Burn Injury Representation in South Carolina
Burn injuries are one of the most common and painful types of injuries. Nearly all of us know how much a burn can hurt from our own experience, such as touching a hot surface, getting too close to a fire, or being splashed by boiling water or some other hot liquid. There are a variety of different types of burns and a number of ways that these injuries can happen, but one thing they all have in common is the potential to cause serious harm. Burn injuries can have a severe and potentially life threatening impact on your health, and even a minor burn injury can often require long term care and treatment. As one of the most common types of accidental injuries, it is important to understand the different types of burn injuries, as well as how these injuries occur.
Types of Burn Injuries
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over one million people in the United States suffer burn injuries requiring medical care and treatment each year and roughly 50,000 of these injuries are serious enough to require hospitalization. Burns can occur as the result of direct contact with fire, hot surfaces or scalding liquids, as well as from direct exposure to chemicals, electricity, or by breathing in toxic fumes. The CDC lists three main types of burn injuries:
- First Degree Burns: These involve the top layer of skin, and result in pain, redness and swelling.
- Second Degree Burns: These involve the first two layers of skin. In addition to pain and redness, the burn area may blister and there may be some loss of skin in the affected area.
- Third Degree Burns: These are the most severe type of burn, penetrating the skin and potentially causing permanent damage to the underlying tissues. The skin often appears charred and leathery, and while the areas surrounding the burn may hurt, the burn itself is often painless.
For serious burns, avoid using burn ointments as these may cause infection, and always seek medical treatment right away. Burn victims may go into shock, and severe burns may cause damage to internal organs.
How Burn Injuries Happen
According to the Mayo Clinic, there are a number of conditions under which serious and potentially life threatening burn injuries can occur. Along with being burned in an actual fire, other causes of burn injuries include the following:
- Exposure to hot foods, liquids, or steam;
- Exposure to hot metal or glass;
- Electrical currents and faulty wiring;
- Ultraviolet lights from tanning beds;
- Radiation burns from x-rays or cancer treatments;
- Exposure to toxic chemicals, such as lye, acid, or gasoline;
- Defective products that explode or burst into flames, such as grills or lighters; and
- Exposure to fire or chemicals through car and truck accidents.
Many types of burn injuries stem from accidents caused by the reckless or negligent conduct of others, such as hotel, restaurant or other business owners, medical personnel, product manufacturers, construction crews, and employers.
Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney Today
If you or a loved one has suffered a burn injury as the result of someone’s reckless or negligent actions, contact our experienced South Carolina personal injury attorney right away. At Lauren Taylor Law, we understand the serious impact burn injuries can have on every aspect of your life. We can advise you on how to hold responsible parties accountable for the damages they have caused, and assist you in getting the compensation you deserve. Serving Greenville and all of Upstate South Carolina, call or contact us online today for an initial consultation.
South Carolina divorce attorney Lauren Taylor practices family law in Charleston and Greenville. She graduated from the Charlotte School of Law, and has been practicing for more than ten years.
Since the firm’s inception in 2012, Mrs. Taylor has helped hundreds of people navigate the uncertainties surrounding the family and criminal court process.
She has cultivated a team that ensures each case has a strategy crafted specifically to the clients needs and desires.
Her commitment to top notch service has led her to open two additional offices in the low country where she now resides with her husband Michael and her golden retriever, Buster.