Many burn injuries in adults are caused by the negligence of another individual or company, which means that legal recourse may be possible.
A burn injury is among the more devastating types of injuries that can occur. Many burn injuries take place as a result of someone’s negligence or an intentional act of harm, which means that they could have been prevented.
If your burn injury was the result of an accident or occurred because someone else was at fault, it’s possible that you will be able to seek compensation for your injuries and the many expenses related to the injury.
Degrees of Burn Injuries
While the degree of the burn injury you’ve obtained doesn’t always play a direct role in how much compensation you might receive, it’s still important to understand before taking any legal steps. First degree burns are mild and are largely considered to be superficial since they only cause damage to the epidermis, which is the outer layer of skin. The skin typically doesn’t break with a first degree burn, which means that healing should only take 3-7 days. A second-degree burn damages both the epidermis and dermis layers of skin, which will usually cause a substantial amount of pain as well as swelling, inflammation, and redness.
While the damaged skin should grow back in a relatively short period of time, it’s possible for infections to develop. As for third-degree burns, these are the most severe types. A third-degree burn reaches the deeper tissues below the epidermis and dermis, which can cause the burnt area to be appear red, white, or black in color. The area will likely be numb because of damage done to surrounding nerves. Third degree burns require treatment, which is typically provided through skin grafts.
How Accidental Burn Injuries Typically Occur
This is a common work-related injury among people who work close to chemicals, electricity, and radiation. Car accidents can also lead to burn injuries. If the car accident was caused by another driver, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit. When it comes to burn injuries, there are a range of health issues and complications that can occur as a result of the initial injury, which is why it’s essential that you obtain the compensation you deserve.
When to Consider a Personal Injury Lawsuit
If you’ve suffered from a burn injury that could have been prevented were it not for the negligent or intentional actions of an individual or entity, you could seek compensation because of these injuries. The compensation that you might be able to obtain includes both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages usually refer to compensation for lost wages, medical bills, and any other out-of-pocket expense that you needed to pay because of the injury. Non-economic damages typically involve pain and suffering, which is something that can be calculated in a variety of ways.
