San Bernardino Burn Injury Attorney
Experienced Burn Injury Attorneys Serving San Bernardino, CA
Serious burns are among the most devastating injuries people can suffer. In addition to the emotional trauma, victims often face a lifetime of stigmatizing scars and severe health problems. If you are the victim of a serious burn, contact our San Bernardino burn injury attorney at the law firm of Aitken * Aitken * Cohn. In a free consultation, a burn injury lawyer will evaluate your case and give you experienced and compassionate legal advice toward filing a burn injury lawsuit.
Burn Injury Lawsuit
Burn injuries can result from a variety of causes, and they are typically classified into several categories based on the source or mechanism of the burn. Here are some common causes of burn injuries:
- Thermal Burns:
- Fire: Contact with an open flame or a fire source can cause thermal burns. This can occur in house fires, car accidents, or industrial incidents.
- Scalding: Contact with hot liquids, such as boiling water, hot coffee, or steam, can cause scald burns.
- Hot Objects: Touching hot objects like stovetops, oven racks, or hot metal surfaces can lead to thermal burns.
- Sun Exposure: Overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or tanning beds can result in sunburn, a type of thermal burn.
- Chemical Burns:
- Contact with Corrosive Substances: Exposure to strong acids, alkalis, or other corrosive chemicals can cause chemical burns. This can happen in industrial accidents or household mishaps involving cleaning products.
- Electrical Burns:
- Electrocution: Electrical burns result from contact with electrical currents. These burns can occur from faulty wiring, lightning strikes, or direct contact with electrical sources.
- Radiation Burns:
- Radiation Therapy: In the medical field, radiation therapy can cause skin burns in cancer patients as a side effect of treatment.
- Friction Burns:
- Road Rash: These are abrasions and burns that occur when the skin rubs against a rough surface, often in motorcycle accidents or falls.
- Cold Burns:
- Frostbite: Prolonged exposure to extremely cold temperatures can lead to frostbite, causing damage to the skin and underlying tissues.
Burns can be fatal, and are always extremely painful due to damaged nerve endings. Many burn injuries are the result of reckless actions or hazardous conditions caused by individuals or businesses. A burn injury attorney can determine liability and advise whether a burn injury lawsuit is justified.
Burn Injury Classifications
All types of burn injuries are classified by the degree of the burn, ranging from first degree burns to third degree burns. The most serious burns are always third degree burns, which involve all layers of skin and the tissues beneath them. Third degree burns require hospitalization and they put the victim at severe risk of infection. Pain will sometimes be minimal at first due to nerves being totally destroyed, but there will be disfigurement from scarring, and they often require skin grafting.
Complications Of A Burn Injury
Burn injuries can lead to a range of complications, which can vary in severity depending on the degree and extent of the burn, as well as the treatment received. Common complications associated with burn injuries include:
- Infection: Burned skin is particularly susceptible to infection, as the protective barrier provided by the skin is compromised. Bacteria and other pathogens can enter the body through the damaged skin, potentially causing local or systemic infections.
- Scarring: Healing of burn injuries often results in the formation of scars. Scars can be both cosmetic and functional, potentially restricting the range of motion if they develop over joints or causing disfigurement.
- Contractures: Severe burns can lead to contractures, which are the tightening of skin, tendons, and muscles in the affected area. Contractures can limit mobility and may require physical therapy or surgical intervention.
- Hypertrophic Scarring: In some cases, scars may become raised, thick, and red or purple in appearance. These hypertrophic scars can be itchy, painful, and cosmetically bothersome.
- Keloids: Keloids are an extreme form of hypertrophic scarring, where the scar tissue continues to grow beyond the boundaries of the original wound. They are often raised and may be larger than the initial injury.
- Nerve Damage: Burn injuries can damage nerves, resulting in numbness or increased sensitivity in the affected area. This can impact both sensory perception and motor function.
- Joint and Muscle Problems: Burns involving joints can lead to contractures and stiffness. Muscle atrophy and weakness may also develop as a result of limited movement.
A burn injury lawsuit is necessary because of the long-term complications. Burn injuries can affect all functions of the body no matter which area of the body is burned. Serious infections occur, the body can have trouble regulating temperature, and the respiratory system may fail. Your burn injury attorney will also be aware that the psychological trauma from the burn and the altered physical appearance of the victim can be just as difficult to deal with.
Contact a San Bernardino Burn Injury Attorney
A San Bernardino burn injury lawyer from Aitken * Aitken * Cohn will have the compassion, skills and experience needed to help you receive the maximum compensation possible for your suffering. To learn more about your legal rights and options, please contact us today.