Louisville Burn Accident Attorneys

How Do You Determine the Severity of Burn Injuries?

You’ve probably heard of first-degree burns, second-degree burns, and third-degree burns before. These medical classifications, detailed by doctors, help classify the severity of a burn injury. Though any burn, by definition, causes affected skin cells to die, there’s a big difference between first-degree and third-degree burns. Second-degree burns extend into the dermis and cause blisters, while third-degree burns destroy all layers of skin and require medical treatment.

Third-degree burns are characterized by:

• Dark brown or white, waxy skin color
• Evidence of char
• Raised site of injury
• Leathery skin texture
• Blisters that do not progress or heal
• Potential numbness of wound

A third-degree burn affects both the dermis and the epidermis. Hair follicles and sweat glands are destroyed, and nerves may be damaged. These types of burns do not heal well on their own and require skin grafts due to the level of destruction. Beyond third-degree burns are three further classifications: fourth-degree burns, which damage skin, muscles, tendons, and bones, as well as fifth- and sixth-degree burns, which affect one’s fat, muscle, and bone, respectively. Severe burn injuries involve complex medical treatments and long-term rehabilitation, often requiring extensive medical expenses and future medical costs. Psychological effects such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder are also common among burn victims.

Common Causes of Burn Injuries

Though most people associate fire with burn injuries, anything that damages the skin cells enough to kill them is considered a burn. This includes thermal burns such as sunburns, but also damage caused by hot water or other liquids, steam, electrical currents, exposure to harsh chemicals, and even radiation. No matter the cause, burns can have serious consequences and require extensive medical treatment, often involving long-term rehabilitation and complex care.

• Structure Fires may be caused by a furnace malfunction, improper chemical storage, or even an industrial explosion such as refinery fires. If the situation is made worse by fire code violations, lack of fireproof doors or fire extinguishers, or malfunctioning fire safety equipment, people trapped in a burning building may suffer extreme burns and other serious injuries. These burn injuries can be extremely painful and require extensive medical treatment, leading to a burn injury claim to obtain compensation under Kentucky law.
• Vehicle Accidents pose a fire hazard if flammable gasoline or diesel spill onto the roadway. In electric cars, battery fires may also put involved parties at risk. An auto accident attorney can help determine who holds liability, either the at-fault party or the vehicle manufacturer, if unsafe design or malfunctioning parts contributed to the blaze. These cases often require detailed accident reports and experienced burn accident lawyers to secure compensation for burn injuries sustained during auto accidents.
• Electrical Accidents can start fires, or may cause electrocution injuries in unsafe working areas, unmarked hazards, or due to exposed electrical components. People exposed to high levels of electrical current may sustain skin and/or internal burns.
• Chemical Exposure, whether to acidic or basic (alkaline) compounds, may result in permanent tissue damage. Internal organs or external tissues without protection (such as the eyes) are likely to sustain heavier damage than skin tissue. Chemicals that are heavily alkaline or acidic may cause severe burns.
• Radiation Burns, thankfully not a concern for most of us, may be the hardest type of burn to recover from due to enduring symptoms and damage. From finding successful pain treatments to completing surgical reconstruction, radiation burns present complex treatment challenges. Over one million burn injuries occur annually in the US, and radiation burns, caused by sources of radiation including UV rays and nuclear radiation, require specialized care and legal representation.
• Inhalation Injury occurs when smoke or toxic chemicals scar the respiratory system. Heat, chemical irritants, and the transference of toxins into the bloodstream cause damage in three separate ways when someone inhales hot gases and/or dangerous chemicals. Inhalation injuries can damage cells and cause difficulty breathing or the buildup of fluid in the respiratory system.

Whether the burn occurred in a workplace injury, a car accident, or due to someone else’s negligence, victims may have the right to pursue a personal injury claim to recover compensation for medical records, lost income, emotional harm, and other non-economic damages.

Burn Injuries Require Long-Term Treatment

Severe burns require emergency care. Blood loss and your body’s inflammatory response can result in dangerous complications during the initial treatment. Afterward, burn injuries require extensive care to help patients reclaim a similar standard of living.

The impact of a burn injury goes far beyond the affected area. More than 10% of burn patients face complications including pneumonia, sepsis, lung failure, infection, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). All of these are treatable, but can add weeks to a hospital stay or, in some cases, result in fatality. The more extensive the burns, the more likely a patient is to succumb to infection.

Recovering from a severe burn requires skin grafts, as the damage done is too significant to heal on its own. These procedures take skin from another part of the patient’s body to cover the damaged areas. After surgery, the patient who suffered burn injuries will undergo occupational and physical therapy, and work with a nutritionist to ensure the fullest recovery possible.

What Permanent Damages Can Be Caused By Severe Burn Injuries?

Unfortunately, even with medical advances, burn injuries may not be fully treatable. From aesthetic affects to permanent disability, burns can change your work, hobbies, and interactions with others. Working with the medical team at Dolt, Thompson, Shepherd, Conway & Stanton, PSC, you can identify permanent losses resulting from burn injury—and we can request fair compensation for them on your behalf as your dedicated Louisville burn accident lawyer and part of your legal team.

• Loss of Vision: Most likely to happen in a chemical burn incident, damaged eye tissue cannot be repaired.
• Organ Damage: Often the body’s response to burn injury deprives organs like the lungs, heart, brain, and kidneys of oxygen for a short time. Though the immune response can be controlled, the organ damage lingers.
• Loss of Mobility: Burned skin or tendons around joints may tighten, restricting a patient’s movement. In some cases, scarring can also affect joint function.
• Scarring: Severe burns leave scars, sometimes even after skin graft surgery. Especially when on highly visible body parts like the face and hands, these scars can have a large psychological impact and negatively affect a patient’s quality of life.

A Louisville burn accident lawyer can help victims understand their rights and work to obtain the financial compensation needed to cover medical bills and emotional distress.

Contact a Louisville Burn Accident Attorney For Support

Burn accidents can kick off in a second but, sadly, the damage they cause may last a lifetime. At Dolt, Thompson, Shepherd, Conway & Stanton, PSC, we understand the gravity of severe burn injuries. Our team of experienced Louisville burn accident attorneys knows that when you have lifelong symptoms, you need lifelong support. Our in-house medical team is here to help us investigate your personal injury case and provide an accurate accounting of the compensation you deserve.

Contact our burn injury attorneys in Louisville by reaching out online or calling (502) 244-7772.