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.
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:
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:
The treatment and recovery time for a burn injury depends on the type and severity of the burn.
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.
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:
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.
When someone else is negligent and causes your injuries, you may be eligible to recover compensation for your losses and damages, including:
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.
If you or a loved one suffered a burn injury due to someone else’s negligence, the attorneys at Mezrano Law Firm can help. We’ll work to find out what happened and why, and hold the guilty parties responsible. We protect your rights to compensation. We have offices in Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Florence, Mobile, Montgomery and Gadsden. For a consultation, call us at 205-206-6300 or fill out our contact form.