What You Should Know About Severe Burn Injuries

 Posted on December 27, 2019 in Personal Injury Lawsuits

Severe burn injuries are some of the most painful and debilitating injuries a person can possibly experience. Burns can leave a person with horrible scars—both physically and mentally. A major burn injury can also leave a person unable to enjoy the activities they once could, work in their chosen profession, and keep their independence. When a person is severely burned due to the negligence of another party, they deserve justice. Through a personal injury lawsuit, a burn victim may be able to recover compensation for the damages the negligence caused them and their family.

Common Causes of Burn Injuries

There are a variety of ways that a person can sustain a severe burn injury. In some serious auto accidents, a vehicle’s gasoline ignites and causes the car to burst into flames. This can result in severe burns as well as severe psychological trauma. Burn injuries can also be the result of gas explosions, electrocutions, chemical accidents, and fires at worksites. Apartment and hotel fires can be especially disastrous. When a person is trapped inside of a large building during a fire, they may not be able to get out in time to avoid severe burns and smoke inhalation damage. Defective products such as items with faulty wiring, defective appliances, malfunctioning batteries, and defective fuel tanks can also cause burn injuries.  

Addressing Myths About Burn Injuries

One of the most complicated parts of a personal injury lawsuit involving a burn injury is that burns can vary significantly in severity. Most people have experienced a first-degree burn from getting sunburned. First-degree burns heal quickly and almost never cause long-lasting damage. Second-degree burns can cause blisters and significant pain. Third degree burns can cause catastrophic damage including permanent disability or disfigurement and even death.

Many people do not understand just how devastating a serious burn injury can be. In 1992, the famous “hot coffee lawsuit” made news as an example of allegedly frivolous litigation. However, the public was extremely misled by the media regarding the true story of what happened to the 79-year-old woman who spilled coffee in her lap. The woman was left with third-degree burns over 16 percent of her body after a McDonald’s restaurant heated its coffee to an outrageously high temperature. She required extensive skin grafts and suffered extreme, long-lasting pain and permanent disfigurement and scarring.

Contact a Lake County Burn Injury Lawyer

At Salvi & Maher, L.L.C., we know how a severe burn injury can radically change your quality of life. We are committed to helping burn victims get compensation for their damages and hold negligent parties accountable. Schedule a confidential consultation with an experienced Waukegan personal injury attorney to discuss your case by calling us at 847-662-3303 today.

Sources:

https://www.webmd.com/g00/first-aid/types-degrees-burns

https://www.tortmuseum.org/liebeck-v-mcdonalds/