Victims of severe burn injuries face a long road to recovery and life-altering psychological and physical scars. Burn injuries are excruciating, requiring multiple surgeries to heal. An Alabama burn injury lawyer experienced in offering aggressive and compassionate legal representation can help you regain your life.
At Mezrano Law, we work on a contingency basis for premises liability and personal injury. A contingency fee basis means we do not charge you anything unless we win a settlement in or out of court. This fee structure ensures we work hard for your case and that you don't have even more out-of-pocket expenses during a stressful time. We also offer contingency fee schedules for other practice areas, such as:
The American Burn Association (ABA) states that 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 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:
Your employer may be responsible for your injuries if you suffer a burn injury. In some cases, you may also hold a third party liable. Burn injuries in apartments, hotels, or other public premises may be eligible for a premises liability action.
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.
Defective gas lines, heaters, or stoves can cause unexpected gas explosions. Defective propane tanks can also explode, causing severe burn injuries.
Chemical burns damage the skin and tissue through corrosion. They can be dangerous and challenging to treat. People who work with dangerous chemicals should wear proper protection.
These occur when the body comes into contact with an electric source. Electrical burns can harm the body's skin, tissues, and organs. 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.
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 burns 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.
Second-degree burns affect 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 severe injuries can cause permanent scarring, trauma, and disfigurement.
Fourth-degree burns are the most severe classification of burn injuries. They affect layers of skin, fatty 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.
As with most personal injury actions, you’ll need to prove the other party was negligent with a burn injury case. 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 for public safety in obeying traffic laws. If a loved one was injured in a house fire started by a faulty appliance, a manufacturer might have breached their duty of care by putting a defective product on the market. Similarly, the facility's owner may be liable if your child is scalded by hot water at daycare.
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, limited range of motion, and psychological and emotional impact. Our experienced legal team is dedicated to securing the compensation you need and deserve.