Burns are some of the most painful injuries a person can experience. Like any type of injury, burns can range from relatively mild (first-degree burns) to extremely serious (third-degree burns). The most severe burns will not only burn through all layers of the skin but can also damage the muscle, bone, and other tissues that the skin is meant to protect.

Burns can happen in many ways and can affect almost anyone. In some cases, a burn occurs because of sheer clumsiness, such as knocking against a hot grill or stove. On the other hand, many burns happen because another person or party acted in a negligent manner, and in such situations, the negligent party should be held liable for your medical bills, suffering, lost income and other relevant losses.

If you have sustained a burn injury in an accident that was the fault of someone else, please do not delay in calling the law firm of Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A. to learn more about your legal rights and about how we can help you.

Common Causes of Burns

Just as burns come in different degrees of seriousness, they also can happen in a variety of different ways. Some examples of accidents that can cause burn injuries include:

• Contact with hot liquid
• Contact with hot steam
• Contact with hot surfaces
• Electrocutions
• Contact with flame or fire
• Exposure to toxic chemicals
• Excessive friction with a surface

These are only a few of the ways that people can get burned at work, at home, or on another person’s property.

Effects of Burn Injuries

Burns are complicated injuries and can be challenging to treat. First, burns can cause shock, hypothermia, and other serious issues from the very beginning and seriously burned individuals should always be rushed in for emergency care and monitoring to minimize the effects of such complications. In addition, many burns cause permanent damage to the skin and tissue and it can never be repaired. In many serious cases, the skin can be completely destroyed or gone from a large area of the body. This can be extremely painful for patients.

Many burn victims require a stay in the hospital or in a burn treatment center. There, medical professionals will try to treat the burned areas and prevent infections from developing whenever possible. In some cases, doctors will need to perform painful procedures such as skin grafts and reconstructive surgeries. If certain body parts are completely beyond repair, doctors may have to amputate those body parts.

Because burns are so painful and traumatic, because the treatment is so extensive, and because victims are often left with significant scarring, burn victims regularly develop psychological and emotional injuries. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression are all common in burn victims and they require psychological treatment for those emotional struggles.

Burns Can Be Costly

All of the medical treatment for physical burns and the psychological treatment for emotional injuries can be costly and victims can face daunting medical bills. In addition, most burns take a significant amount of time to heal and so a burn victim must often miss school or work while they are recovering. In addition, many people never recover the full range of motion or functioning in certain parts of their bodies after a burn injury. This permanent disability can completely change their opportunities, earning capacity, ability to participate in enjoyable activities, and the general course of their life.

The losses from burns can be both financial and intangible and calculating the amount of your damages after a burn injury can be a complex process. Many people require the help of an expert who can assist in placing a value on your pain and suffering, emotional trauma, loss of enjoyment, future losses, and more. When you file a claim against the party that was responsible for your burns, you want to ensure to demand and fight for the full amount you deserve.

Do You Have a Case? Find Out Today

Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A. is among New Jersey's oldest personal injury law practices. Our lawyers have represented thousands of injured victims over a century. If you are wondering whether or not you have a case, schedule a free, confidential meeting with one of our personal injury lawyers using the contact form or phone number below.