Burn Injuries FAQs

Burn injuries are a type of damage to the surface layer of skin or even the layers of tissue and muscle under the top layer of skin. Burn injuries can occur due to exposure to flame, hot surfaces, steam, or corrosive chemicals.

Burns cause scarring, but they can also cause mobility issues and serious damage to a person's ability to move easily. Affected areas may have so much damage tissue that they need to be cut away or limbs may need to be amputated because too much damage has been done. In serious cases, these injuries can be fatal.

Burn injuries are categorized by severity:

• First-degree burns. Also known as superficial burns, these are often treated at home. These injuries affect only the very top layer of skin, known as the epidermis. While your skin may become dry, red, and painful, you will not have blisters and the injury will usually heal on its own. You can apply topical treatments to manage pain. In some cases, the skin may be discolored for a prolonged time.
• Second-degree burns. Also known as partial thickness burns, these injuries involve damage to the dermis layer of the skin. The injured site may swell and become painful. The skin can also blister and turn red. Some second-degree burns heal on their own, while some may require medical help. Doctors sometimes recommend a tetanus shot for second-degree burns, so if you’re in doubt about your injury, get medical help.
• Third-degree burns. Also known as full thickness burns, these injuries involve complete damage to the dermis and top layer of the skin. They can even go under these layers and cause damage to tendons, muscles, and even bones underneath. Since the nerve endings are damaged, there may be no pain, but the area can look charred or white. A person with a third-degree burn is likely to suffer permanent injury. They can even go into shock. This is a life-threatening emergency. If you or someone near you suffers this type of burn, call emergency services immediately.

When deciding whether to seek medical treatment, you’ll want to consider not just the severity of the burn but also the size of the burn. A large burn (covering 10% or more of a child’s body or 15% or more of an adult’s body) are a medical emergency. Any burn that is close to a major, sensitive organ, like the eyes, also requires immediate medical evaluation. Patients who are elderly or immunocompromised should get examined by a doctor if they sustain a burn.

In addition to seeking medical treatment, if you’ve suffered a burn, take photos of the injury and where the injury happened. For example, if you’ve spilled a corrosive cleaning solution on yourself at work, take photos of the accident site and report the injury.

You may also want to consult with a burn injury claims attorney if your burn is serious and may have been caused by someone’s negligence. The costs of your treatment can be significant, and an attorney can tell you whether you have a claim or a chance to seek compensation, so you don’t have to pay all these costs yourself.

Common causes of burn injuries include:

• Fires
• Car accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Truck accidents
• Workplace accidents
• Exposure to dangerous toxins or chemicals
• Defective products
• Construction site accidents
• Assault or violence

Burn injuries can be among the most devastating injuries to sustain. They can be extremely painful, especially if significant amounts of tissue are affected. If a large amount of area is burned, a patient’s life may be in danger.

In addition to pain, burns can be debilitating. They can affect your ability to move easily or to perform everyday tasks and job duties. If the tendons and muscles under the skin are affected, they may no longer work correctly, limiting the range of motion or causing numbness and lack of sensation.

One of the most difficult parts of a burn injury is the disfigurement or scarring. People can be cruel, and the stares and unkind comments can be devastating for burn injury survivors. Some patients suffer from depression, relationship problems, anxiety, and other disorders because of the callousness of others. In some cases, people who have sustained a serious burn injury are fired from their jobs or have a hard time with their careers because they have a public facing job where appearance matters.

Burns can also be very expensive. Many survivors assume that their medical insurance will cover burns, but this is not always the case. Burns can require ongoing treatment, including rehabilitation, surgery, skin grafts, and other treatments. Unfortunately, many insurance companies define these as cosmetic procedures, when they may be necessary to help a patient recover from their injury. As a result, some patients find that their medical insurance claims are denied, and they are expected to pay for much of their treatment out of pocket. This can be financially devastating.

Filing a legal claim can help. When you file a legal claim, you can seek damages for your medical bills, expected future medical bills, lost wages, and any other expenses related to your injury. This helps you get excellent quality care. With better quality treatment, your scarring is kept to a minimum and you may have the best chance of healing.

Filing a claim also helps you keep responsible parties accountable. If someone's dangerous driving cause your injuries, for example, or if your dangerous workplace caused your burns, holding these parties accountable can make them change in the future to prevent future accidents and injuries to others.

You are not legally required to work with an attorney to file a claim, but an attorney can make a big difference. Many people don’t know how to file paperwork, negotiate with insurance companies, or present a case in court. It’s easy to make small mistakes that hurt your claim. An experienced burn injury claims attorney can help you avoid this. An experienced attorney can also use his or her expertise to build the strongest case possible.