Suffer A Burn Injury?
Information from Washington Metropolitan Area Injury Attorneys
More than a million Americans suffer a burn injury each year. Close to 500,000 of those injuries require medical treatment and more than 4,000 result in death. From fires in the home to worksite explosions, burn injuries affect the lives of thousands of Americans. The Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC injury lawyers at Koonz, McKenney, Johnson, Depolis & Lightfoot, L.L.P. want to provide you with important information about burn injuries.
What is a Burn?
Burns are tissue injuries caused by exposure to heat, fire, chemicals, radiation, steam and friction. Burns vary in their severity:
- First-degree burns are minor, only damaging the top layer of the skin.
- Second-degree burns damage the top two layers of skin, causing severe pain and blistering.
- Third-degree burns damage the top layers of skin and the tissue beneath them, leading to nerve damage and skin loss. These burns may require skin grafts.
- Fourth-degree burns are the most severe, with damage that can extend to the muscle and bone and require amputation.
Burns of any degree can result in both physical pain and psychological trauma. If you have a severe burn, you are risk for:
- Scarring
- Widespread infection, including sepsis
- Severe respiratory problems
- Loss of skin and limbs
- Bone and joint damage
In addition to the physical pain and trauma, you may suffer from post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety and cognitive changes that may leave you disoriented and confused. You may face functional impairments for the rest of your life and are likely to need long periods of rehabilitation and counseling, which can take a toll on your finances.
Suffer a Burn in an Accident?
Burn injuries are the second most common cause of accidental death in the U.S. The majority of these are due to fires in the home. In 2009, the U.S. Fire Administration estimated that out of 356,200 residential building fires, there were 2,480 deaths. Often caused by home-cooking equipment or smoking material such as candles, fires injure approximately 47,000 children under age 14 every year. More than 600 of these children die. Other major causes of burns include:
- Hot food or liquid. When not properly handled, can cause severe scalding, particularly in children under 2.
- Malfunctioning, dangerous or defective products.
- Motor vehicle accidents. Motor vehicle fires cause approximately 1 out of 8 fire deaths.
- Thermal, hydro and gas explosions.
- Household chemicals, including bleach, drain cleaners, metal cleaners and pool chlorinators.
- Electrocution.
Suffer a Burn at Work?
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that workplace fires and worksite explosions injure thousands of workers every year. Because of the dangerous nature of construction sites, construction workers face a much higher of risk of injury than office workers do. Construction workers face a high risk of burns due to potentially hazardous materials on worksites. These may include:
- High voltage equipment
- Flammable liquids
- Toxic or corrosive substances
- Pressurized steam
- Improper wiring
In addition to construction workers, there are a number of other occupations where workers face a high risk of burn injury:
- Roofers
- Firefighters and other emergency personnel
- Aircraft pilots and flight engineers
- Power line installers
- Food service workers
If you suffer a burn injury at work during the course of your duties, you may be entitled to workers compensation for your injuries.
If you or a loved one has suffered a burn injury, contact the Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC injury attorneys at Koonz, McKenney, Johnson, Depolis & Lightfoot, L.L.P.. A Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC injury lawyer will review your case and assist you in pursuing recovery for medical bills, lost income and pain and suffering. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Call for a free and prompt consultation.