Burns are some of the most significant injuries we encounter. The victim of a serious burn injury typically must undergo extensive and painful medical treatment. Burn injuries often result in scarring and other permanent features. Typically, the victim of a burn injury is likely to suffer some psychological trauma as a result of the circumstances regarding the injury, the painful recovery period, and the permanent nature of these injuries.
Clients are typically surprised when we advise them of the frequency of severe burn injuries. In fact, over 2.4 million burn injuries reported nationally. Nearly 10,000 of these injuries involve minor children. Moreover, burn injuries are very serious. Approximately 20,000 are major burns involving at least 25% of the total body surface. Burn fatalities amount to between 8,000 and 12,000 per year and nearly 40% of all burn victims will sustain substantial or permanent disabilities from the injury. This number does not include the numerous victims who make a full recovery, but who are required to undergo painful, longstanding and expensive medical treatment. The cost to treat major burns can typically range into hundred of thousands of dollars and victims will require furthering cost for repeat admission, surgeries and rehabilitation.
Additional information on burn injuries from our personal injury resources page
Tragically, many of the situations that cause burn injuries could have been avoided. Statistics have shown that nearly 50% of all burn accidents are preventable. Some cause of burn injuries include:
Car collisions can increase in severity when the fuel tank ruptures and a fuel fed fire develops. An explosion may result that turns ordinary car parts into dangerous projectiles. Additionally, a victim may become trapped in a vehicle and suffer smoke inhalation. This can result in severe respiratory problems and death.
There are often other causes for automobile fires besides car collisions. For example, fires may be the result of faulty wiring; fluid leaks or improperly installed and maintained exhaust systems. Notably, automobile fires typically are fast growing - propelled by accelerants such as gas, oil, grease and other flammable liquids.
You are supposed to be safe in your home. A fire can cause a tragedy in the place you should feel most secure. Along with the lost of property and possessions, individuals are often injured as a result of burns and smoke inhalation.
Many of the losses associated with home and apartment fires are preventable and are the result of the negligence of others. A structure many not meet minimum fire code standards and a building may not be equipped with required fire prevention equipment such as sprinkler systems, smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. Fire doors may be missing or left open. Additionally, a building owner may fail to properly install and maintain furnaces and water heaters in good condition. These acts of negligence can result in fires that lead to severe burn injuries.
Industrial worksites are a common location for burn injuries. Worksites often are filled with lots of activity, multiple workers from many independent companies, and many hazardous or potentially flammable materials. In our practice, we have encountered many causes of burn injuries, which include:
Treatment of burn injuries depends on the type and severity of the injury. Burns are classified by their depth into the skin and treatment depends on the degree of the burn and the percentage of the body that is burned. Treatment can range from the application of cool water to significant surgeries, skin grafts and rehabilitation.
These burns involve the epidermis and the under lying layer of skin (dermis). Often the skin is red and blistery, swollen and moist and oozing. These burns are treated similarly to first degree burns. Adhesive dressing and bandages are not recommended because the burn area needs to “breath.”
Third degree burns are serious and involve all the layers of the skin: the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis. A third degree burn area is typically white, yellow, black or cherry red. The skin is often dry and leathery. A person who suffers third degree burns should seek emergency medical treatment immediately. Healing form third degree burns is typically very slow as all the layers of the skin and structures (nerves and blood vessels) have been destroyed. These burns often result in significant scarring and possible need for skin grafting.
Along with the depth of the burn, other factors must be considered in determining a burns severity. These include the percentage of the body burned, past medical history, age of the individual, and part of the body burned.
In treating severe burn injuries, a victim may need surgical procedures to be performed. For example, severe swelling may occur due to the gathering of fluid around the burned skin and surrounding tissue. An incision may be required though the dead, burned skin to relive the pressure and swelling. Additionally, a debridement, which is the removal of dead skin, is often required. Debridement may also be necessary to prevent infection as dead tissue is a prime nesting place for bacteria.
Also, there are two common surgical procedures that are utilized to conceal scarring and replace lost tissue. Dermabrasion smoothes scar tissue by shaving or scraping the top layers of skin. While dermabrasion may improve the appearance of a scar, it will not remove it. A skin graft is a procedure in which a piece of skin is removed from a healthy area of the patient’s body and transplanted on the burned area. While many grafts are successful, additional surgery may be required if they do not heal properly. Additionally, medical providers are continually experimenting with skin substitutes and synthetic skin to treat burn victims.
Other types of treatments include pressure garments, exercise and rehabilitation to improve the use and functioning of the burned areas, and medication. Also, as burn victims routinely suffer from severe psychological trauma as a result of the experience, referral an appropriate mental health practitioner may be advised.
For additional information please contact our firm today for a free case evaluation.
