A California Burn Injury Lawyer May Be Able to Help You Receive Compensation

If you or a family member have suffered severe burns due to someone else’s negligence or a defective product, you definitely need a good burn injury lawyer. You’re much more likely to receive a decent settlement for your injury if you’re working with a professional. At Russell & Lazarus APC, we know the relevant case law as well as the medical conditions that apply. We also know that severe burn injuries take longer to treat than most other injuries, and therefore require greater compensation.

Have you been wondering if you can sue someone over your burn injuries? We’ll answer your questions in this blog. We may also be able to help you if you decide to file a lawsuit.

Types of Burn Injuries

Hundreds of thousands of burn injuries occur every year in the United States alone, many of which are caused by negligence or poor-quality products. According to the American Burn Association, burns fall into four main types:

• Light burns caused by exposure to light, like sunlight or UV. At times, they can be somewhat severe.
• Thermal burns resulting from contact with or exposure to heat, steam, or hot liquids (scalding).
• Chemical burns resulting from strong alkalis or acids, or chemical explosions.
• Radiation burns from exposure to nuclear radiation; they tend to be rare.

Because they often cause massive nerve damage, severe burn injuries are among the most painful you can incur. Whatever the cause, they may result in lasting harm, including disfigurement, prolonged pain, and psychological scars. Unsafe products, poor instruction, insufficient training, and neglect can all contribute to these crippling, long-lasting injuries.

Three Categories of Burn Severity

Medical personnel typically recognize three degrees of burns.

First-degree burns are common, and typically not something worth hiring a burn injury lawyer for. The burn affects only the epidermis, the top layer of skin, causing redness and inflammation. Most sunburns are first-degree burns. They typically heal within a week with minor medication.

More significant (and actionable) are second- and third-degree burns.

Second-degree burns extend below the epidermis, often causing blistering, nerve damage, and extreme redness. They may take weeks to heal and require bandaging. It’s possible to get a second-degree sunburn, but these are generally thermal or radiation injuries.

Third-degree burns extend down through all layers of the skin. Some authorities identify burns that go deeper, to affect muscles, organs, and even bone, as fourth-degree burns; but most just lump them under the term “third-degree” as well. Third-degree burn wounds may be completely black or white, with obvious charring, and cause permanent nerve damage. They may be lethal; and even when they are not, they’re subject to the constant risk of infection. Healing is slow, agonizing, and may require extreme medical procedures.

How Can You Receive Compensation for a Burn Injury?

Severe burns rarely heal as readily or as completely as most injuries. Worse, they’re arguably the most traumatizing of all injuries and are certainly among the most expensive to treat. Infections are common even in first degree burns, and third-degree burns may require years of medical care. Treatment costs and rehabilitation can rise into the hundreds of thousands of dollars — or more. Even after you heal, severe burns will continue to have a negative impact on your ability to work and on your quality of life in general. Your life, and your family’s, will never be the same.

If someone’s negligence caused your burns, they deserve to pay for your medical bills and suffering. Don’t just settle; get a qualified burn injury lawyer to negotiate the best possible settlement for you.

Speak to a California Burn Injury Lawyer

Have you or a loved one suffered burn injuries due to someone’s else’s negligence or a shoddy product? Call Russell & Lazarus APC for a free consultation. If you live in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, or Riverside counties, we may be able to help. Our personal injury attorneys are thoroughly familiar with California’s burn injury case law and can help you navigate the process of obtaining a settlement that will take care of you or your loved one for the rest of your life.