Burn Injuries
At the Shelton Law Firm, we focus a significant portion of our personal injury practice on cases involving burn injuries.
Over a million people seek medical attention for burns in the United States every year. All serious injuries can be traumatic, but burns are particularly devastating not only because of their pain and scarring, but because serious skin damage can easily lead to additional health complications.
If you have suffered a serious burn in an accident, seeking immediate medical attention is absolutely crucial. Once you are safely under a doctor's care, it is also important to seek trusted advice from an experienced personal injury lawyer. You may be entitled to compensation under a negligence theory, products liability theory, or under your state's workers' compensation insurance program.
Types of burns
A burn is heat damage to the skin or flesh caused by flames, contact with heated objects, chemicals, electricity, sunlight, and radiation. There are four categories of burns:
- First degree: Only the outer layer of skin is damaged, as in a minor sunburn.
- Second degree: The outer layer of skin and the layer beneath it are damaged, as commonly seen after a burn by scalding hot liquid.
- Third degree: The full depth of the skin, down to the underlying tissue, is completely destroyed, often requiring skin grafting.
- Fourth degree: The full depth of the skin, as well as the underlying tendons, bone, fat tissue and muscle, are damaged or destroyed.
Common complications after burn injuries
The skin is an organ that serves to protect our bodies from dangerous outside conditions, such as germs. When skin is damaged, additional complications can arise, such as:
- Dehydration
- Infection
- Hypothermia
- Damage to internal organs
- Scarring
Seek experienced legal counsel
A serious burn injury may have a devastating financial and emotional toll on you and your family. As experienced personal injury lawyers, we can ease the stress by handling all the legal issues, advocating for your best interests, and helping you get the compensation you deserve. Whether you are in Texas, Louisiana, or anywhere in the United States, contact the Shelton Law Firm today for a free initial consultation.
