer could determine the appropriate course of action to establish negligence by another party—whether for an irresponsible act that caused the act, a failure to maintain a property so that the injury could be avoided, or a failure to provide safe working conditions at a job that put employees at risk of being burned.
Filing a burn injury claim may allow a burn victim to recover expenses related to treating their injury, including:
- Doctor and hospital bills, including physical therapy expenses
- Loss of income during recovery
- Future lost income if the victim is unable to return to work
- Emotional distress, including pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Get help from a Phenix City Burn Injury Attorney Today
Having your life turned upside down from sustaining burn injuries can be confusing and frustrating. As you face mounting medical bills and additional medical treatments, you may not know how to handle this new situation on your own. Contact a Phenix City burn injury lawyer for experienced legal assistance today, so you can focus on making a full recovery.
