The skin is the body’s largest organ and serves as a vital protective barrier. When this barrier is damaged by thermal or chemical trauma, the consequences can be severe. A minor injury, such as a quick brush with a hot object, may only cause redness, while a major accident can destroy all layers of the skin, reaching muscle and bone.
The Montgomery personal injury lawyers at Hunter | Everage help victims pursue justice after they have suffered harm due to another party’s negligence. If your injury resulted from another party’s carelessness, our burn injury lawyers are here to help you get compensation to cover your medical costs and long-term care.
Understanding the Different Degrees of Burns
Medical professionals determine the severity of a burn by classifying it into different burn degrees based on how deeply the injury has penetrated the layers of the skin. The skin has three main layers:
- The epidermis (the outer layer)
- The dermis (the layer below the epidermis)
- Typodermis or subcutaneous tissue (the innermost layer)
First-degree burns are the mildest. They affect only the epidermis. The skin looks red, may be slightly swollen, and is painful, much like a mild sunburn. These burns usually heal quickly on their own, leaving no scars.
Second-degree burns, also called partial-thickness burns, damage the epidermis and extend into the dermis. These burns cause blistering, intense redness, significant swelling, and severe pain. Deeper second-degree burns can take several weeks to heal and may result in scarring.
A third-degree burn, or full-thickness burn, destroys both the epidermis and the dermis, penetrating the underlying subcutaneous tissue. The skin may appear white, brown, or charred, and surprisingly, the victim may feel little or no pain because the nerve endings have been destroyed. These injuries require immediate specialized care and surgery, such as skin grafts.
A fourth-degree burn is the worst, extending through all layers of skin and into muscle, tendon, or even bone. These are life-threatening and require extensive surgery and may result in amputation.
Complications and Long-Term Effects of Severe Burns
Different degrees of burns can have varied impacts – a severe burn injury can lead to complications far beyond the initial wound. The body’s reaction to a major burn can be severe, leading to:
- Infection: Open wounds are highly susceptible to bacterial infection, which can lead to sepsis.
- Scarring and Disfigurement: Severe burns cause permanent, restrictive scarring that can limit movement, especially when near joints.
- Amputation: In fourth-degree burns, the damage can be so extreme that it necessitates the removal of a limb.
- Emotional Trauma: The pain, long recovery, and permanent changes to one’s appearance can cause significant emotional distress, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
- Extensive Medical Costs: Treatment often involves emergency care, multiple surgeries, skin grafts, physical therapy, and psychological counseling, leading to astronomical expenses.
Factors That Determine Compensation Value
The value of compensation in a burn injury claim is determined by several key factors. Insurance companies and courts consider these points when calculating a fair settlement or verdict.
Severity and Extent of the Injury
The severity and extent of the injury include the degree of the burn, the total body surface area affected, and whether the injury is temporary or permanent.
More severe, life-altering injuries will naturally lead to a higher compensation amount. This factor also covers the direct medical costs already incurred and the projected costs of future care, including surgeries, physical therapy, medication, and psychological counseling.
Impact on a Person’s Work and Income
If the injury caused the victim to miss work, the claim will include compensation for lost wages. If the injury permanently reduces the victim’s ability to earn a living, the claim will include damages for loss of future earning capacity.
Pain and Suffering Caused
Pain and suffering covers the physical discomfort, emotional distress, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life caused by the injury. Since these damages are subjective, their value often depends on the specifics of the injury, the duration of recovery, and the effectiveness of the legal presentation.
Compensation Available After a Burn Injury
Seeking compensation through a burn injury claim can help you recover the costs and damages associated with your injury. Here is a list of the types of compensation typically available after a burn injury:
- Medical Expenses: This includes emergency room visits and hospital stays; surgeries, including skin grafts and reconstructive procedures, medication, pain management, wound care supplies, physical, occupational, and psychological therapy, and future medical care.
- Lost Wages: Compensation for the time you missed from work immediately following the injury and during the recovery process.
- Loss of Earning Capacity: In cases where the injury is permanent or severely debilitating, this covers the projected income you will not be able to earn in the future due to reduced ability to work.
- Property Damage: Reimbursement for personal property damaged in the accident that caused the burn, such as a vehicle, clothing, or other belongings.
- Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the physical agony, chronic pain, and nerve damage that result from the burn itself and the subsequent medical treatments.
- Scarring and Disfigurement: Permanent changes to appearance, which can be devastating to a victim’s self-esteem and social life.
How Our Burn Injury Lawyer Can Help
The path to recovery after a burn injury is often long, but our burn injury lawyer can manage the legal process for you. Our legal team’s role includes:
1. Establishing Liability
We investigate the cause of the injury, gather evidence, and consult with experts to determine who was at fault for your accident. This is the foundation of a successful claim.
2. Calculating Damages
We work to determine the full value of your claim, accounting for both your current and future needs related to your burn injury.
3. Negotiating With Insurance Companies
Insurance adjusters often try to settle burn injury claims for the lowest possible amount. We take over all communication and negotiations with the insurance company, protecting your rights and fighting assertively for a fair settlement that covers all your needs.
4. Filing a Lawsuit
If the insurance company refuses to offer an appropriate settlement, we are prepared to take your case to trial. We will present a strong, evidence-based case in court to pursue justice and maximum compensation.
Contact an Experienced Montgomery Personal Injury Lawyer
At Hunter | Everage, we have a history of successfully representing clients who have suffered catastrophic injuries. If you’ve suffered burn injuries of any degree due to someone else’s fault, contact us today for a consultation.
Contact our experienced Montgomery burn injury lawyer at 704-377-9157 to discuss your burn injury claim and learn how we can assist you. We will hold the negligent parties accountable so you can focus on your recovery.