Tough Advocates for Serious Burn Victims

A staggering total of 1.1 million burn injuries requiring medical attention occur every year in the U.S. Serious burns can cause significant impairment, disfigurement and disability. They often require extensive medical treatment, at a cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars. If you have suffered burn injury through someone else’s negligence, it is critical to your recovery to receive full compensation for your losses.

The attorneys at Tenge Law Firm, LLC have years of experience working with clients that were injured because of someone else’s bad choices. Many of our clients come to us frightened, in pain, and unsure of what to do next. But with our expertise, knowledge, and passion, we are able to fight for them to receive the compensation that they have a right to. Call us at (303) 665-2929 and find out if we can do the same for you.

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.

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.

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
  • Gas spills that ignite in tanker collisions, causing further injury to accident victims
  • Defective products with faulty wiring that spark and cause fires
  • Defective water heaters, coffee makers, etc. that cause scalding injuries
  • 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.

What Damages Are Available for Burn Injuries?

Burn injuries do more than just hurt. There are many aspects of your life that can suffer due to serious burns. The good news is your damages are likely to be substantial after serious burn injuries caused by someone else’s negligence. When filing a claim for these injuries, there are several areas you can receive compensation for. The more common damages we have seen awarded are:

  • Extensive medical bills, for treatment that may include skin grafting and therapy
  • Lost wages due to long recoveries
  • Loss of earning potential
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Permanent disability
  • Physical and emotional pain and suffering
  • Punitive damages, in certain cases

If your burn injuries were due to an act of negligence, you deserve to receive damages for what you have suffered. However, you are unlikely to receive fair compensation if you do not have a strong legal defense team at your side, fighting for your rights.

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) 665-2929 to get a dedicated legal advocate on your side.