Burn injury lawyers and burn injury attorneys are those advocates who help burn victims receive compensation for burns caused by the careless or intentional acts of others. That includes compensation for medical bills incurred for burn treatment as well as compensation for pain and suffering and disfigurement from burn scars.

What causes a burn injury?

Burns can be caused by fire or flame, hot water or steam, some other hot surface, electrical burns, chemical burns, and radiation burns. Consider the following statistics about the causes of burns:

• 44% are from fire or flames.
• 33% are from scalding injuries caused by wet or moist heat.
• 9% are from direct contact with a hot source.
• 4% are electrical burns.
• 3% are chemical burns.
• 7% are from other, miscellaneous sources, including radiation burns and friction.

What are the different types of burns?

There is a common method of burn classification that includes first-degree burns, second-degree burns, and the most severe, third-degree burns (some add a fourth classification, but that is not as widely used):

• First-Degree Burns: these only affect the outer layer of skin (epidermis), like a mild sunburn. The skin turns red and dry, but does not blister.
• Second-Degree Burns: these burns go deeper than the first layer of skin and into the second (dermis) The skin is red and blistered and may be swollen.
• Third-Degree Burns: these burns destroy the first two layers of skin and damages the subcutaneous tissue. The burn site looks white or charred, the nerve endings are destroyed, and the underlying bones, muscles, and tendons may also be damaged.

Do I need a burn injury lawyer?

Because burn injuries are often the result of someone else’s careless or intentional act, these kinds of injuries implicate burn injury law and require a brain injury lawyer. Consider the following scenarios:

• Faulty wiring causes a fire in the home, resulting in a burn;
• A hotel or casino does not maintain their smoke detectors, so you are not given enough warning to escape from a fire and are burned; or
• Your airbag is coated with a powder chemical that burns your eyes and face when your airbag goes off.

A qualified burn injury attorney can help you identify whether someone is liable for your burns, including burn scars, and help you get compensated. Other than consulting with a burn injury lawyer, people in these situations would also, obviously, need to see a doctor who specializes in burn injury treatment. At H&P Law, we understand burn injuries and can help you get compensated for your losses, including burn scars and emotional scarring, and make sure your treatment is paid for.