TMP Master Class - Personal Injury Litigation
Most of us have been burned at some point or another. Whether through a contact burn inflicted by something like a hot piece of cookery or by ultraviolet radiation after staying in the sun too long without sunblock, burns are very common injuries. However, many people are not so lucky to only suffer these milder burns and end up involved in accidents that cause more severe and widespread burn injuries. Therefore, having solid legal counsel from an experienced burn injury lawyer is key. Let us explain.
Severe burns are one of the most painful kinds of injury that someone can suffer from, with a high chance of complications developing. Suffering severe burns can potentially affect almost every aspect of your life, from your career to relationships.
Accidents that cause severe burns are often entirely avoidable had a certain party not acted negligently. In cases such as these, one may be able to seek compensation for the damages caused by severe burns by filing a burn injury lawsuit. Not only can you recover compensation that can get your life back on track, but you can also help ensure the same negligence is not repeated and hurts someone else.
If you or a loved one has suffered a burn injury in an accident, contact Turnbull, Moak & Pendergrass today. Offering a burn injury lawyer team, we are available 24/7 at (205) 831-5040. You can also contact us online for a free case evaluation to discuss your rights and options further.
Burns can be classified into different subcategories. Each type has its own issues, complications, and treatments.
Thermal burns are caused by sources of heat that increase the temperature of the skin and tissues and cause cell death. Common sources of thermal burns include heated metals, scalding liquids, steam, and fire, which burn when they come into contact with the skin.
When the skin repeatedly rubs against another surface at a high frequency, the friction generated creates heat and can shred tissue. Friction burns have a more physical element and can be caused by certain types of machinery, repeated movements, or sliding across the pavement.
These burns are often caused by prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun. Most of the time, these burns are fairly mild, although they have the potential to cause severe damage in certain circumstances involving long-term unprotected exposure. Radiation burns can also be caused by other forms of radiation, such as X-rays; however, this is very rare.
Electricity can cause severe burns that inflict unique damage. Electrical currents are found in a variety of settings, and negligence can cause exposure to AC or DC currents that can electrocute someone. Electrical burns can not only burn the surface of the area of contact, but the current can also burn as it travels through someone, inflicting injury beneath the skin.
Caustic chemicals can be found in almost every household, industrial settings, and/or even certain commercial settings. Chemical burns can not only cause physical damage similar to thermal burns. Depending on the chemical that inflicted the burn, there can also be a host of other damaging elements like toxic properties. Solvents, acids, and certain detergents can cause chemical burns.
The consequences of burn injuries are more than just the physical damage done to a person’s body. The effects of a burn injury permeate into a person’s professional life, relationships, and mental health. Losses caused by a burn injury with regard to all these aspects of a person’s life are called damages. It is integral that burn injury victims understand what damages they can claim and the value of these damages in order to effectively seek compensation for them with a lawsuit.
Obvious damages such as medical bills and the money lost when one is unable to work because of an injury are not the only things you can seek compensation for. Severe burns inflict all kinds of damages, both economic and non-economic. The aforementioned obvious damages, such as medical bills and lost wages, are considered economic damages, which can also include lost earning potential and property damage.
In addition to economic damages, there are non-economic damages, which consist of intangible negative effects caused by a severe burn. These damages may not have a direct physical effect that can be calculated through a bill or pay stubs, but they still have a distinct and negative effect on a burn victim’s life. Damages such as pain and suffering, loss of consortium, scarring/disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life are common examples of non-economic damages.
