Burn Injuries
Burn injuries are often catastrophic injuries that scar a person deeply—physically and emotionally. Burns can be caused by excessive heat, exposure to the sun, electricity and chemicals. Regardless of how a burn is caused, victims often have serious obstacles to overcome after their injury. Hospitalization is often required for serious burns.
Humans have three main layers of skin: the epidermis, the dermis and the hypodermis. The seriousness of a burn is determined by a victim’s size, age, the location of the burn and how many layers of skin are affected. Burns can be classified into three categories:
First Degree Burns
These burns affect the outermost layer of skin and are recognizable by pain and redness of the affected area. Scars do not usually occur from first degree burns.
Second Degree Burns
These burns affect the outer two layers of skin and are recognizable by pain, redness, swelling and blisters. Second degree burns may result in mild scarring.
Third Degree Burns
These burns affect all three layers of skin and are recognizable by charring and areas of dry white skin. Sufferers often feel little to no pain as nerve endings are often destroyed. This is the most serious type of burn and result in serious scarring and even death.
A tremendous amount of rehabilitation and surgery can be involved with serious burn injuries. Patients may need to go through painful skin grafts or dermabrasion to reduce the appearance of scars. Additionally, rehabilitation is often necessary to help patients achieve a quality of life. In addition to the physical healing process, victims must go through an emotional healing process as well. Victims must come to terms with their injury and work to accept the way they must now walk through life.
If you believe that your injury was caused by the negligence or recklessness of someone else, it is important to speak with a qualified attorney. A personal injury attorney can help you seek damages for your injury, to reimburse you for things like medical bills (including cosmetic surgery), prescription drug costs, rehabilitation expenses, time missed from work, and pain and suffering. An attorney should be thoroughly familiar with the unique nature of burn injuries and able to advise you on the best course of action for your situation.
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