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It’s an unfortunate situation, but there are times when individuals sustain injury due to a serious burn. There are so many factors to consider when it comes to knowing what can cause a serious burn injury, but it’s also important to recognize the long-term impact of these types of injuries.
When you sustain a burn injury because of someone else’s negligent actions, you should understand what needs to be done immediately, as well as the potential legal action that you may be able to take in order to seek compensation and justice against the liable party.
Understanding the serious nature of burn injuries can give you a strong idea of why long-term care is important and how legal action can help you with this situation. Here are some things you should know about what to expect moving forward and who may be responsible.
What are the Different Levels of Burns?
When someone sustains a burn injury, there are some signs and symptoms that may be associated with the burns based on the severity. There are varying degrees of burn injuries, each with their own characteristics, but no matter how minor, they can all cause serious damage.
- First-degree burn injuries are the most common because it doesn’t take much heat to create a problem. These are common when someone sustains a sunburn or comes into light contact with a heat source such as a flame or a hot pan. This can cause redness of the skin and slight pain and sensitivity, but it won’t blister or cause long-term issues.
- Second-degree burn injuries often cause damage to the outer layer of the skin and the layer of skin just underneath it. As a result, there may be some blistering and significant pain. There are a number of different heat sources that can cause this type of burn, but it would be longer, prolonged contact that typically causes more damage.
- Third-degree burn injuries are some of the worst, often causing significant problems and burning multiple layers of skin. It is often associated with the skin turning either black, brown, yellow, or white instead of red. While the other burn injuries would cause significant pain, third-degree burns often cause nerve damage, making it so the injured person doesn’t feel the pain.
In some cases, a person may sustain a fourth-degree burn, which is considered the most serious and deepest burn. In some cases, it can be a life-threatening condition. Catastrophic burns may also have many more complications that can impact a person.
The most serious catastrophic burn injuries can cause a person to experience skin grafts, tissue grafts, damage to their brain, lungs, or muscles, paralysis, paraplegia, or quadriplegia. While no two cases are the same, it’s important for individuals to know that those damages caused by negligence have the right to seek legal action.
The Long-Term Need for Medical Care
Unfortunately, the aftermath of a burn injury often requires the injured individual to go through a lifetime of medical treatments to help manage the pain or to move forward. This often means large expenses associated with the injury.
For instance, for the most severe burns, a skin graft may be needed, or treatment can be done through the use of synthetic skin. However, when the severe burns cover more of the body, there may need other methods, including the use of IV antibiotics to replace lost fluids and prevent infection.
It’s possible that you may need to manage the pain for an extended period of time. In these situations, you may need aggressive treatment as pain is present when treating the burns, cleaning the wounds, and dressing them.
The Importance of Hiring an Experienced Legal Advocate
Burn injuries can be complex. There are so many potential causes that understanding liability is of the utmost importance. This is especially true when negligence is involved and you need to go through the legal avenues to pursue justice and compensation.
When someone sustains a severe burn injury, the impact is not just the physical damages, but there are also emotional aspects to consider, as well as the loss of potential income from being unable to work. These are all things that need to be considered when navigating the legal matters.
Many individuals either don’t take legal action because they don’t know their rights or because they feel that they can try to handle it on their own. However, this can be a mistake as the negligent party may be backed by their insurance company’s legal team.
When you’re facing a legal team dedicated to protecting their own profits, you need to have someone on your team committed to you. The defendants are trying to limit the amount of money they need to pay out to an injured individual. Your legal team can help prove that negligence involved caused the harm and resulted in the serious injuries you sustained.
At Shoop | A Professional Law Corporation, our Los Angeles burn injury lawyers have a long history of success representing individuals across the nation, seeking the most favorable outcome possible. We are committed to our clients because we know how difficult this time can be for you.
We have been recognized because of our experience and knowledge, along with our tenacity when it comes to representing our clients’ rights. Our founder, Attorney David Shoop, is also a member of the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) Research Section, meaning he has the resources and tools you need to feel confident every step of the way.
Call our firm today at (866) 884-1717 and speak with a skilled attorney about your potential legal rights if you suffered a burn injury caused by someone else’s negligence. We’re here for you.