Seattle Burn Injury Lawyer
Burn injuries are not only extremely painful, but they can be disabling, and lead to permanent disfigurement, too. When a burn injury occurs because of the fault of another party, a defective product, or another type of negligence, the victim has the right to seek compensation for the full extent of their losses. Our Seattle burn injury lawyers at the Khan Injury Law know how traumatic a burn injury can be, and are prepared to handle all aspects of your claim on your behalf.
Degrees of Burn Injuries
Burn injuries occur in different degrees, with third degree burns being the most serious, and first degree burns being the least serious (but still very painful). Consider the following about each of the degrees of burn injuries:
- First degree burns. As mentioned above, first degree burns are the least serious type of burn injury. These types of burns only damage the outer layer of skin, and may even be treatable at home. Rarely do first degree burns require intensive treatment, and may only leave light scarring.
- Second degree burns. Unlike first degree burns, second degree burns damage both the outer layer of skin and the layer directly under it. These burns are also called partial thickness burns, and typically leave red, blistered, and swollen areas that are very painful. In some cases, second degree burns may need intensive cleanings on a regular basis to avoid infection, and the patient may need to take antibiotics, too.
- Third degree. Third degree burns are the most serious burn injury type. These types of burns damage the epidermis (outer layer of skin), dermis (layer directly under the epidermis), and the nerve endings. This means that third degree burns are often less painful than are second or third degree burns; the victim cannot feel because the nerves have been destroyed. Third degree burns may be serious enough to be life threatening, and can result in loss of limb, permanent disability, and severe disfigurement.
When you have suffered a serious burn injury and are coping with pain and the recovery process, you deserve an advocate on your side who cares about you.
Causes and Types Of Burn Injuries
Burn injuries not only vary in degree; they may also result from myriad sources. Consider these types and causes of burn injuries–
- Thermal burns. Thermal burns are the type burn injury that most people are most familiar with, and most people have experienced to varying degree. This is the type of burn that occurs from touching something hot, like fire, a hot frying pan, or boiling water. For this reason, these burns are often called heat burns.
- Electrical burns. Electrical burns are caused when a person is struck by lightning, or when they come in direct contact with an electrical source. Electrical burns may occur as a result of a defective product, or because of the lack of a safety standard at a jobsite, amongst other reasons.
- Chemical burns. When a person is burned as a result of exposure to a substance, such as bleach or acid, they suffer a chemical burn. Chemical burns are very dangerous, and can cause serious injuries to subcutaneous tissues as well as the dermis.
- Radiation burns. Less common, radiation burns can be as serious as all other burns types. Caused by radiation from the sun, tanning booths, x-rays, and radiation therapy (a type of treatment used to combat cancer).
While some burn injuries occur as a result of a complete accident – like spilling boiling water when making tea – others are preventable, and would not occur but for the negligence of an involved party. Depending upon the cause of the burn, the negligent party may be a private individual (such as the driver of a car who caused a crash, causing a vehicle to produce flames causing burns), the manufacturer of a product with an electrical defect, the owner of a property, or a third party involved in a workplace injury.
We are Here to Help
Steps to Take Immediately Following a Burn Injury in Seattle
- If you suffer a burn injury, the first thing that you should do is to seek emergency care. In some cases, this may mean calling 911.
- You should follow your doctor’s instructions for your burn injuries carefully; in some cases, you may have no choice – burn injuries may be severe enough to completely incapacitate and debilitate you, forcing you to spend time in the hospital for many months.
- If you are able to, keep a journal of everything that happens, including your personal feelings and your physical recovery (you may ask a close family member or friend to help you record things if you are unable to write on your own while your burns heal). Make sure to keep a thorough record of all of your medical records and treatment.
- Determine the source of the accident leading to your burn injury. While you may know that you suffered an electrical burn while using your hairdryer, you may not know why the defect occurred. A thorough investigation into the source of the accident causing your burn is critical; you must determine the liable party in order to file your claim and recover damages. Our experienced Seattle burn injury attorneys are able to open an investigation on your behalf, and work with investigative, reconstructive, and design and product experts.
We Know How to Recover Damages
We Know What Your Case Is Worth – Let Us Help You Get the Compensation You Deserve
Our attorneys are here to help you every step of the way. We help you recover all of the damages that you deserve, including compensation for:
- Pain and suffering;
- Medical bills;
- Lost wages;
- Future medical expenses and lost earnings;
- Disability and disfigurement; and
- All other economic and noneconomic losses you have suffered.
A consultation with our law firm is free, and you can schedule yours today by using our online form. If you need to talk now, call our law firm directly and we will get you scheduled as soon as possible.