At Larson & Galivan Law, we meet with burn victims to discuss their injuries and how they are recovering. Unfortunately, burn injuries are some of the most consequential a person can suffer. Burns not only lead to serious complications, like infection or even amputation, but they also are expensive to treat. Burn victims and their families often struggle to pick up the pieces for years after the accident.
Our New York personal injury lawyers remain focused on obtaining fair compensation for serious bodily injuries, including burns. It might feel like nobody is in your corner right now, but we want you to know that our firm is available to discuss how you were injured. Please call us if you would like to discuss your chances of bringing a successful personal injury claim in New York.
What Causes Burns?
According to the American Burn Association, about 40,000 people end up in a hospital with a serious burn each year. Many of them are caused by:
- Fires. Your home could catch on fire due to a faulty wiring or a defective product.
- Car accidents. A motorist might get burned by exploding batteries or when the vehicle ignites and they can’t escape in time.
- Defective products. Many product defects lead to explosions or fires. For example, lithium batteries can catch on fire and are difficult to put out. A toaster oven or stove could burn people. Electrical burns are also common.
How Serious Are Burns?
Burns vary in size and depth. Doctors classify burns based on how deep they go:
- First-degree: This burn only affects the outer layer of skin. It should heal on its own in a week or two. Patients can treat the pain with a topical ointment and over-the-counter pain medication.
- Second-degree: This burn will affect the middle layer of skin, the dermis. A second-degree burn can blister and will lead to more intense pain.
- Third-degree: A burn in the third degree will damage all layers of skin, as well as underlying tissue. A third-degree burn will probably need skin grafts.
- Fourth-degree: This is the most serious burn. It will damage muscle, tendons, nerves, and even bone. A fourth-degree burn often results in an amputation.
Burn size is also significant. A small fourth-degree burn is serious but probably easier to treat than a second-degree burn that covers most of the body.
Treatment & Complications
Burn treatment will depend on the location and severity of the burn. Some burns are so destructive that patients need skin grafts. This procedure takes skin from a different part of the body and transfers it to the affected area. Donor skin might also come from a cadaver. Other treatment might include debridement of damaged tissue or even amputation of an affected limb.
You should avoid self-treating a burn at home. Many people make things worse when they put margarine or oil on a burn. That will only lock in the heat, causing more damage. Instead, go to the hospital to have a doctor inspect the burn.
There are many complications we see with burn injuries. For example, burns often become infected. A patient might need antibiotics around the clock to keep the infection under control. Ignoring signs of infection can lead to sepsis and septic shock.
Burns can also cause physical impairment, especially when a burn covers a joint. Imagine a large burn on your hand. The contractures which form will limit your movement at each joint. Many people need surgery and intense physical therapy to regain some range of movement.
Burns also cause intense emotional distress. If a burn is visible—such as covering the face or neck—then many victims might withdraw from friends. Studies have shown that burn injuries often lead to depression, acute stress disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder, which can last for several years.
Can You Receive Compensation?
At Larson & Gallivan Law, we will analyze all evidence to see who is at fault for your burn. For example, a defective product might catch on fire. New York product liability law gives victims a right to sue the manufacturer for defective design or manufacture, as well as for missing labels or safety instructions.
If you were burned in a car accident, we might sue the at-fault driver. Burns are serious injuries, and we can often step outside New York’s “no fault” insurance system to obtain additional compensation. You should contact our law firm to speak with a New York personal injury lawyer.
We know how to request full compensation for these injuries. An amputation, for example, often has ongoing expenses. You might need future stump surgeries or new prosthetics. Our goal is to request all possible compensation to cover past and future losses. You get one chance to obtain a fair settlement, so we take time fully evaluating your case.
Serious burns also cause economic distress because some victims cannot work. A major burn which leads to a leg amputation could force you to change your job. Some burn victims might never work again. Lost income or wages are computed as part of a settlement.
Next Steps
If you suffered a serious burn injury, we recommend taking the following steps:
- Write down how the accident happened. Did you turn on your stove only for it to catch on fire? Were you driving down the road when someone rear-ended you?
- Save any defective product. Your attorney will want to see it and possibly show it to an engineer to find a defect.
- Hang onto medical bills and proof of lost income. These documents help us establish your economic losses when it comes time to negotiate a settlement.
- Continue with your medical treatment. Your doctor might recommend physical therapy to help you regain motion. Don’t stop with treatment early.
Call Our New York Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
This is perhaps the most critical step. Our legal team can provide more insight into your right to sue if you call us. We will review your memories of the accident. Our firm has obtained many settlements for accident victims, and we are happy to delve into more detail about the services we offer.
