Burn injuries can do permanent damage to your skin, tissues, and the rest of your body, which is usually painful and could lead to disfigurement. Both small burns and extensive life-altering damage could be compensable in a personal injury claim. If another person’s negligence was the primary cause of the burn, then a legal claim from a well-prepared catastrophic injury attorney could win you the monetary compensation needed to heal and begin moving past this difficult situation.
A Kennewick burn injury lawyer is dedicated to fighting for your rights and seeking financial justice. Your case deserves an individualized analysis to determine how best to proceed and seek closure.
Degrees of Burns
Medical professionals classify burns into different categories. These classifications are based on the severity of the burn, whether they occurred as the result of thermal, electrical, or chemical means. Each type of burn can carry increasing degrees of damage. The more severe the classification of burn, the more likely that significant harm has resulted to the plaintiff. More severe burns also tend to require higher damage awards to compensate the plaintiff for what they have been through.
First Degree Burn Injuries
Most first-degree burns are superficial but have the potential for some pain. Fortunately, they do not cause lasting harm and usually require simple medical treatment, if any. Simple redness and tenderness are likely with these burns and they typically do not warrant a lawsuit.
Second Degree Burn Injuries
This type of burn is more painful and will likely create noticeable damage, often penetrating multiple layers of a person’s skin. They usually require special creams and medical wrapping to properly heal and prevent further pain or infection. Some can fully heal, while others might leave a permanent scar.
Third and Fourth Degree Burn Injuries
When a burn reaches the third- and fourth-degree categories, the harm is extensive and potentially deadly. The burn has penetrated multiple levels of skin and may even affect lower tissues. A plaintiff could lose eyesight, have muscle damage, and deal with permanent disability as a result of these burns. They can also lead to substantial deformities and disfigurement that impair mobility or the ability to do simple tasks. Extensive surgeries, skin grafts, and much more may result. The family of an injured loved one should immediately call a burn injury lawyer in Kennewick if third-degree burns have occurred.
Necessary and Costly Treatments for Burn Injuries
People who have endured a severe burn will need treatment for their injuries. This treatment—and the cost of it—will often depend on the severity of the burn injuries themselves, with burns that are deeper or more widespread requiring more intensive treatment. This treatment could include any of the following:
- Water-based treatments
- Pain medications
- Specialized dressings
- Antibiotics
- Tetanus shots
- Burn creams and ointments
- Plastic surgery and skin grafts
- Amputations
These and many other forms of treatment could be required to bring the plaintiff back to health. Yet even when the healing is more or less complete, the psychological scars and embarrassment over disabilities can linger on. A successful Kennewick burn injury lawyer seeks compensation not only for the economic losses that a plaintiff suffers, but also for the non-economic harms that they will have to face.
Fight for Just Compensation with a Kennewick Burn Injury Attorney
If your burn injuries are the fault of someone else, you are allowed to file a lawsuit against them for restitution. A lawsuit might help you win the redress you require to get your life back to a semblance of normalcy. With help from a qualified Kennewick burn injury lawyer, you could pursue your claim to its fullest potential, so seek a consultation with us today.