Call Us Today
Burn injuries cause extreme pain, and psychological trauma, and can result in permanent changes to the victim’s personal appearance. Burns from fire, steam, hot liquids, electricity, or chemicals have severe consequences and some of these burns may have been prevented.
If you or someone you care about have suffered burn injuries because of negligence or defective products, you may be faced with a heavy financial burden that you should not have to bear. You may be able to collect financial compensation for your pain and other damages.
The burn injury attorneys of Viles and Beckman know how severe burns can affect victims and their families, and we have worked to help countless others to recover significant damages in similar incidents. Let our burn accident lawyers in Sanibel put our experience to work for you.
Understanding Severe Burn Injuries
The American Burn Association estimates that nearly 500,000 people receive treatment for burn injuries each year in this country. Few people who have seen a burn injury patient will argue that it is one of the most painful injuries a person can survive.
Burns can be classified in two ways:
- Internal burns: these burns affect the internal organs and may happen when gasses or superheated liquids are inhaled, when chemicals are ingested, or through electrocution.
- External burns: Heat sources, steam or hot liquids, flames, chemicals, electricity, or radiation come in contact with the skin
The skin is the largest organ of the body and protects our internal organs and skeletal system from outside hazards like an infection. When the integrity of the skin is compromised, it leaves our bodies exposed to secondary infections, organ damage, and muscle and tissue damage that can affect mobility.
Infections are dangerous hazards for burn patients and sadly, many people die from this complication.
Internal Burns
Internal organs can be burned when a person is struck by lightning, shocked by downed power lines, or electrocuted by appliances or tools. Internal burns to the lungs, trachea, and esophagus can happen when a person inhales or ingests dangerous gasses, chemicals, or vapors.
These wounds aren’t visible and can be extremely hard to treat since the full extent of the injury isn’t easy to detect. It is likely that a medical coma will be induced to allow the patient time to heal and provide relief from the pain. Permanent scars to internal organs are possible.
Burn survivors can be faced with rejection and stigma due to disabilities and disfigurements. Prolonged hospitalization is usually required, and can cost thousands of dollars just for the initial stay. A burn injury lawyer in Sanibel can help you to seek restitution for these costs.
Expect More, Receive More: Legal Support That Feels Like Family
Negligence and Burn Accident Injuries
Chemical burns, steam burns, electrocution, and burns from chemical fires or explosions can be caused by negligence. It is possible to seek compensation for injuries when negligent behavior, violations of safety regulations, or defective products are involved.
We commonly help burn injury accident victims to pursue claims for:
Chemical Burns
Children who accidentally ingest chemicals or workers involved in industrial accidents will experience chemical burns. Examples of negligence could be:
- Improper storage or labeling of chemicals in a child care setting or school
- A restaurant serving coffee tainted with urn cleaner or bleach
- Improper storage or mishandling of caustic chemicals at a workplace resulting in chemical inhalation burns
If the action or lack of inaction resulted in a burn injury in a commercial or government setting, a burn accident attorney in Sanibel can take legal action on your behalf to prevent further accidents and seek compensation for your damages.
Electrical Burns
When the body is exposed to electrical current, internal and external burns are often the result.
Electrical burns are associated with malfunctioning products or exposure to lightning or downed power lines.
Construction workers may suffer electrical burns on a worksite when proper safety measures are not followed. If a negligent coworker, subcontractor or a faulty tool caused an electrical burn, you may be able to pursue compensatory damages.
Flame and Flash Burns
Contact with hot gasses or open flames can result in burns that are mild to catastrophic. Many causes for fires and explosions exist. If you believe negligent behavior caused a fire or explosion that resulted in your injuries, a Sanibel burn injury lawyer can examine the details of your case to determine whether negligence was a factor.
Contact Burns
Touching something hot is the most common cause of burns. Most of us have touched a hot plate after a waitress has warned us not to, so this situation isn’t usually a cause for legal action.
However, many circumstances exist where a contact burn to a child or an adult could have been prevented with the proper action. If a product is defective and causes a contact burn that results in injury, a burn accident lawyer in Sanibel can review your claim to identify if there are grounds for a lawsuit.
For instance, if a child’s toy malfunctions and bursts into flames or an item that isn’t designed to heat up causes contact burns, you could potentially prove that the manufacturer is liable for injuries.
Scalding Burns
Scalding injuries are caused when steam or hot liquids come into contact with the skin. These injuries can be very serious and frequently occur in children. An example of a case where negligence resulted in scalding is the well-known McDonald’s Hot Coffee Case.
While many believed that the claim was frivolous, the lady did indeed suffer 3rd-degree burns to her thighs and groin area. When she offered to settle for $20,000 for her skin grafts and other treatments, the defendant countered with a ridiculously low offer of only $800.
The claim went to court and resulted in McDonalds being hit with several million dollars in punitive damages. Though the claim was later reduced by a judge and settled out of court, it still demonstrates the importance of legal counsel when you experience a burn injury due to negligence.
(239) 334-3933
Contact a Sanibel Burn Injury Law Firm Today
We understand that severe and catastrophic burn injuries can result in repeat hospital admissions, complications, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in treatment. We know that burn victims can feel very alone in their fight for justice.
You do not have to do it alone. The burn injury lawyers of Viles and Beckman in Sanibel can help you to obtain compensation for your medical costs, lost wages, and suffering. Contact us today to schedule a free case evaluation with no obligations.
Call or text (239) 334-3933 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
