By Joseph Caprara of CBLAW posted in Burn And Scars on Friday, August 17, 2012.

Jackie was home with her children, and was cozying up to a book while cloaking herself in an electric blanket. Her night went from restful to painful, and her future would be a life of disfigurement. Jackie’s blanket malfunctioned, caught fire and caused her to sustain serious burns on her body, hand and arms.

 

The Story

Jackie was home with her children, and was cozying up to a book while cloaking herself in an electric blanket. Her night went from restful to painful, and her future would be a life of disfigurement. Jackie’s blanket malfunctioned, caught fire and caused her to sustain serious burns on her body, hand and arms.

Burns are extremely painful, and even small burns can leave disfiguring scars. As experienced personal injury lawyers, we know that various treatments for severe burns are very expensive, require a lot of time, and involve a lot of pain. Such treatments may include skin grafting and other types of surgery, and require long hospitalizations. Afterward, scar-removal procedures may require additional investments of time and money, and generate additional pain.

In addition to the physical disfigurement and pain a burn scar may cause, many people also suffer emotionally and may become socially withdrawn.

Whether your accident happened as a result of a car accident, work accident or from something else, people who sustain burns and scars can get compensation for pain and suffering, medical treatment, and lost income, as your injuries may cause you to miss time from your job, or lose it.

CBLAWLLP assembled a team of medical and rehabilitation experts to help Jackie on her road to recovery and ensure that she received all the services and financial support to help her. The trauma lawyers at CAPRARA BARRISTERS have a proven history of fighting and winning on behalf of individuals and families, who have been tragically injured.

Common Burn Injuries

Thermal burns – caused by exposure to severe heat of at least 115° F (e.g., fire, steam, boiling water, metal).
Radiation burns – caused by exposure to nuclear radiation (e.g., x-ray) or ultraviolet light (i.e. sunlight, tanning bed).
Chemical burns – caused by contact with caustic chemicals (e.g., acids, alkalis, detergents, or solvents).
Electrical burns – caused when high voltage passes through the body and abruptly exits, creating a severe exit wound.
Inhalation injuries – caused by breathing in toxic gas or fumes from a fire or chemical leak in a poorly ventilated area. This internal chemical burn triggers an inflammatory response to the victim’s respiratory system.

Types of Burns

First degree – skin is red, sensitive to the touch, and blotchy when lightly pressed. First degree burns are characterized by negligible tissue damage and fail to penetrate the skin’s surface. These burns cause pain and swelling of the epidermis. Sunburn is an example of a first degree burn.
Second degree – penetrate the epidermis and dermis, resulting in redness, pain, swelling, and blisters. Hair follicles and sweat glands are usually affected as well. If a deep second degree burn isn’t correctly cared for, it can turn into a third degree burn as swelling increases and blood flow worsens.
Third degree – impact the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis, causing skin to become charred or translucent. Coagulated blood vessels will appear under the surface. Areas of the body with third degree burns are normally numb, but there may be pain associated with it due to second degree burns. Third degree burns take a long time to heal because of the destruction of tissue, and they will cause considerable scarring
Fourth degree – When a burn injury is so intense that it reaches muscle, tendon, ligament, or bone, it is sometimes categorized as a fourth degree burn. These are usually life-threatening and can lead to amputation.

Scars

The 3 types of burn scars that can develop after your skin is burned are:

Keloid – overgrowth of scar tissue that expands beyond the injury site, usually appearing red or pink;
Hypertrophic – raised scars that appear red and thick, but are limited to the site of injury; and
Contracture – cause a permanent tightening of the skin, and may affect surrounding muscles and tendons, which can reduce mobility and possibly result in nerve damage.

A personal injury claim is only warranted when the burn or scar is due to the negligence of another individual.

Burns can be quite extensive, covering large areas of the body and requiring intensive care, a series of reconstructive surgeries, and long-term rehabilitation therapy. Having the right medical, rehabilitation and legal team will help reduce anxiety and smooth the road to recovery. The trauma lawyers at CAPRARA BARRISTERS can help assess whether or not you have a potential lawsuit; and can also help you receive the proper compensation. If you would like to learn more, feel free to call us and speak to a member of our trauma trial lawyers.

Joseph G. Caprara