Types of Burn Injuries

Burns are some of the most painful and devastating injuries a person can experience. Common causes of burns include fire, liquid scalding, chemicals, and electricity. Although some mild burns are minor injuries, others can cause severe damage. Burn injuries can cause extreme physical pain and emotional trauma.

You can suffer a burn injury in many settings, including accidents, defective products, and workplace negligence. If another person's negligence caused the injury, you can pursue compensation through a personal injury claim. A lawsuit or claim holds the negligent parties accountable for their actions.

Additionally, it helps you rebuild your life by compensating you for the injuries. Knowing more about burn injuries enables you to get appropriate treatment. It can be used as evidence in your personal injury lawsuit. If you or a loved one has suffered a burn injury in a negligent act, you will need the insight of a reliable personal injury lawyer to pursue a legal claim.

Types of Burn Injuries

Burns can occur when heat, chemicals, or electricity come into contact with your skin. The severity of a burn depends on how much of the body it affects. Burn injuries are grouped by their cause. The cause determines how the burn looks, how it is treated, and the complications it can cause. Also, it assists in personal injury claims if injuries are caused by negligence. Common types of burns include:

Thermal Burns

Thermal burns occur when the skin is exposed to high heat. Open flames, hot liquids, or steam can produce the heat that causes burns. A worker may then touch a hot piece of machinery while he does his work. In a car crash, victims may be trapped in burning vehicles. Symptoms of thermal burns may range from mild redness to deep tissue damage.

In severe cases, the skin may be blackened or leathery. Thermal burns usually require emergency care and, in some cases, skin grafts. The recovery process for these burns is long. While nursing your injuries, you may be unable to return to work or perform daily tasks. For many, these burns also cause emotional pain or changes in appearance.

Chemical Burns

A chemical burn occurs when your skin is exposed to harsh chemicals. These burns can happen in the workplace, where potent cleaning agents, industrial agents, or acids are used daily. They may also occur at home with products you use daily, including bleach or drain cleaners. The damage from chemical burns continues until the chemicals are neutralized.

Even small amounts of exposure to harmful chemicals can cause severe injuries. Signs of chemical burns include:

• Burning pain or stinging at the site
• Blisters or peeling skin
• Redness or swelling
• Eye injuries, Breathing difficulties

You may need emergency treatment if you have suffered a severe burn injury. The long-term consequences of these burns can include scarring. You may need extensive medical care if you are a victim of a chemical burn. Sometimes, they can face lasting disability.

Electrical Burns

When electricity passes through your body, you can suffer a burn in the tissues. Unlike other burns, the damage from this type is often internal. A small burn mark may appear on the skin. Sources of electrical burns include:

• Contact with power lines
• Faulty household appliances
• Workplace machinery
• Lightning strikes

The impact of an electrical burn can be severe. Victims may suffer heart problems, including sudden cardiac arrest. In some cases, brain function is affected. This leads to memory or concentration issues. Electrical burns often require hospital care, monitoring of the heart, and surgery to repair damaged tissue. Victims of electrical burns may live with permanent disability.

Cold Burns

Heat is not the only source of burns. Sometimes, freezing temperatures can damage the skin layers. When your skin comes into contact with ice, it can cause skin irritation and peeling. You may be at risk of a cold burn if you work in an industry that handles frozen items. Spending significant time on these industrial freezers can cause severe injuries.

Another way you could suffer a cold burn is if you undergo cold therapy. The symptoms of an ice burn or first bite can include:

• Numbness.
• Tingling.
• Pale skin
• Cold, hard, waxy-looking skin.
• Clumsiness due to joint stiffness.
• Pain.
• Blistering after rewarming.

When left untreated, frostbite can cause the following complications:

Increased sensitivity to extreme temperatures

• Hypothermia.
• Growth issues in children
• Tetanus.
• Numbness around the affected area.
• Excessive sweating
• Infection.

Employers whose companies operate with ice must have safety measures for their employees. If you suffer such a burn injury at work, you could file a personal injury lawsuit against the employer.

Radiation Burns

Radiation burns can occur in different situations. These include:

• Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation. This is common from the sun. Also, this type of radiation can come from artificial sources such as tanning beds.
• Ionizing radiation. This type of radiation comes from medical procedures like X-rays, cancer treatment, and exposure to radioactive materials.

Radiation burns range from mild irritation on the skin to severe tissue damage. The level and duration of exposure to radioactive materials can determine the extent of your injury. A radiation burn injury is characterized by:

• Inflammation and redness. The affected part of your body can appear swollen or bruised after a radiation burn.
• Pain. You will experience pain and discomfort in the burned area of the skin.
• Blistering. Severe radiation burns can lead to the formation of blisters.
• Peeling skin. As the thermal burn heals, your skin may start to peel.

Extent of Burn Injuries

The extent or degree of burns refers to the depth of skin damage. Different types of burns cause varying degrees of injury. They include:

First-Degree Burns

A first-degree burn is a mild type of burn injury. It affects the epidermis, which is the outer layer of the skin. Victims usually experience mild pain and irritation. However, healing happens quickly. First-degree burns are characterized by:

• Redness and swelling
• Mild pain and discomfort
• Fast healing without permanent scars

Although these burns are considered minor, you can pursue a personal injury claim when they occur because of negligence.

Second-Degree Burns

Second-degree burns extend deeper into the skin and reach the dermis. They are far more painful and often leave visible marks. They are characterized by:

• Severe pain and swelling
• Formation of blisters
• Risk of scarring or permanent skin discoloration

Second-degree burns typically need professional medical care. For this reason, they can add significantly to the damages you claim in a lawsuit.

Third-Degree Burns

Third-degree burns can destroy all the layers of the skin. Additionally, they may damage the tissues underneath. The skin may look white or charred. Victims of these burns may need surgeries and long-term rehabilitation to recover. Third-degree burns can cause lifelong disability and impact multiple aspects of your life. You can experience the following symptoms if you have a third-degree burn.

• Full skin destruction
• Loss of sensation in the affected area
• High risk of permanent disfigurement

Fourth-Degree Burns

The most severe and life-threatening burns are fourth-degree burns. They go beyond skin and fat to muscles, tendons, and bones. You can suffer permanent disability, or even death, after a fourth-degree burn. The characteristics of a third-degree burn include:

• Penetration into muscles, tendons, and bones
• Extreme risk of infection and complications
• Need for amputations

Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit for Burn Injuries in Florida

Some types of burn injuries are a result of another person's negligence. Victims of such injuries have a right to pursue compensation for their injuries and losses by filing a personal injury claim. These cases can arise in many situations.

For example, an employer may fail to provide safety equipment at the workplace, causing you to suffer a chemical burn. In this case, you are entitled to a settlement under Florida personal injury law.

The first step in a personal injury claim is to establish liability. Liability means that the defendant's actions caused your injury. Florida law requires you to prove the following elements of negligence:

• Duty of care. The duty of care is that each person has a responsibility to ensure they do not cause harm to others. You must prove that the defendant had a legal duty to act reasonably and prevent damage. Employers must provide safe workplaces for their employees. Property owners must keep premises secure.
• Breach of duty. Owing you a duty of care is not enough to establish a person's negligence. You must show that the defendant breached the duty.
• Causation. You must show that the defendant's breach of duty caused your burn injuries. You must establish the link between unsafe conditions and your injury to recover compensation.
• Damages. The final element of negligence is showing the damages you suffered. Burn injuries can cause severe physical, emotional, and financial challenges. You must collect enough evidence to prove to the court that you suffered losses for which you seek compensation.

Florida uses a modified comparative negligence rule. The victim's percentage of fault reduces their compensation if they share fault. For example, if you are 20% at fault for the burn injury, your award is reduced by 20%. However, they can still recover damages if you are less than 51% at fault.

Florida requires strict deadlines for filing personal injury lawsuits. The injury victim usually has two years to file a claim. Otherwise, the right to compensation is lost if you miss this deadline.

Compensation Benefits In A Burn Injury Lawsuit

Burn injury lawsuits can involve large claims. Victims may seek compensation for:

• Emergency treatment and hospital stays. Most burn injuries require immediate medical attention. Victims may need ambulance transport, emergency care, or extended hospital stays. The costs of these services can be very high, even in the first few days after the injury.
• Rehabilitation and physical therapy. After the initial treatment, many victims require rehabilitation to regain movement and strength. Physical therapy will help with flexibility. Therefore, you can be compensated for the damage. These treatments may last for months or even years.
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity. Severe burns can cause you to miss months or weeks of work. In some cases, they may be unable to return to their previous job. You can recover compensation for your lost wages and future earning capacity. You can prove your lost wages by obtaining a letter from your employer. The letter indicates the amount of work you missed while nursing your injuries.
• Pain, suffering, and emotional distress. Burns can lead to extreme physical pain. Other issues that victims may also suffer include anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress. These damages recognize the personal suffering that cannot be measured by bills alone.
• Scarring or permanent disfigurement. Many burn injuries will have visible scars or permanent disfigurement. This affects your outlook on life, social life, and other aspects of life. Compensation helps to address these long-term changes.

Wrongful Death

In severe cases, a burn injury can result in the death of the victim. Losing a loved one due to another person's negligence is devastating. However, you can seek compensation by filing a wrongful death lawsuit. In your lawsuit, you must prove all the elements of negligence before recovering compensation.

Florida law specifies the individuals who can pursue a wrongful death lawsuit. If you are successful, you could recover compensation for:

• Burial and funeral expenses
• Lost consortium
• Loss of financial support for the dependents

Find a Reliable Personal Injury Attorney Near Me

You can suffer a burn injury from chemicals, a fire, road rash, or radiation. Burn injuries take a while to recover. This makes it challenging to return to work. Burn injuries can also raise medical bills that impact your finances significantly. You can also sue them for compensation if another person’s negligence or malpractice hurts you.

When seeking compensation, you must prove the defendant's negligence and that you suffered the damages. Navigating the lawsuit while nursing your injuries can be complex. Therefore, you will need expert legal guidance to improve your chances of recovering fair and full compensation. At Jacksonville Personal Injury Attorney, we will investigate the cause of your case and build a strong lawsuit for you. Contact us today at 904-800-7557 from Jacksonville, FL, to discuss the details of your case.