Category: Burn Injuries

Severe burns are often part of the injuries involved in a personal injury claim. Burns can be sustained by car accident victims due to anything from air bag deployment to a fire breaking out as a result of the accident. Burns can also be sustained because of a dangerously defective product. The fact of the matter is that burns are common results of a wide range of accidents and they can have a debilitating impact on those that sustain this type of injury. In fact, burns can have devastating and far reaching impacts beyond what you may initial think.

The Impacts of Burn Injuries 

If you have been burned in an accident, you may notice your skin beginning to blister. Sometimes, the blisters will remain intact and other times they will begin to leak fluid. Burns are also often painful, although sometimes severe burns can feel painless as it has a kind of numbing effect on the skin. You may also notice that your skin and the area surrounding the burn will begin to look red and swell. Burns are very serious, but they can also range in severity. When a burn impacts several layers of skin and underlying tissues, then it becomes even more serious.

Those who experience a minor burn or a moderate burn may have scarring and may feel pain, but they can often recover without further incidence after a few weeks. Some who sustain more severe burns, however, can suffer for years or even for the rest of their lives. Studies have even shown that a severe burn injury has parallels with chronic diseases and should even be classified as such. In fact, severe burns have been linked to increased risks of developing health conditions such as:

• Cancer
• Cardiovascular disease
• Nervous system disorders
• Diabetes
• Musculoskeletal disorders

Those who sustained severe burn injuries are also more likely to struggle with anxiety and depression. These are all secondary pathologies that can develop due to the shock to the body that is a severe burn disrupting homeostasis.

Burn injury victims can also develop serious problems as the burn tries to heal. For instance, hypertrophic scars, which refers to the raised area of skin surrounding the original burn, are extremely common. These types of scars, however, can have a debilitating impact on the burn victim’s ability to function. They can also have an adverse impact on their body image.

Burn victims can also develop contractures. These develop when a burn scar continues to mature and, as it does, thickens and tightens. Contractures can greatly constrict movement, especially when they develop near a joint area.

Philadelphia Personal Injury Attorneys

If you have sustained a burn injury in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you need an attorney that is well-versed in pursuing the full extent of damages associated with this kind of injury. You can count on the personal injury team Cooper, Schall & Levy to fight for you and your right to be fully compensated for your injuries. Contact us today.

The American Burn Association reports that, in the U.S. alone, approximately 400,000 people receive medical treatment for burn injuries each year. In 2018, there were 3,655 fatalities caused by fire and smoke inhalation. That same year, 40,000 more people were treated in hospitals for burn-related injuries. While most of us have experienced minor burns and recovered without incidences, thousands of others have suffered debilitating consequences from burn injuries. The pain and damage sustained from burns can not only be severe, but permanent. This is why a National Burn Awareness Week was established and is annually observed during the first week of February. Each year, this week seeks to make the public aware of how critical it is to work towards better fire safety and educate about burn prevention methods.

This Year’s Theme for National Burn Awareness Week

For 2020, the National Burn Awareness theme is: “Contact Burns—Hot Surfaces Damage Skin!” The theme focuses on the point that contact burns are far too common and can be preventable when proper care is taken. The primary causes of contact burns include:

• Fire
• Scalds
• Contact with hot objects
• Contact with electricity
• Chemical contact

Each year, the National Burn Awareness theme changes, but the spirit of the week remains the same. It is a time for all different groups of people to bring increased awareness to people across the U.S. about the fact that burns commonly occur and, more often than not, they are preventable when due care is exercised around dangerous objects and substances. There is also information regarding advancement in burn care that is available today. Behind National Burn Awareness are burn care organizations, burn survivor support groups, public safety professionals, and groups focused on burn prevention activism.

People often overlook the tragic consequences that can be caused after sustaining a burn injury. Severe burns can cause problems such as:

• Severe pain
• Nerve damage
• Extensive scarring
• Paralysis
• Emotional pain and suffering

In severe cases, burns can prove fatal. Other times, the burn injury is so severe that a person’s entire life is negatively impacted by it. The emotional pain and suffering alone can ruin a person’s personal and professional relationships. Burn injury survivors often face:

• Extended rehabilitation
• Long term medical intervention
• Permanent disfigurement
• Loss of physical ability

Burns are caused by a wide range of circumstances. Some are self-inflicted and others may be caused by the negligence of someone else. Burns can be sustained due to:

• Fire
• Steam
• Hot liquids
• Stovetops
• Irons
• Heaters
• Chemicals (including chlorine and bleach)
• Electrical circuits
• Radiation
• Friction against the skin

Exposure to these dangers that can result in severe burns may be due to an unsafe property condition. It can also be due to a defective product. Furthermore, many motor vehicle accident victims sustain burn injuries. If you or a loved one has suffered a severe burn as a result of an accident caused by the negligence of another, you may be entitled to compensation through bringing a personal injury action.

Pennsylvania Personal Injury Attorneys

Burn injuries are just one of the countless injuries that a person can suffer due to the negligent action or inaction of another. The devastating consequences of sustaining a burn injury can impact the rest of a person’s life. If you or a loved one has suffered a burn caused by the negligence of someone else, the trusted personal injury Attorneys at Cooper Schall & Levy are here to fight to enforce your legal right to recover full and fair compensation for the harm you have suffered. Contact us today.