Question 1

What Are Different Types of Burns?

Accepted Answer

Burns are extremely painful injuries, and last long after the heat source is removed, the chemicals are cleaned up, or after initial contact is severed. Though burns usually involve “burning” pain, they classify a type of injury that causes death to many of the victims skin cells. Ranging from minor to catastrophic, burns are classified as:

First-degree burns: Red, dry skin that is warm to the touch. First-degree burns involve top-level damage to the epidermis, or first layer of skin. It is a good idea to visit a doctor if your burn is in a sensitive area, to prevent scarring. Sunburns are typically classified as first-degree burns.
Second-degree (partial thickness) burns: Skin blisters and thickens; involves damage to both the epidermis and dermis beneath it. The wound needs to be kept clean to prevent serious infection, and depending on the blisters, skin grafts may be necessary to cover the damage.
Third-degree (full thickness) burns: Damage beyond the dermis, reaching the deeper tissue underneath the skin. The skin may be white or black, and the area may be numb because of damage to nerve endings. These burns require surgery to attempt to prevent scarring and contracture, and come with serious complications like shock, hypothermia, blood loss, and tetanus or sepsis.

In other words, you require immediate medical assistance after a serious burn. The type of burn will vary with cause, but some sources cause all classifications of burn levels.

Question 2

What Are Burn-Related Trauma and Treatment That Victims Face

Accepted Answer

Burn injuries can leave you with life-altering scars, both inside and out. Severe burns require a painful treatment called debridement to remove dead tissue and promote healing, skin grafts, reconstructive surgery, and physical therapy to increase mobility. You may also require amputation for a damaged or infected limb. Meanwhile, the wounds themselves will built up thick scar tissue (called fibrinous exudate) that can rarely be removed altogether. You may have physical problems with retaining moisture, temperature control, and ongoing weakness to infections.

The emotional trauma is usually worse. Many victims suffer post-traumatic stress disorder, whether from the original incident or the brutal aftercare. Since burns can be disfiguring, they can cause embarrassment and change the quality of a victim’s life. When you add in months of missing time from work for recuperation, it is a costly event.

As the victim of a burn, you may be eligible to receive financial compensation for your pain and suffering, medical bills, lost income, and other related expenses. The same is true for a family that lost a loved one to wrongful death.

Question 3

What Causes Burns?

Accepted Answer

In descending order by number of people burned each year, here are the American Burn Association’s classifications for how people are burned:

Thermal: Meaning “heat,” thermal burns can be wet or dry.
- Flame: The classic burn injury, which comes from skin making contact with fire. House fires claim many lives every year, and smoke inhalation is another serious risk associated with open flames.
- Contact with a hot object: Often, these burns come from touching a pot on the stovetop, an oven door, or another object.
- Scalds: Whether due to boiling water or steam, scalding is a serious danger for restaurant and food industry workers.
Chemical: Acids, alkalis, and chemical explosions tend to be more of a danger on the job, especially in the construction, manufacturing, and janitorial industries. Even fumes from chemicals can burn the lining of lungs, causing respiratory distress, in addition to skin irritation. Cleaning products that are found in nearly every home have the potential to cause chemical burns. Because chemicals can do more than burn the skin, victims require immediate medical attention.
Electrical: Live wires, faulty outlets, and powered machinery tend to cause these burns. Because an electric shock can affect the inner workings of the body as well as burn the skin, victims need immediate medical attention following an electrical burn.
Light: Did you know getting multiple sunburns can increase your likelihood of developing skin cancer? Prolonged exposure to UV rays can cause serious burns, as well. If you entrusted your children to a daycare center and they allowed them to develop horrific sunburns, you may have a claim.
- Radiation: Though radiation can also come in the thermal variety, UV radiation is the most widespread and therefore dangerous.

In our experience, many burns are caused not by the victim him or herself, but by a series of poor choices made by other individuals. We have seen numerous:

Residential fires
Vehicle crash fires/explosions
Workplace injuries, often chemical or electrical in nature
Gas or propane explosions

And that’s why Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. will file a civil claim to get compensation for the victim.

Denver Burn Injury Lawyers

Legal Help for People Burned Due to Another’s Negligence

What Are Different Types of Burns?

What Causes Burns?

What Are Burn-Related Trauma and Treatment That Victims Face

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