Alabama Burn Injury Lawyers

Helping burn victims and their families move forward

Victims of serious burn injuries face a long road to recovery, with overwhelming medical bills, diminished or lost earning capacity, and life-altering psychological and physical scars. Burn injuries are an especially painful and traumatic injury, with severe burns sometimes requiring multiple surgeries to heal. Some burn victims don’t survive.

Sadly, many of these injuries and deaths were preventable. The Alabama personal injury attorneys at Mezrano Law Firm have years of experience representing victims of burn injuries – fires, accidents or explosions that should have been detected or prevented. We’re here to talk to you today.

Alabama burn centers

According to the American Burn Association (ABA), 486,000 people received medical treatment for burn injuries in 2016. Forty thousand people were hospitalized for burn injuries. The ADA also reports 3,275 deaths from fires and smoke inhalation – they combine these numbers because deaths from burns in fires cannot always be distinguished from deaths from smoke inhalation.

In addition to your local hospital and urgent care centers, the ABA lists the following burn centers in Alabama:

Children’s Hospital, Birmingham
UAB Burn Center, Birmingham
University of South Alabama Regional Burn & Wound Center, Mobile

Common burn injury accidents

Two of the most common types of accidents that result in burn injuries are car accidents and house fires. However, there are many other accidents that can cause these painful injuries, including:

Fires. If you suffer a burn injury on the job, your employer may be responsible for your injuries. In some cases, you may also hold a third party liable. Burn injuries suffered in apartment, hotel or other types of public premises may be eligible for a premises liability action.
Scalding injuries. Scalding injuries happen from exposure to moist heat, like hot liquids or steam. Scalds are typically caused by high-temperature tap water from a faucet, spilled beverages like coffee or boiling water, or steam from cooking and radiators.
Gas explosions. Defective gas lines, heaters or stoves can cause unexpected gas explosions. Defective propane tanks can also explode, causing serious burn injuries.
Chemical accidents. Chemical burns damage the skin and tissue through corrosion. They can be dangerous and difficult to treat. People who work with dangerous chemicals should wear proper protection.
Electrical burns/electrocution. These occur when the body comes into contact with an electric source. Electrical burns can harm the skin and tissues as well as organs inside the body. Anyone who works with electricity is at risk for electrical burns.

The treatment and recovery time for a burn injury depends on the type and severity of the burn.

Different types and degrees of burns

Burn injuries are measured in degrees. Basically, the higher the number, the worse the burn. With a first- or second-degree burn, you may only need a cold compress, ointment and some dressing on your wounds. Usually, these burns will heal on their own.

Third- and fourth-degree burns are more involved and physically traumatic injuries. Third-degree burns can require multiple surgeries and skin grafts, with many complications and long-term consequences. Unfortunately, people rarely survive fourth-degree burn injuries.

First-degree burn injuries are the least severe, affecting only the outer layer of skin. The area may appear red, warm and slightly swollen, but the burn often heals on its own.
Second-degree burns affect both the outer and second layers of skin (epidermis and dermis). The area may appear red and swollen with blisters. These burns typically heal with a small amount of medical treatment, although the patient may suffer scarring from blisters.
Third-degree burns are severe, affecting the epidermis, dermis, and the layer of fat beneath the skin (adipose tissue). The area may appear leathery or waxy, white or tan, and the victim may not be able to feel pain due to nerve damage. These are serious injuries and can cause permanent scarring, trauma and disfigurement.
Fourth-degree burns are the most serious classification of burn injuries. They affect both layers of skin, the adipose tissue, bones, soft tissues and muscle. The area may be blackened or charred and some of the skin may be completely burned away. The victim may not feel any pain due to nerve damage. These burns cause permanent disfigurement, nerve damage, psychological trauma, and death.

Proving negligence in an Alabama burn injury case

As with most personal injury actions, with a burn injury case, you’ll need to prove the other party was negligent. The attorneys at Mezrano Law work diligently to prove the following:

The party owed you a duty of care
They breached that duty
That breach caused your injuries

For example, if you suffered burn injuries in a truck accident because the truck driver ran a traffic light, that truck driver breached their duty of care of public safety in obeying traffic laws. If a loved one was injured in a house fire started by a faulty appliance, a manufacturer may have breached their duty of care by putting a defective product on the market. Similarly, if your child is scalded by hot water at daycare, the owner of the facility may be held negligent.

Compensation for burn accidents and injuries

When someone else is negligent and causes your injuries, you may be eligible to recover compensation for your losses and damages, including:

Current and future medical expenses
Lost income from time off work
Diminished earning capacity
Pain and suffering

Burn injuries can take months or years to resolve, leaving lifelong scars and complications. They can cause chronic pain, disability and limited range of motion, as well as psychological and emotional impact. Our experienced legal team is dedicated to securing you the compensation you need and deserve.