Texas Burn Injury Lawyer

common causes of burn injuries

Victims can suffer burn injuries from a variety of sources that may not even always involve a flame. This wide range of potential causes for suffering burns include:

Car Accidents

Car accidents can cause burns as a result of friction, explosions, smoke inhalation, or extreme heat exposure.

Building Fires

Most burn injuries occur at home, and these injuries may result from faulty wiring in the home, a space heater that catches fire, candles left burning, or other causes. In some cases, the landlord or the property owner may be responsible for any injuries suffered in a building fire, if their negligence caused the accident.

Smoke Inhalation

A victim may suffer inhalation injuries after breathing in fumes caused by chemicals or smoke while in an enclosed area. Inhalation injuries may result in:

• Difficulty breathing
• Damage to the victim’s eyes
• Swelling in nasal passages or airways
• Lung damage
• Carbon monoxide poisoning

Workplace Accidents

From 2005-2014, the workplace was the second most common place for a burn injury to occur, after the victim’s home. These injuries may be caused by a variety of hazards in the workplace, such as:

• Electricity
• Flash burns
• Explosions
• Dangerous chemicals
• Hot liquids or oils
• Heated mechanisms
• Thermal contact burns
• Tools that have not been properly insulated

Electrical Accidents

Electrical injuries can be caused by high-voltage injury or low-voltage injury, in most cases, from lightning, stun guns, electrical wires, or light fixtures. The four main types of electrical injuries include:

• Lightning injuries, involving very short but high-voltage electrical energy
• Flame injuries, involving an arc flash igniting the victim’s clothing
• Flash injuries, caused by an arc flash but generally associated with superficial burns
• True injuries, involving the victim becoming part of an electrical circuit

Approximately 5 percent of admissions to burn units across the country occur because of electrical injuries.

Explosions

While explosions are not common in Texas, they can happen, especially given that Texas continues to be an oil industry hub. Explosions may happen in industrial settings such as an oil refinery, as well as from vehicle or motorized equipment crashes, workplace accidents, and other causes.

Chemical Burns

Chemical burns are generally caused by acidic products such as drain cleaners or other hazardous chemicals that your skin comes into contact with. The exposure of skin to chemicals or fumes may result in the tissue’s destruction, with the severity of the injury typically depending upon the quantity and length of exposure to the harmful chemicals or fumes.

Defective Products

Defective products, such as appliances like toasters or refrigerators, as well as space heaters, vehicles, heavy machinery, work equipment, or other products may cause burn injuries; this may be as a result of faulty wiring, exposed wiring, or other defects.

what are the degrees of burns?

Burn injuries range from relatively minor to severe. Burns are classified by degrees, including these four:

First-Degree Burns

First-degree burns typically refer to minor burns which include most sunburns and may also be caused by touching a hot pan or other object. First-degree burns generally only affect the outer layer of the victim’s skin and may be marked by redness, mild swelling, and painfulness to touch.

Second-Degree Burns

Second-degree burns often refer to injuries where some of the skin may have been burned away, such as by having boiling water poured on you or by coming into extended contact with a flame. Second-degree burns will often take weeks to heal. Signs of second-degree burns may include blisters, a glossy appearance caused by leaking fluid, possible loss of some skin, pain, or a deep reddening of the skin.

Third-Degree Burns

Third-degree burns occur when skin is pierced by the burn. Adding to the danger, third-degree burns may destroy nerves in the area, making you feel no pain, which in turn could delay your response time. Third-degree burns may cause your skin to look white or leathery due to the burn because new skin will not grow in the affected area.

Fourth-Degree Burns

Fourth-degree burns, known as full-thickness burns, are the most serious and are often fatal. Fourth-degree burns mean the burn has pierced through the skin, damaged or destroyed muscle and bone, and the harm has potentially reached organs. 

how burn injuries are treated

Depending on the severity of the victim’s injuries, a burn victim may need immediate medical attention after suffering a burn. While minor burns can usually be treated with bandages and pain-relieving medications, this will usually not be enough for more severe burns. In some cases, failing to seek medical attention as soon as possible may result in worsened scarring, permanent nerve damage, or other worsening of injuries. For these more severe, extensive burns, medical treatment may include:

• Surgery
• Skin grafts
• Massage or antihistamines
• Amputation for extreme burns
• Antibiotics or other treatment to prevent or fight infection
• Intravenous fluids to treat fluid leakage

How much may my case be worth?

Burn victims often suffer both short-term and long-term effects caused by their burns. Painful treatment must be endured initially by burn victims to treat their injuries. Meanwhile, many victims must also live with permanent scarring or disfigurement, especially when amputation is necessary.

Further, most treatments for burns, including reconstructive burn surgeries or skin grafts, are expensive and may leave a burn victim saddled with significant financial expenses even while the victim may be unable to work while recovering from his or her injuries. Fortunately, hiring a skilled burn injury lawyer may help you pursue compensation for the burn injuries you have suffered. You may be entitled to economic or non-economic damages, such as:

Economic Damages

• Medical bills
• Lost income and wages
• Disability
• Loss of earning ability
• Scarring and disfigurement

Non-Economic Damages

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Punitive damages
• Loss of the enjoyment of life

how the burn attorneys at zinda law group can help

By contacting an experienced personal injury lawyer near you from Zinda Law Group, you can schedule a free consultation to better understand your legal options after suffering a burn injury. After discussing which legal strategies are available to you, your attorney will thoroughly investigate your accident to determine who may be responsible for your injuries, such as the:

• Manufacturer of a defective product
• Employer who failed to maintain a safe workplace
• Landlord who failed to repair defective electrical wiring

Unfortunately, insurance companies often have teams of lawyers of their own to protect the insurer from lawsuits and claims such as yours; they help the insurer avoid paying any compensation to accident victims. The burn injury lawyers from Zinda Law Group can help level this playing field by standing up to the insurer and supporting your claim with evidence gathered during their thorough investigation.

Preparing your case skillfully, our team can let you focus on recovering from your burns and any other injuries you suffered in the accident. Our attorneys have experience in handling a variety of personal injury cases and can use that experience to benefit you. Their understanding of the legal complexities of Texas personal injury laws and how to pursue a burn injury lawsuit in Texas is one of many benefits of hiring one of our Texas burn injury lawyers.

CONTACT A Texas Burn injury lawyer TODAY

Burn injuries can be serious and disrupt your life as you are suddenly faced with the ongoing pain while your burns heal. Making matters worse, depending on the severity of your burns, you may be facing expensive medical bills while receiving less income as your burns cause you to miss time from work. Fortunately, you may be able to address the financial difficulties caused by your injuries by contacting a skilled personal injury attorney near you who has experience in helping other burn victims pursue the maximum compensation they were entitled to.

If you or your loved one has suffered burn injuries in an accident, you should contact one of the burn attorneys at Zinda Law Group as soon as possible. Your attorney will use their skill and experience to handle your case and help you seek compensation for your injuries and losses.  

Call (800) 863-5312 today for a free consultation with one of our Texas burn injury lawyers. You will not pay anything unless we win your case. That’s our No Win, No Fee Guarantee.

Meetings with attorneys are available by appointment only.