Burn Injuries - One of the Most Severe Personal Injuries

By David Zevan  Feb. 2, 2015 7:47p

Severe burn injuries are among the most serious and painful of all traumatic injuries.

Only the person who has suffered the pain of second-, third-, or fourth-degree burns can describe how painful they are. Burn injuries are among the most serious and painful of all traumatic injuries. Burn injuries do not just cause excruciating pain, they also pose a serious threat of infections and other medical complications.

Causes of Burn Injuries

Many personal injury lawsuits stemming from burn injuries are a result of one of the following:

• Building fires: Many people suffer burn injuries as a result of getting caught in a fire inside commercial or residential buildings. These victims may also suffer from smoke inhalation and related complications.

• Explosions: Various causes of explosions include improperly handled or stored combustible materials and faulty gas lines. Explosions are often caused by a person's negligence.

• Defective products: A defective product can cause a fire in several ways. It can cause a fire because of a manufacturing defect, or the manufacturer may have failed to identify a fire-causing element in the product’s design.

• Hot liquids: Hot coffee or boiling water can cause burn injuries. Such injuries are often reported in restaurants and kitchens.

• Electrocution: Exposure to high voltage electricity may cause burn injuries known as electrical burn injuries. People who work around electric lines are most susceptible to these injuries. These burn injuries are caused when the high voltage current enters the body and makes an exit, causing a burn injury. Depending on how high the voltage is, the injuries can be life-threatening.

• Vehicle accidents: Vehicle collisions can cause fires that cause burn injuries to both the driver and the passengers. The fire is often caused by the inflammation of gas due to the collision.

• Exposure to radiation and harmful chemicals: Strong bases and acids found in labs can cause burn injuries. In most cases, the exposure to these chemicals is accidental. Exposure to strong radiation, such as ultra violet radiation, can also cause burn injuries. Strong chemicals may burn the skin, making it difficult to clean and treat the wound.

Seeking Compensation for Negligence

Victims of severe burn injuries are prone to life-threatening infections and often need prolonged treatment and hospitalization. A burn victim may have to undergo a treatment called skin graphing. Many victims of serious burn injuries lose their lives as a result of electrolyte and fluid imbalance and secondary infections. If you or someone close to you has suffered a burn injury because of another person's negligence, call Zevan and Davidson Law Firm, LLC at (314) 588-7200 to learn about your legal options.