If you stop and think about it, people are exposed to burn risks every day. While some risks are less serious, such as curling your hair, fixing dinner, enjoying a hot cup of coffee or ironing clothes, others can be more dangerous. For example, children and the elderly are at a much greater risk of a serious burn injury or those who work in an environment where they are exposed to heavy machinery or toxic chemicals.
Burns can result in ongoing pain, permanent scarring and disfigurement, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other psychological problems. This is why it is important that if you suffered a burn injury as the result of another’s negligence you surround yourself with the right support group, including family, friends, physicians, therapists and legal counsel. Coping with grief after an accident doesn’t have to be done alone!
Brad Parker has helped many victims of burn injury caused by someone else’s negligence get their lives back on track and recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering.
“The best advice I can give someone is to immediately seek medical treatment after a burn injury. Even if they don’t think the burn is very serious, it’s best to err on the side of caution. Burns don’t just leave scars, they can become infected,” Brad says. “A person’s entire quality of life can change drastically if they underestimate the severity of a burn and don’t get treatment.”
Types of Burn Injuries
Thermal Burns
Causes: Flash, flame, scalding or direct contact with a hot surface
Flash burns are often caused by explosions of natural gas, propane, gasoline or other flammable liquids and involve intense heat for a short period of time. Flame burns involve prolonged exposure to intense heat, frequently associated with house fires. Scalds are burns caused by hot liquids, such as water, oil, grease or tar. For example, freshly brewed coffee is generally 180 degrees and can easily cause a scald burn if it makes contact with the skin. Hot metals, plastics, glass or coals can cause contact burns.
Chemical Burns
Causes: Strong acids or alkali substances
They continue to burn skin and tissue until the agent is deactivated. Alkali substances typically cause more severe burn injuries because they react with the lipids in the skin.
Electrical Burns
Causes: AC or DC current
Electrical current passes through the path of least resistance and causes injury in areas other than the entry site. The extent and severity of an electrical burn cannot be determined from the external injury alone, as they can cause severe burns to internal tissue.
Radiological Burns
Causes: Alpha, beta, or gamma radiation
People exposed to these types of radiation often need to undergo decontamination to stop the injury process.
Burn Classifications
Burns can be classified as first-, second-, third- or even fourth-degree depending on the severity and depth of the penetration of the skin’s surface. Here’s a deeper detailing of the different degrees.
First-Degree of Superficial Burns
These types of burns only affect the epidermis or outer layer of the skin. A common example is a sunburn and can be characterized by red, dry itchy skin with no blistering. Healing from these burns usually occurs in three – five days.
Second-Degree Burns
Because these burns involve the dermis and epidermis, they are considered more severe. Burn sites will appear red, swollen and blistered.
Third-Degree Burns
Going into the innermost layer of the skin (subcutaneous tissue), third-degree burns destroy the epidermis and dermis. These burns are characterized by white, blackened or charred skin appearance.
Fourth-Degree Burns
Fourth-degree burns penetrate both layers of the skin and the underlying tissue. In some instances, burns may even go deeper and involve damage to muscle and bone. Because the nerve endings are destroyed, there is no longer any feeling in the area of these types of burns.
Don’t forget to seek medical attention right away after a burn injury, even if you don’t think it is serious.
Have You Been Injured In A Texas Accident?
If you’ve been injured you need to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Contact us online or call our Bedford, Texas office directly at 817.440.3888 to schedule your free, no obligation consultation. We help personal injury clients throughout Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington as well as all areas of Texas.
At Parker Law Firm, our experienced personal injury lawyers believe people matter. We are committed to our clients, not case numbers, and we believe in the power of the civil justice system. With years spent both representing accident victims and participating in the state legislative process, our founder, Brad Parker, has developed a deep understanding of the law and gained unique experience that helps him get results for his clients.
