Columbia Burn Injuries Lawyer
Burns are one of the most painful types of injuries imaginable, and often result in scarring, disfigurement, and potential amputation due to infection. Along with the physical marks caused by a serious burn injury, burn victims often suffer emotional scarring as well. To help compensate for the financial, physical, and psychological toll that burn injuries inflict, burn survivors have the option of filing personal injury lawsuits against the at fault party when the incident was caused by negligence. The Columbia burn injury lawyers at Simmons Law Firm have assisted clients in all manner of burn accidents, and can help you and your loved ones secure the financial support you need to move on from this traumatic time.
Three Categories of Burn Injuries
According to the Mayo Clinic, there are three categories of burn injuries:
- First Degree Burn—The burn is minor, and only affects the outer layer of skin, called the epidermis. First degree burns are characterized by redness and pain.
- Second Degree Burn—Second degree burns affect the epidermis as well as the second layer of skin, which is called the dermis. The dermis, depending on the person and the region of the body, can be up to four millimeters thick (over an eighth of an inch), unlike the dermis, which is generally only 0.5 millimeters thick. This means that a second degree burn penetrates much deeper into the body than a first degree burn. Second degree burns are characterized by swelling, red, white, and/or splotchy skin. The pain is often severe, and blisters are common. Second degree burns can cause permanent scarring.
- Third Degree Burn—Third degree burns reach down into the victim’s fat layer beneath the skin. In extreme cases, muscle, tendon, and even bone can be damaged in a third degree burn. Third degree burns are black, brown, or white in coloration, and are extremely painful. Due to the depth of the burn, third degree burns are prone to infection, and they are also likely to cause nerve damage.
Medical Treatment of Burns
Serious burns require emergency room care or hospitalization. Common, and expensive, medical procedures for treating severe second and third degree burns, according to the Mayo Clinic, include:
- Pain medication;
- Ventilation for breathing while being under sedation;
- Tube feeding;
- Surgical treatment of eschars (heavy burn scabs) to allow the victim to breathe;
- Skin grafts; and
- Plastic surgery.
Damages in a Burn Injury Claim
- Medical bills;
- Future medical expenses related to surgery, skin grafts, or prosthetics;
- Pain and suffering;
- Loss of joy of life;
- Emotional distress;
- Lost wages;
- Lost earning ability;
- Property damage; and
- More.
Burn Injury Accidents
- Traffic collisions;
- Defective or dangerous products;
- Work injuries; and
- Premises accidents.
Contact a Columbia Burn Injury Attorney Today
If you or a loved one suffered burn injuries due to another party’s negligent actions, you have the right to hold them financially accountable for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. Do not hesitate to contact the Columbia burn injury attorneys at Simmons Law Firm today at 803-779-4600 to schedule a free consultation.
