If you’ve ever suffered a serious burn, you know how painful and long-lasting the injury can be. Burns can range from redness and stinging to loss of skin, permanent scarring, and long-term nerve damage. If you’ve suffered a burn, you may be wondering if it’s time to call a burn injury lawyer. Making that call depends on the severity of the burn and the amount of pain and suffering you’ve endured. Reach out to a Southlake burn injury lawyer.
Burns can vary greatly in the amount of pain and suffering they cause. The severity of a burn can depend on the temperature of the burning object, the length of time it was in contact with the skin, the area of the body affected, and the depth of the burn into the skin layers.
As an example, a first-degree burn, which is superficial — involving only the outer layer of skin — typically causes only mild pain and discomfort and can be treated with over-the-counter medications. On the other hand, a third-degree burn, which is a deep burn affecting all layers of the skin, requires immediate medical attention and can cause intense pain and long-lasting discomfort. In some cases, a burn may even cause permanent disfigurement or disability.
What Can Cause Serious Burns?
Burns are often caused by contact with hot objects, steam, or hot liquids. These burns can be the result of an accident, poor equipment, or negligence. Heated objects, such as hot liquids, steam, hot surfaces, and open flames, can all cause serious burns if the proper safety measures are not implemented. In some cases, severe burns can also be caused by contact with chemicals or electricity.
In many instances, burns are due to the failure of proper safety equipment and procedures. This can include using improper protective clothing or gloves when handling hot objects, not having proper safety equipment for use with open flames, or a failure to have appropriate safety procedures in place at a business. It is an employer’s responsibility to ensure proper safety procedures and equipment are in place and followed when using open flames or heating equipment.
When Do Burns Require Treatment at a Burn Center?
Burns are serious injuries that can range in severity from minor to life-threatening. In some personal injury cases, a burn may require treatment at a burn center. A burn center is a specialized medical facility dedicated to providing comprehensive care and treatment of burns. These centers are staffed by a team of highly trained and experienced medical professionals who specialize in the treatment of burns.
According to the American Burn Association, if your burns meet the following criteria, you need to get to a burn center as possible:
- Burns on the face, hands, joints, or genitalia
- Burns that cover more than 10% of the body area
- Serious electrical or chemical burns
- Third-degree burns, where the skin appears whitish or translucent and there is no sensation on the skin
- If you have pre-existing medical conditions that may complicate recovery
Burn centers are different from other types of medical centers, in that they staff medical professionals trained to treat and care for serious burn victims, including:
- Burn surgeons specially trained to treat burns
- On-site burn rehabilitation specialists
- Recovery dieticians
- Burn recovery nurses and medical assistants
- Social workers and psychologists
If you suffered serious burns that require you to check in to a burn center, first, get prompt treatment for your injury, but your next step is to contact the Southlake burn injury lawyers who can get you the compensation you deserve for your pain and suffering.
Different Types of Burns
Burns can range in severity from mild to life-threatening. They can be classified into four types based on the depth and severity of the injury.
- First-degree burn. These types of burns are the least severe. They commonly result in redness and mild swelling of the skin, and usually heal within a few days.
- Second-degree burn. These burns are more severe, and involve the destruction of the outer layer of skin, with possible underlying tissue damage. They can be quite painful and take several weeks to fully recover.
- Third-degree burn. Third-degree burns are extremely serious, and involve the destruction of multiple layers of skin, nerves, and deep tissue. They can cause permanent damage to the skin and underlying tissue and may require skin grafts or reconstructive surgery in order to heal.
- Fourth-degree burn. These are among the most severe and involve the destruction of not only the skin and underlying tissue but also bone and muscle. These burns cause life-altering disabilities and may be fatal.
Different Types of Treatments for Burns
There are various treatments for different types of burns. For serious burns, such as those caused by fire, steam, or boiling water, medical attention is usually required. Treatment typically involves cooling the burn with cold water, applying an antibiotic ointment, and then covering the wound with a bandage or dressing.
For third-degree burns, more intensive treatments are typically necessary, such as wrapping and dressing the wound daily for several weeks. Treatments for these burns may require future skin grafts and surgery. This is not a pleasant experience, considering skin grafts involve taking healthy skin from another area of the body and transplanting it to the burned area. Surgery is used to remove dead tissue and reduce scarring. These types of serious burns can take years to recover from, and your body may never be the same.
How Do I Know If I Have a Valid Burn Injury Claim?
A burn injury is usually caused by faulty equipment, poor safety standards, or OSHA violations. If you have suffered a burn injury at work and are unsure about your rights, you need to turn to the Southlake burn injury lawyers who are experts at evaluating burn injury cases, and who will fight for your right to fair and adequate compensation for your pain and suffering. Reach out to a Southlake personal injury lawyer.
At the Francis Firm, we understand that a personal injury case goes beyond just recovering damages. It’s about protecting your rights and holding parties responsible when careless, intentional, or negligent acts cause you injury and negatively impact your quality of life. You don’t want to fight this battle alone!
The Francis Firm has more than twenty-five years of experience litigating cases throughout the State of Texas, against some of the largest corporations and insurance companies. We have secured verdicts and settlements for clients totaling more than $30 million. Reach out to us online or call us at 817-587-2212 today for a free, no-obligation consultation. With our office in Southlake, we serve surrounding towns like Grapevine and Keller in Tarrant County, or anywhere in the State of Texas where victims need compassionate and expert legal representation.
Southlake Office
410 S Nolen Dr
Ste. 140
Southlake, TX 76092
(817) 533-8773