Burn Injury Attorneys

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Burn injuries are very common in the South region of the United States. According to the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, in 2017, there were about 460,000 emergency department visits relating to fire, burn, and explosion incidents throughout the country.

Between 3,000 and 4,000 people die in fires and explosions every year. Most die in residential fires, but hundreds die in vehicle crash fires or in industrial explosions.

Burn injuries are classified by degree:

• First Degree – only the outer layer of skin (epidermis) is affected. It is usually red and very painful; healing may occur in days or weeks; the skin dies and peels away; the injured party may be hospitalized for pain and fluid imbalance.
• Second Degree – epidermis and dermis involved; pink or red; painful; appears wet; wound blanches (turns white) when touched; may be loss of sensation; skin grafting may be required; takes weeks, months, or longer to heal.
• Third Degree – all layers of skin are destroyed; tissue below the skin is affected; areas will appear black or white; will be dry, not wet; will not blanch; injury too severe to feel immediate pain.
• Fourth Degree – burn extends into muscle and bone.

All types of burn injuries have the potential to leave victims prone to the risk of nerve damage, shock, and infections. For this reason, it is always a good idea to seek medical treatment immediately after sustaining a burn injury. If you or a loved one have recently suffered a burn injury, it is important that you contact a Houston burn injury attorney as soon as possible. They will take a look at the specifics of your case and advise you on how to best move forward with an injury claim.

Burn victims will need medical care immediately after a fire or an explosion occurs. Cooling through water or ice can minimize the burn depth and pain, but over-cooling can lead to hypothermia. Pain-reliving medications and bandages are generally enough for minor burns. For serious burns, additional treatment is needed; it depends on their extent and nature but may include:

• Surgery including flap and skin grafting;
• Lifecare including admission to a nursing home or other care facility;
• Medicine;
• Physical therapy;
• Rehabilitation; and
• Counseling.

Modern medical advances have much more likely to result in surviving burn injuries and treatments. Flap and skin grafting procedures can heal a wide range of wounds to improve the quality of living for burn victims. Their quality of life will decrease significantly because they are permanently disfigured and have pain for the rest of their lives.