Burn injuries can be deceptive. Most people experience minor burns during their lifetime. On the other hand, severe burns can be catastrophic. While minor burn injuries may resolve on their own without medical intervention, severe burns are an entirely different story.
Not only do severe burns require extensive medical care, but they can also lead to lifelong complications, disfigurement, pain, muscle damage, amputations, and more. If someone else’s negligence led to your injuries, you may be entitled to justice and compensation. Contact an experienced Henderson burn injury lawyer from our firm to discuss your legal options.
Getting compensation after a burn injury is important because burn injuries can be costly. Emergency treatment can easily cost thousands of dollars, and burns often require lifelong medical care. Burn victims may need skin grafts, amputations, and reconstructive surgeries and may also be vulnerable to secondary infections and other complications.
While medical insurance may cover some of the initial injuries, people are still responsible for copays and out-of-pocket expenses. Additionally, bars on pre-existing conditions may mean that health insurance will not cover those expenses. Burn victims may also require reconstructive surgery, which may fall under cosmetic surgery, meaning it will not be covered by many insurance policies.
Medical bills are not the only expense they face. They may also have lost wages, loss of earning capacity, and other related expenses. A well-practiced legal professional in Henderson could help individuals evaluate the extent of their burn injuries and assist in getting the compensation they deserve.
There are four different types of burns: thermal, electrical, chemical, and radiation. Understanding the types of burns can help people understand the potential causes and whether negligence played a role.
Radiation burns are surprisingly common. Almost everyone has had at least one radiation burn in their lifetime—for example, sunburns. Radiation burns impact the upper layer of skin and can cause redness, pain, and sensitivity to touch. Second-degree sunburns can lead to blisters and more severe issues. Sun damage can lead to long-term issues such as the development of skin cancer.
When negligence is involved, radiation burns can be the result of overexposure to X-rays or radioactive material. They can lead to significant tissue damage, systemic issues, mutations, and eventually cancer.
Thermal burns are typically what people are referring to when thinking of a burn. Any heat source—fire, hot surfaces, hot liquids, etc.—can lead to a thermal burn. Many thermal burns are minor and cause temporary redness, swelling, and pain. However, thermal burns can lead to tremendous injuries. When fire is the culprit, there may be additional complications, such as lung damage from smoke inhalation.
Chemical burns are common in industrial environments, where workers are exposed to undiluted chemicals. However, they are also a risk for people in everyday life. Household and yard chemicals can lead to burns, though it may be challenging to demonstrate negligence.
Electrical burns can result from natural causes like lightning, downed power lines, faults, shorts, or other electrical issues. Electrical burns may not always be apparent on the surface, but they can still cause severe injuries.
A knowledgeable burn injury attorney in Henderson could assess the circumstances of the burn, determine if negligence was involved, and help seek the compensation they deserve.
Whatever the cause, burn injuries can be expensive, painful, and time-consuming. They can impact your ability to work and lead to complex mental health issues due to factors like pain and disfigurement. Additionally, you may be facing years of surgery to try to fix the damages.
A Henderson burn injury lawyer from our firm could help you understand your legal options. Call to schedule a consultation today.