Workplace, auto, and home accidents are among the most common causes of burn injuries. Such injuries can be emotionally and physically draining and could leave the victim and their family facing significant financial hurdles. Recovery after a burn injury may include treatment procedures such as surgeries, skin grafting, and infection control.
If you suffer severe burns caused by someone’s negligence or a defective product, contact Pinder Plotkin to review your case and discuss your available legal options. You may be able to file a personal injury claim or a workers’ compensation claim if your burns occurred while you were on the job.
Are you a burn injury victim? We can help.
Common Causes of Burn Injuries
Burn injuries can occur from various causes, such as electrical burns, chemical burns, scalds, hot surfaces, hot liquids, and direct contact with flames. They can happen during a truck accident in Annapolis, in the kitchen, or due to a mishap in a restaurant. The following are some of the common causes of burn injuries:
Workplace Accidents
Burn injuries in work settings are a common occurrence. While various factors, including building fires, the use of chemicals, and construction fires, can cause burn injuries, they are often caused by violations of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety guidelines.
Auto Accidents
Motor vehicles can catch fire due to mechanical failures, improper maintenance, or accidents. For instance, if gas leaks or a fuel tank bursts during a car accident, it can cause an explosion, causing the victim to suffer severe burn injuries.
Defective Products
Defective products can cause catastrophic burn injuries. If you suffered significant burn injuries from a defective product, our Annapolis burn injury lawyers could help you file a claim against the product’s manufacturer, retailer, or designer. Different types of defective products can cause burn injuries, including:
- Home appliances
- Beauty products
- Flammable clothing
- Heating pads
- Mattresses and furniture
- Batteries and battery-powered products
- Auto parts
- Toys
- Vaping devices and e-cigarettes
The Difference Between First, Second, Third, and Fourth-degree Burns
While there are different types of burns, they can all cause serious injuries. Burn injuries are often categorized based on severity as follows:
First-Degree Burns
First-degree burns are the most common and are usually minor. An example of a first-degree burn is when you come into minimal contact with a heated pan or are sunburned. These burns can cause some pain, blisters, inflammation, and discomfort.
Second-Degree Burns
Second-degree burns cause more pain and damage since they damage the inner and outer skin layers. The skin may turn red and have blisters, and the pain can also be intense. You can get second-degree burns from heat sources like a barbecue grill or hot water.
Second-degree burns affect the epidermis and dermis, resulting in severe pain. They may cause blisters and scarring.
Third-Degree Burns
A third-degree burn can destroy the inner and outer skin layers and affect the fatty layer under the skin — the hypodermis. These burns typically leave the skin looking white, black, or bright red and expose it to infections. Third-degree burns happen when the skin comes into contact with fire for an extended period, electricity, or chemicals like nitric, sulfuric, hydrochloric, or hydrofluoric acids.
Fourth-Degree Burns
These are the most severe and can be life-threatening. A fourth-degree burn affects all the skin layers, tendons, nerves, and possibly muscles. These burns may occur when the victim is exposed to extreme conditions like building fires, open flames, or chemicals.
Burns often leave victims with injuries that may require costly, lifelong medical care. If you are a burn injury victim, the legal team at Pinder Plotkin can review your case and offer you a legal solution. If you lose a loved one to a tragic burn injury accident, our wrongful death attorneys can help you hold all negligent parties accountable for their actions or inactions.
Long-Term Effects of Catastrophic Burn Injuries
Victims of catastrophic burn injuries can suffer both physically and mentally, and their quality of life is often affected. The following are some long-term effects that victims may have to deal with:
- Scars and disfigurement
- Lung damage
- Loss of mobility
- Muscle damage
- Infection
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
The world may forever change once one experiences trauma caused by a burn injury. Severe burn injury victims are highly susceptible to opportunistic diseases and infections, and their recovery journey can be long and painful. At Pinder Plotkin, our Annapolis burn injury lawyers understand the expensive medical costs you may incur after such a catastrophic injury. We are ready to help you gather and analyze evidence proving what and who caused your injuries.
Compensation for Burn Injury Victims in Annapolis
Burn injury cases differ, so the severity and extent of a victim’s burns will determine their compensation. Most victims will require medical attention or lifelong assistance when they suffer catastrophic burn injuries. Burn injury victims and their families can recover the following damages:
- Pain and suffering
- Medical bills
- Loss of consortium
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Mental anguish
- Lost earning capacity
- Wrongful death benefits
Maryland operates under contributory negligence rules, meaning a victim can be barred from recovering damages for their injuries if they contributed to the accident. Injured victims are barred from recovering compensation for damage even if they are 1% responsible for the incident. Suppose you suffered burn injuries in a fire during a car crash and shared blame for the collision. You may be barred from recovering damages in Annapolis and throughout Maryland.
Contact Our Maryland Burn Injury Lawyers To Discuss Your Case
Severe burn injury accidents can leave victims disabled, unable to return to work, and with expensive, lifelong medical bills. You do not have to incur such expenses if your injuries were the result of another person’s negligence. We can help you identify the negligent party and file a claim against them.
At Pinder Plotkin, we have been representing victims all over Maryland and helping them get the justice they deserve. Our personal injury attorneys understand that dealing with insurers can be unsettling and even more stressful when medical bills are piling up. We also know how uncooperative insurers can be when dealing with injured victims.
Let us help you negotiate a settlement that will cover your injuries and other losses, such as vehicle repair costs and lost income. Get in touch with us today or give us a call at 410-525-5337 and let our qualified, hardworking Annapolis burn injury lawyers fight to protect your rights throughout the claims process.