Orange County Burn Injury Attorney

A burn injury affects not only the body but also the mind. Therefore, it’s crucial for burn victims seeking legal help to consult a lawyer experienced in handling burn injury cases. The burn injury attorney at Aitken * Aitken * Cohn in Orange County has helped many clients achieve excellent outcomes in their legal battles.

Burns can be caused by electricity, heat, chemicals, radiation, or gases. They are among the most painful non-fatal injuries because they damage nerve endings, resulting in intense pain. Each year in the U.S., millions of people suffer burns, and thousands of these victims die from their injuries. Beyond the physical pain, burn survivors often face long recovery times, expensive medical treatments, and emotional trauma. Effective legal representation can help victims get the compensation they need for medical bills, lost wages, and other related expenses, allowing them to focus on healing and rebuilding their lives.

A burn injury is often classified by the method that the burn was caused and the degree of the burn. The degree of a burn can vary from first degree burns to third-degree burns. When only the outer layer of the skin is injured, it is classified as a first-degree burn. Second-degree burns have penetrated the first layer of skin and the second layer. The most painful and severe burns are third-degree burns, which involve every layer of skin and destroy all of the nerve endings. As the burns heal, there will be dense scarring and possible skin grafting.

Burn injuries can affect various bodily functions, including muscles, nerves, bones, and blood vessels, as well as the respiratory system. All degrees of burns can impair normal body temperature regulation, joint function, fluid balance, manual dexterity, and physical appearance.

Burns can result from personal injury cases where another individual or company is liable for the suffering endured. To proceed with a burn injury case, it’s essential to determine the source and cause of the fire or accident. An Orange County personal injury attorney can assist you in gathering the necessary evidence to pursue a claim, ensuring that those responsible are held accountable and that you receive the compensation you deserve.

Burn injury statistics

The American Burn Injury Association says that around 450,000 people receive treatment for burn injuries at hospitals each year in the United States. These numbers do not include those treated in clinics, private doctor’s offices, or other healthcare facilities, so the numbers are likely much higher. An estimated 3,400 people lose their lives due to burn injuries each year.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say that there are four types of burns a person can sustain:

• Light burns caused by sunlight or UV light (typically associated with sunburns).
• Thermal burns caused by contact with fire, steam, heated liquids, or other sources of high heat.
• Chemical burns caused by contact with acid, alkali, or other chemicals.
• Radiation burns caused by contact with nuclear radiation.

Burn injury severity

Burns are classified according to their severity. According to WebMD, the levels of burn severity are:

• First-degree – These burns affect just the outer layer of skin and result in mild irritation, red skin, and some pain.
• Second-degree – These burns affect the outer layer of skin as well as the underlayer, called the dermis. This will result in swollen, red skin that will likely blister. These burns can leave a permanent change in color to a person’s skin.
• Third-degree – These burns are also called full-thickness burns. This type of burn will destroy two layers of skin. The skin may appear black, white, brown, or yellow, and can destroy nerve endings. This can lead to significant scarring and disfigurement.
• Fourth-degree – These burns are the deepest kind and are life-threatening. They destroy every layer of skin and can damage bones, muscles, and tendons.

The costs of treating a burn injury can be significant, and burn injury victims often require specialized care. They could need costly and painful skin grafts to repair damaged areas. Many burn injury victims are permanently disfigured, and some lose their mobility. Victims of burn injuries often suffer from severe psychological and emotional trauma.

Who can be held responsible for a burn injury?

One of the most important things you need to determine after a burn injury is who is liable. If another person, company, or entity is responsible for your burn injuries, they may have to pay you compensation. The other person’s liability will significantly impact your ability to recover damages in an insurance settlement or through a jury verdict.

Some questions an Orange County burn injury attorney will ask could include:

• Was the injury caused by any foreseeable hazards that the negligent party failed to remedy?
• Was the burn injury caused by a defective product?
• Did someone intentionally try to cause the burn injury?

Your Orange County burn injury attorney will thoroughly investigate what happened in the incident in order to determine the other party’s liability. This will include obtaining any evidence from the incident, including accident reports, eyewitness statements, photo and video surveillance, and more.

Can you recover compensation for a burn injury?

If you burn injuries are caused by the carelessness or negligence of another person, you may be entitled to significant compensation. This can include economic, as well as non-economic damages such as the following:

• Coverage of medical expenses related to the burn injury
• Recovery of lost wages if you are unable to work
• Pain and suffering damages
• Loss of enjoyment of life damages
• Possible punitive damages against the negligent party

Contact an Orange County Burn Injury Attorney

Aitken * Aitken * Cohn has successfully represented numerous victims of burn injuries. The law firm has the compassion, resources, and experience to consult the unfortunate victims of burn injury. For a free consultation from a nationally recognized lawyer who has expertise in burn injury litigation, please contact 1-866-434-1424 or fill out the contact form and an experienced burn injury will be in touch shortly.