Many people have experienced a minor burn while cooking, ironing, or sunbathing at some point in their life. While painful and inconvenient, these injuries often do not require professional medical attention. However, a severe burn can damage multiple layers of skin and impact your ability to do daily activities.
If you are suffering from a serious burn injury, you have likely incurred high medical expenses and lost income due to time off work. If your accident was caused by someone else, you could be entitled to financial compensation in a personal injury lawsuit. As intimidating as that might sound, you do not have to handle it alone. Our Spring Hill burn injury lawyers are ready and willing to help you understand your rights and to help pursue compensation on your behalf, we can help you make sure you get the settlement that you rightfully deserve. Talk to a dedicated catastrophic injury attorney from our firm today.
What Are The Different Types Of Burn Injuries?
Different types of burn injuries can result in varying degrees of physical harm. Nonetheless, they can all be extremely painful and damaging to the skin. In some extreme circumstances, a burn may even be fatal. Burn injuries can be classified as thermal, chemical, or electrical.
Thermal Burns
Thermal burns are caused by hot objects or substances. In addition to flames, you could suffer a burn from hot liquids, metals, and steam. We have represented a client who suffered thermal and chemical burns from an exploding grill- resulting in a $900,000 settlement.
Chemical Burns
Caustic substances such as bleach, battery acid, acids, bases, and other corrosive chemicals can cause incredibly serious burns. These types of injuries may occur due to defective cleaning products or improperly stored materials in a workplace.
Electrical Burns
Contact with high-voltage electrical sources can cause electrical burns. When electrical current transmits through the human body, it causes destruction along the way. It can even prove fatal by stopping the heart or damaging other neurological functions.
If you suffered any of these kinds of burns, an attorney in Spring Hill can help you identify the person responsible and seek compensation to account for your damages.
Degrees Of Burn Injuries
The medical community classifies burns as first-degree, second-degree, third-degree, and fourth-degree. This classification system is used to determine how severe the injury is. Additionally, these classifications give medical providers a better idea of the type of treatment the injured party will likely need.
First-Degree Burns
First-degree burns are the least serious. They are typically superficial and only result in minor pain, swelling, and redness. Cold water is often enough to treat this kind of burn. Though this type of injury alone is generally not enough to warrant a legal claim, you may still be able to seek compensation from the responsible party if you suffered a first-degree burn in conjunction with other severe injuries.
Second-Degree Burns
A second-degree burn is more serious, as it impacts the second layer of skin. After suffering this type of injury, you might experience blisters and skin sores on the outer layers of your skin.
These burns usually require medical attention, special burn creams, wrapping, and other types of care. Second-degree burns in certain areas of the body may require more extensive medical care.
Third- and Fourth-Degree Burns
These types of burns are the most severe. Several layers of skin are damaged by third- and fourth-degree burns. Additionally, these types of burns can even cause muscle, bone, and nerve damage.
Permanent charring, discoloration, and a waxy appearance can also accompany this serious type of burn. No matter the type of burn injury you are dealing with, it could be beneficial to speak with a compassionate attorney about your legal options.
How Do You Prove Fault In A Legal Claim In Spring Hill?
The first step in any personal injury claim is establishing that the party was at fault for your injury. This involves proving that:
- The other party owed you a duty of care
- That person or entity breached their duty
- The breach caused an accident
- Your injuries resulted from that accident
Proving liability can be incredibly difficult, especially when complex legal statutes govern the case. You must gather a great deal of evidence to establish liability in a severe burn injury case, which is why it is important to work with an experienced lawyer.
Is It Necessary To Have A Personal Injury Attorney Represent You?
While you are not required to hire a lawyer before filing a legal claim, it is highly recommended. The at-fault party or their insurance company will do everything they can to avoid liability for your accident. Many insurance companies urge plaintiffs to settle the claim quickly, so they do not have time to retain legal counsel. Without an attorney on your side, you may be unsure of the full value of your claim and prematurely accept a low settlement offer.
Attorney Mike Hancock has experience in insurance defense, so he can help you anticipate these types of tactics. Working with a reputable lawyer on your burn injury case can also lead the defense to take your case more seriously.
Let A Spring Hill Burn Injury Attorney Fight For You
If you were harmed by a negligent party, it is important to understand that you have legal rights. You and your family may be able to pursue compensation from the person responsible for your accident. Do not hesitate to contact a Spring Hill burn injury lawyer today to set up a free consultation.