Burn Injuries Come In Many Variations

When the average person thinks of injuries caused by burns, they immediately think of fire. However, burns can come from several other sources, including chemicals, electricity, and radiation. Some of these types of injuries present differently than a thermal (fire or heat-related) burn, which can make it harder to recover for your injuries. If you have sustained a burn injury due to another person’s negligence or recklessness, it is important you understand your options and what evidence may be necessary to establish liability.

Several Different Types

Statistics from the American Burn Association show that out of roughly 40,000 hospitalizations due to burn-related injuries, slightly less than half the admissions to burn centers – about 45 percent – were as a result of a thermal burn from fire or controlled flame. However, other types of burns were represented – scald burns, from heated gas, made up approximately 34 percent of burn center admissions. Other types that resulted in serious injury were contact burns and those sustained via chemicals or electricity.

The strong majority of burn injuries are survivable – some studies show a survival rate as high as 97 percent – but this does not mean that burn injuries leave no scars (literal or metaphorical) on victims moving forward. Complications are common, and can range from minor issues like scars, which may be unsightly but do not often affect quality of life, to long-term disabilities like loss of function or feeling or even psychological problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Can I File Suit?

While burns will share the same general characteristics no matter what their origin may be, they may not all look the same, particularly if one examines the different degrees of burn injuries. A first-degree chemical burn may not look the same as a third-degree burn, which in turn may not look the same as a thermal burn. It is important to seek treatment for your injuries as soon as possible after your accident, so that your medical records will properly reflect exactly what has happened to you.

Most burn injury cases will be filed under a theory of negligence, which means that you must establish that the person allegedly responsible for your injuries had a duty to exercise reasonable care, and they breached it by their actions (or lack of action). If you suffer burns in an auto accident, however, be aware that Florida law requires this type of case to be settled via using the no-fault insurance that every driver is required to carry unless your medical bills reach over a certain threshold.

Contact A Tampa Burn Injury Attorney

Burn injuries can come in several different incarnations, but no matter which one you have suffered, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for the harm you have experienced. The Tampa burn injury attorneys at the Rinaldo Law Group can offer compassionate and knowledgeable representation at what can be a scary time in a person’s life. Call our offices today for a free consultation.

Resource:

ameriburn.org/who-we-are/media/burn-incidence-fact-sheet/

https://www.tampainjuryaccidentlaw.com/what-constitutes-distracted-driving-in-florida/