Burn injuries remain a major driver of unintended fatalities and injuries in the United States. According to data from the American Burn Association, medical centers treated an overall total of 486,000 burns in 2016, while burn injuries led to the hospitalization of 40,000 individuals. Despite having a 95% survival rate, burn injuries can be among the most financially devastating, physically detrimental, and emotionally traumatic an individual can endure. In addition to requiring medical attention such as surgery and rehabilitation, severe burns can cause permanent physical impairments or disfigurement. Burn injury recovery incurs both physical and psychological costs. When another person's negligence results in burn injuries, the road to recovery may be even more challenging.

Severe injuries may result from burn injuries that occur in a motor vehicle, the workplace, or any public area. In fact, burn injuries can cause excruciating pain, and certain types of burns carry an exceptionally high risk of causing scarring, disfigurement, ongoing medical complications, limited mobility, and additional adverse effects. It is critical to know what to do in the event of a burn injury. After receiving medical attention, the most immediate step to take is to retain the services of a Pennsylvania personal injury attorney who specializes in burn injuries.

The staff at Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law, has assisted and represented clients in obtaining the compensation to which they are rightfully entitled. This includes victims of burns and automobile accidents, among others. Contact us today if you have been injured and need assistance. We look forward to helping you or a family member.

WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU RECOVER FROM YOUR SETBACK

Ensure That Your Current and Anticipated Medical Needs are Covered

Burn injuries often lead to personal injury and product liability claims. If you’re the victim of a burn injury, it’s important to discuss your case with a lawyer as soon as possible. The cost of treating a burn injury can be astronomical, depending on the severity of your burns and the medical treatments you require. Some burn injuries can even necessitate life-long care. This can be financially devastating for a victim who is already suffering the emotional and physical consequences of their injury.

If you’ve experienced 2nd and 3rd degree burns due to the negligence of others, you may be entitled to compensation for injuries. By hiring a burn injury lawyer, you can strive for maximum compensation to help alleviate your financial burden for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Highly Skilled Negotiators and Litigators With Extensive Experience

Burn injury law is complex and challenging to navigate; however, a burn injury lawyer in Pennsylvania can be of assistance in this matter. Being a burn victim or a member of the family of one during recovery can be a cause of considerable concern. An advocate for burn injury victims in PA, a burn injury lawyer at Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law, will deal with insurance companies, gather evidence to support your case, and negotiate a settlement on your behalf.

We Are Here To Protect Your Rights

Brandon J. Broderick is here to help if you find yourself in need of legal representation so that you can focus on healing. Our law office in Pennsylvania is committed to securing the compensation you need and deserve. We promise to do everything in our power to defend your rights and support you as you go through this trying time.

Contact us today for a no-cost consultation to go over your legal options.

What Are the Most Common Types of Burn Injuries?

Burns may occur in a variety of situations, including construction sites in Pennsylvania and car accidents caused by reckless drivers. In either case, fault may be attributed to the offender.

Here are a few of the most common types of burn injuries:

  • Chemical burns: Even common chemicals have the potential to cause severe burn injuries. While some are combustible, others can induce a life-threatening reaction upon skin contact or inhalation.

  • Car accident: Burn injuries sustained in a car accident are among the most severe and traumatic injuries a person can experience. These injuries often occur when a vehicle catches fire upon impact, exposing the occupants to intense heat and flames. The severity of burn injuries can range from first-degree burns, which affect only the outer layer of skin, to third-degree burns, which can penetrate deeply into the skin, damaging nerves, muscles, and even bones. Survivors of burn injuries from car accidents may also face significant psychological trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression.

  • Defective products: Burn injuries caused by defective products represent a significant and often overlooked danger in everyday life. These injuries can occur when a product, such as an electrical appliance, children's toy, or kitchen equipment, malfunctions due to design flaws, manufacturing errors, or inadequate safety warnings. The severity of these burns can vary widely, from superficial skin damage to deep tissue injuries that require extensive medical treatment, including skin grafts and reconstructive surgery. The psychological impact of such injuries can be profound, leading to trauma, anxiety, and a loss of trust in everyday items.

  • Electrical burns: Electrical burns are among the most frequently occurring burn injuries sustained by construction workers in the course of their work. Transmitting electricity throughout the body can result in severe organ damage.

  • Steam burns and scalds: Burns and scalds from hot steam or water are another common type of burn injury. Anyone working with hot liquids or installing pipes is at risk of serious injury, but plumbers are especially at risk.

  • Thermal burns: Thermal burns have the potential to be fatal. These burns manifest in the presence of open flames on construction sites or as a result of welding accidents. They can also occur in a car accident when a vehicle bursts into flames. Thermal burns are caused by fire and, in certain cases, can be fatal or result in third-degree burns that require skin grafting.

  • Sunburns: Although it may appear obvious, employees working outside without adequate protection are also susceptible to severe sunburns. Prolonged exposure to the sun can result in severe burns, sun poisoning, and heatstroke.

Electrical fires resulting from faulty components, wiring, or other electrical work are among the most prevalent causes of burn injuries. Electrical equipment is made to be safe to use. Unfortunately, over the years, there have been numerous incidents in which individuals have inadvertently burned themselves due to shoddy installation or improper maintenance. For example, if an electrical device experiences a power surge, it may cause severe burns that could ultimately result in permanent damage.

Additional significant contributors to burn damage include the presence of smoke, fire, or toxic chemicals. Frequently, the effects of these substances extend well beyond basic burning. Smoke, fire, and toxic chemical burns can, in fact, leave behind scars that remain for months or even years.

What Are the Classification of Burns?

Depending on the depth and severity of their penetration into the skin's surface, burns are classified as first, second, third, or fourth degree. Quickly classifying an injury may prove to be impossible. Due to the gradual nature of burn injury progression, the complete extent might not become apparent for an additional day or two.

Burns are classified as follows:

  • First-degree (superficial) burns: First-degree burns exclusively impact the epidermis, which is the outermost layer of skin. Lacking blisters, the burn site is red, painful, and dry. A mild sunburn is an example of this type of burn. Long-term tissue damage is infrequent and frequently manifests as a variation in the color of the skin.

  • Second-degree (partial thickness) burns: Burns of the second degree affect the epidermis as well as a portion of the dermis, the lowermost layer of skin. Aside from being red and blistered, the burn site may also be swollen and painful.

  • Third-degree (full thickness) burns: Burns of the third degree destroy the dermis and epidermis. Subcutaneous tissue, the innermost layer of epidermis, may be penetrated. The burn location may appear charred and blackened.

  • Fourth-degree burns: Burns of the fourth degree consume deeper tissue, including underlying tissue and epidermis layers, and may potentially affect muscle and bone. The affected area has no sense of feeling due to the destruction of nerve endings. Burns of the fourth degree require urgent medical treatment, followed by an extended period of rehabilitation. Individuals who survive fourth-degree burns can be left with permanent disabilities and disfigurement.

Regardless of the nature of the burns caused by the negligence or carelessness of another party, you may have adequate grounds to initiate a burn injury lawsuit or legal claim. It is important that you contact a PA burn injury attorney as soon as possible, so that they may assist you in evaluating your legal options.

How is Fault Established in a Pennsylvania Burn Injury Lawsuit?

It is critical to keep in mind that in the event of suffering a burn injury, establishing the fault of another party is an essential requirement for receiving compensation for the losses as a result of the injury. The term for this is "determining fault."

In the majority of cases, fault for burn injuries resulting from negligent or irresponsible behavior falls on the individual or group responsible. You must still present evidence to establish that one or more individuals were responsible.

Having an experienced burn injury attorney on your side is highly advantageous for your case. Sometimes, the difficulty of determining fault depends on the circumstances. A lawyer can assist in determining who is responsible for your injuries by analyzing every aspect of your burn injury lawsuit.

How Much Compensation Can I Receive for a Burn Injury?

Serious burn injury victims might have the ability to seek substantial compensation for their injuries. Many individuals who have suffered burns have tissue damage extending down to the bone, which results in chronic, excruciating pain, loss of mobility, numbness, and disfigurement. These severe injuries often require extensive medical care, such as costly cosmetic surgeries and long-term physical therapy.

The assistance a spouse, child, or parent provides to the injured person during this trying time is a secondary effect of burn injuries. Many factors will have an impact on the amount of damages that you are awarded. These factors may consist of the severity and long-term nature of your injuries, the manner in which the accident happened and the responsibility thereof, the number of victims affected, the necessity to receive ongoing medical attention, and if you will be able to return to work.

Which Damages Can I Pursue in a Burn Injury Lawsuit in Pennsylvania?

If you have suffered a burn injury in Pennsylvania, you may be eligible for a number of compensatory damages. For the life changes brought about by a personal injury, the law provides compensation to the victim. Multiple types of compensation may be provided to meet your financial, emotional, and physical needs.

A burn injury lawyer in Pennsylvania will generally seek the following types of damages in a burn injury lawsuit.

  • Economic damages (which include medical expenses, lost wages, and typically any loss associated directly with your accident or injuries)

  • Non-economic damages (which are damages intended to compensate you for the various types of suffering you endured as a result of your accident)

  • Punitive damages (in cases where gross or willful negligence caused the burn injury)

Is it Possible to File a Wrongful Death Claim if a Loved One Has Died After a Burn Injury Accident in PA?

Some burn injuries can be so severe that the victim will ultimately pass away as a result. A personal representative of the estate of the deceased family member may file a wrongful death claim in such a situation. This claim is similar to a negligence lawsuit, but the survivors or estate of the deceased receive the awarded damages in order to compensate for their losses suffered as a result of the death. Survival actions allow the deceased's representative the opportunity to file a claim for compensation regarding any injuries the deceased suffered from the moment of the accident until the time they passed away.

It is critical that you consult with a burn injury attorney in Pennsylvania in order to fully understand the legal process of a wrongful death lawsuit.

What is the Deadline to File a Claim After a Burn Injury in PA?

Burn injury cases are among a long list of others when discussing PA personal injury lawsuits. A burn injury lawsuit in Pennsylvania is subject to the same statute of limitations as other injury cases, including car accidents. 

In Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations for seeking compensation for a burn injury is just two years from the date of the accident. This deadline means that victims may forfeit their right to compensation if legal action is not initiated by the specified date. Two years may seem like a prolonged period of time, but preparing a convincing case requires a substantial amount of time and resources. If you have suffered a serious burn injury as a result of the negligence of another party, you should immediately contact a Pennsylvania burn injury lawyer to initiate the legal process.

Brandon J. Broderick Can Help You Recover Compensation For Your Burn Injuries

A severe injury, particularly a burn injury, in Pennsylvania that affects you or a loved one can be traumatic for the entire family. A personal injury lawsuit that achieves closure may help you move on and recover. We understand the trauma that you and your family may be going through right now and how important your case and the outcome of it will be for your family's future.

In addition to bringing an abundance of passion and care into every case, the team at Brandon J. Broderick will also help you by dealing directly with the insurance companies and gathering and reviewing witness statements, medical reports, and other information from healthcare providers to demonstrate the extent of your injuries, in addition to establishing negligence against another party.

For a free case evaluation and consultation, contact us today.

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