What Are the Different Categories of Burn Injury?
The severity of burn injuries is classified in degrees. Burn classifications are first through sixth, and depend on how severely and deeply the injury penetrates the skin’s surface. Minor burns, such as when you accidently brush by a hot stove, can heal within a matter of days, and are unlikely to leave behind scars. More severe burns, however, can easily result in death, and any hope of recovery will depend on the medical assistance provided.
First-degree burns: These are superficial injuries, affecting only the outer layer of skin (epidermis). With first-degree burns, the injury site is painful, red, and dry, with no blisters. It is likely that you will not need any medical assistance to recover, though you should try and cool down the burn as soon as possible, to prevent the injury from worsening.
Second-degree burns: Partial thickness or second-degree burns affect both the epidermis and the deeper skin layer (dermis). The site of the burn is blistered and red and may also be swollen and painful. In order to heal properly, you may need help from a nurse or doctor, though full recovery is likely.
Third-degree burns: Full thickness, third-degree burns can damage not only the epidermis and dermis, but the nerves and sweat glands as well. The area of the burn may appear to be brown, white or even slightly blackened. These burns can be severe, and will often require skin grafts to heal. Even after recovery, you will likely be left with visible scars.
Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth-degree burns: Burn injuries past third-degree are catastrophic, and often result in death. Fourth-degree burns means that the injury has hit the muscle. Often times, the burned area of the body has to be removed in order to promote healing. In cases of fifth-degree burns, the burn has penetrated not just the muscle, but also the bone. The worst type of burn is a sixth-degree burn, which leaves the bones of the body charred.
Over $50M Recovered in the Past Seven Years
At the Tenge Law Firm LLC, our goal is to achieve the best possible result for our clients as soon as possible. Each case and each client is different, so we work directly with clients to meet their needs for medical care and personal situations. We have enjoyed great success, with exceedingly high client satisfaction, using this approach.
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$3,250,000 Rollover auto accident involving defective roof and serious injuries
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$1,500,000 Tire blowout on I-70 causing serious injuries
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$1,475,000 Auto accident with head, neck and back injuries
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$1,350,000 Auto accident with orthopedic injuries to foot, ankle, and leg
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$1,250,000 Wrongful Death
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$1,250,000 Lower Leg Orthopedic Injury Resulting in Surgery
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$1,100,000 Construction site accident
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$1,050,000 Trucking accident with low back injuries
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$1,025,000 Motorcycle accident resulting in traumatic brain injury and orthopedic injuries
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$950,000 Car accident with brain injury and orthopedic injuries
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$750,000 Policy Limits – Low speed auto accident leading to minor stroke
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$533,000 Trial Verdict - Client hit by airborne patio umbrella with facial scar and concussion.
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$450,000 Pedestrian hit by car
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$300,000 Four-car accident resulting in vertebral fracture and facial injuries
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$200,000 Auto accident with facial injuries
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$120,000 Slip-and-fall at fast food restaurant
Hundreds of 5-star Reviews. Exceptional Results
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"Would highly recommend to anyone!!"
Tenge Law Firm helped me out when I was in a accident that involved my whole family. They were great and fast with the entire process, and were awesome at keeping me updated throughout the entire process. Would highly recommend to anyone!!
- Zack K. -
"Everyone is extremely nice & very efficient"
I highly recommend this law firm! They take care of everything in a timely manner & alleviate any harassment while you recover from injuries. Everyone is extremely nice & very efficient...if you need an attorney, Tenge Law is the place to go!
- Betty C. -
"They treated me like family"
Todd, Liz and Nina were amazing. They handled my case very professionally. I recommend this law firm to anyone looking for a great firm. They treated me like family
- Jenn K. -
"They were extremely responsive and answered my questions very well."
Paige and Nina were a delight to work with. They were extremely responsive and answered my questions very well. They made me feel like I was in good hands and could trust them!
- Rachel V. -
"Definitely made it a stress-free experience"
Brenda was my attorney. She was amazing, helped me through the whole process. Definitely made it a stress-free experience, especially after going through something so traumatic! Was extremely attentive and always kept me updated on how my case was going! I would 1000% recommend them to everyone and anyone!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
- Zitlaly O.
What Are the Different Types of Burns?
While most people assume that burn injuries can only happen when heat is involved, the truth is quite the opposite. Burns can happen in several different ways. The different types of burns often result in different kinds of injuries, so it’s important to know how you became burned, and how to avoid similar burns in the future. Common types of burns include:
Thermal burns: External heat sources that raise the temperature of the skin and tissues can cause cell death and charring. Thermal burn sources include scalding liquids, hot metals, steam, and flames. This is the kind of burn that most people think of, as it is a result of heat.
Electrical burns: Electrical current, whether it is AC (alternating current) or DC (direct current) can cause burns when it comes into contact with the human body. Electrical burns can be particularly dangerous, because the electric current can run through the body, causing internal as well as external damage. These sorts of burns can be caused by faulty equipment, malfunctioning electrical sockets, or a defective product.
Chemical burns: Strong acid or alkali products can cause burns when they come into contact with the skin. Chemical burns can result from exposure to detergents, solvents, and other chemical-containing products. While chemical burns may seem like something you don’t need to worry about, common household items like bleach and ammonia can easily cause damage to your skin. If these chemicals are not packaged correctly, you may become injured.
Radiation burns: Radiation burns may sound outlandish, but you don’t need to work in a power plant in order to experience them. In fact, radiation is one of the most common causes of burns, as sunburns are caused by radiation from the sun. However, they can also be caused by certain cancer treatments, tanning beds, as well as x-rays.
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Reviews
When our clients are happy, they say so. Whether we’re being described for how well we communicate, our responsiveness, or the quality of our service, we’re consistently rated 5.0 out of 5.0 by those we represent.
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Ratings
As an industry leader in the field of personal injury, we're proud to maintain a superb 10.0 out of 10.0 rating on AVVO.com, have a preeminent AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and have recently been awarded Client Champion Platinum status from Lawyers.com.
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Results
In the last ten years, we've recovered $50 million on behalf of our clients. Our motto is simple - You do what you need to do physically recover, and we'll handle the rest.
What Are Some Common Causes of Burn Injury?
Everyone has faced some sort of burn injury in their life. As such, many of us already know what dangers to be on the lookout for, and how to protect ourselves and those around us from harm having to do with burns. Unfortunately, some individuals don’t take this responsibility seriously, and so many people are burned as a result of someone else’s negligence.
We at the Tenge Law Firm, LLC have seen clients with severe burns that were someone else’s fault, time and time again. We have noticed a few scenarios that lead to burns regularly. Some of the most frequent causes that we have seen include:
- Building fires caused by property owner negligence
- Hot, scalding liquids spilled or splashed on customers in restaurants
- Defective water heaters, coffee makers, etc. that cause scalding injuries
- Defective products with faulty wiring that spark and cause fires
- Gas spills that ignite in tanker collisions, causing further injury to accident victims
- Chemical burns from exposure to hazardous products in the workplace
How ever your burn was caused, you will likely have to live through a great deal of trauma, as well as financial loss during and after your recovery. Thankfully, there is a potential way for you to receive compensation for your pain as well as your losses.
Why You Need a Lawyer
Your best chance of recovering the maximum available compensation for your injuries is to have an experienced attorney by your side. Our Boulder personal injury lawyers at the Tenge Law Firm, LLC have a successful track record for our clients. We have recovered tens of millions of dollars in settlements, verdicts, and arbitration awards. We have extensive experience representing injured people in Colorado, especially since our firm was founded in 1992. We work on a contingency fee basis and offer a free consultation.
If you have sustained serious burn injuries through the negligence of another, call us (303) 219-7377 to get a dedicated legal advocate on your side.
