Burn Injury In Philadelphia
Burn injuries are some of the least acknowledged wounds in personal injury claims, yet they are among the most painful ones to endure. In the U.S., burns account for thousands of deaths every year, and many more individuals are forced to live with the repercussions of burn damage for the rest of their lives.
Burn injuries are costly, permanent, painful, and unsightly. In addition, they also account for the top 1% of all individual settlements and verdicts in terms of monetary value. If you or a loved one was burned in an accident, you should seek the assistance of a competent law firm.
At The Law Offices of Greg Prosmushkin, P.C., our burn injury lawyer in Philadelphia and our entire legal staff know how to best meet your needs through evidence collection, consultation with experts, and management of the various treatment and medical bills that you are incurring. In addition, we can also assist with worker’s compensation claims if your burn injury occurred while you were at work. We are always available, and the first consultation is free.
Based on the most recent data from the American Burn Association, approximately 486,000 individuals in the United States sought medical treatment for burn injuries in 2016.
The severity of a burn injury can be classified into one of three categories or degrees. These categories are:
- First-degree burns: People who face burns in which only the top layer of skin becomes damaged will fall into this category. First-degree burns cause the least damage and generally heal within a short period. A first-degree burn can be identified by minor inflammation and localized redness.
- Second-degree burns: When a burn injury damages the layer of skin immediately beneath the top layer of skin, it is classified as a second-degree burn. The skin will turn deep red, and the skin often blisters. These types of burns may take weeks to heal. People who incur second-degree burns should generally seek immediate medical treatment, and these wounds should be appropriately covered to prevent secondary infections.
- Third-degree burns: Third-degree burns are the most severe burn injury, and the victim may face extensive pain and suffering. Because the burn damages deep layers of skin, the healing time and treatment required for third-degree burns are much more extensive than for less severe burns. Third-degree burns can even affect bones and internal organs. This burn may appear as a black-and-white dry wound with charring along the edges. Many people face hypothermia, permanent nerve damage, and other severe repercussions resulting from third-degree burns, including death.
Common Causes of Severe Burns
- Fuel-fed fires from a accident
- Malfunctioning home appliance or products
- Electrical burns
- Chemical burns
- Incidental contact with an unprotected hot item or object
Risk Factors Involved In Burn Injuries
A burn injury can happen to any person and at any time. We all need to know how to handle a burn injury before it happens. Some people are at higher risk of facing burn injuries, including:
- Young children: Because young children’s skin is very delicate and easily damaged, babies and young children are more likely to face severe burn injuries.
- Older adults and senior citizens: Just like children, older adults’ skin is fragile due to normal aging processes and prone to more damage when an injury occurs. The elderly also generally take more time to heal following an injury.
Things at home that put people at more risk of facing burns include:
- Defective electrical wiring in the house
- Faulty water heaters
- Faulty kitchen appliances
- Cleaning materials, such as bleach, ammonia, and oven cleaners
In addition to the abovementioned risks, a gas stove can be exceptionally risky for children. Because they may not understand the high burn risk that a gas stove poses, they may burn themselves if they accidentally touch it while playing.
Recovery From Burn Injuries
The recovery time for a burn injury will depend on many factors, including the type of burn, the extent of skin damage, the type of treatment, and the type of rehabilitation the individual has. Burn victims can suffer both long-term and short-term effects from their injuries. Because so many factors come into play, the recovery time will also vary.
Disfigurement and permanent scarring are two of the most daunting outcomes that a burn victim can face, aside from death. A burn injury can change the course of your whole life and require many changes going forward. Skin grafts, reconstructive surgery, and invasive procedures can be both painful and expensive.
If you have faced burns due to someone else’s fault, you need to talk to an attorney to learn how to file a claim and pursue compensation. You can include the cost of emergency care, diagnostic tests, hospitalization charges, medications, surgery, pain, and suffering due to the injury. Recovering the costs of these damages is possible when you hire an experienced Philadelphia burn injury lawyer to represent your case vigorously.
Seeking Compensation For Burn Injuries Can Be Very Helpful.
Facing burn injuries can be a traumatic and life-changing experience. Seeking emergency medical care, hospitalization, and complicated treatments can burn a hole in your pocket. This is why getting monetary compensation by filing a personal injury claim can significantly help the victim and their family.
As we discussed earlier, third-degree burns can take months or years to heal. If you or a loved one faced burns due to someone else’s negligence, consult an experienced Philadelphia burn injury lawyer for more information.
Talk To A Reputable Burn Injury Lawyer
We examine all available evidence to help you pursue the compensation you deserve. We can work to recover compensation for past medical expenses you have incurred. We can also help you claim future medical expenses that you are likely to incur.
You can also seek to recover lost wages you sustained, as well as your loss of future income or harm is done to your future working capacity. We work tirelessly to obtain compensation for the intangible losses in your life, such as pain and suffering in the past, present, and future.
At the Law Offices of Greg Prosmushkin, P.C., our staff attends to your needs, and our Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyer can help you in the courtroom. Call us today for a free consultation. You will not need to pay a fee unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
Our attorneys understand how burns can affect you both physically and emotionally. We have empathy for all of our clients who have faced such a difficult life event, and we want to help them by securing the compensation they need and deserve to cope with this drastic shift.
We will work tirelessly to get you fully and fairly compensated for any burn injuries you have suffered. Our goal is for every client to be satisfied with our services.