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Burn injuries are often catastrophic injuries that require extensive lifelong treatment. Burn victims and their families can be faced with medical costs, years of rehabilitation, and complications as a result of fires and burns. You need help from Joseph, Hollander & Craft Kansas City burn injury lawyers.

Causes of Burn Injuries

A burn injury occurs when you are exposed to heat, electricity, chemicals and radiation that damage your tissues. The severity of the burn injury often depends on the degree of burn, the size of the burn and the location of the burn injury. JHC’s Kansas City burn injury attorneys pursue claims no matter the nature of the incident.

House, Apartment and Premises Fires

House fires, apartment fires, and other types of premises fires can have many causes, including faulty wiring and appliances. Some fires can be attributed to the negligence of a landlord or owner who failed to comply with safety rules and regulations. In some fires, a victim may not be aware of the fire until it is too late to make a safe escape because of broken or faulty smoke detectors. Anyone who suffers a burn injury as a result of someone else’s negligence may have a personal injury claim.

Defective Products

Consumers can fall victim to burn injuries caused by defective and dangerous products. The designer, manufacturer, or retailer of the product causing the burns may be liable. Defective products that can cause burn injuries include flammable clothing and materials, beauty products, home appliances, furniture, mattresses, heating pads, water heaters and toys, just to name a few.

Car and Truck Fires

Car and truck fires can occur as the result of a motor vehicle accident, trucking accident, or motorcycle accident. They can also start as the result of a mechanical failure, such as defective tires, brakes, steering components, air bags, fuel systems, accelerators, and flammable fluids.

Different Degrees of Burns Injuries

There are six degrees of burns, each of which can result in serious damage and injuries.

First-degree burns

The most common and frequent burn injury is a first-degree burn. It is a surface burn that can cause discomfort, inflammation, blisters, and pain. Common causes of first-degree burns include sunburns and contact with a heated dish or surface. 

Second-degree burns

A second degree burn involves damage to both the outer and inner layers of skin, resulting in greater damage and extreme pain. They can be caused by very hot water, chemicals, stoves, and ovens. Second-degree burns are evidenced by shiny red skin and blisters.

Third-degree burns

Third-degree burns are also known as full-thickness burns. In addition to the destruction of the outer and inner skin layers, third-degree burns also may damage the fat layer beneath the skin and nerve endings. If the nerve-endings have been damaged, a burn victim may not be able to feel pain or discomfort at the location of the burn. Skin that has been burned with a third-degree burn may appear white, yellow, black or brown and leathery. The damage from these burns can become infected and leave scars and often require skin grafts.

Fourth-degree burns

This degree of burn is very severe and may cause damage to tendons, nerves, and muscle below the skin. These burns are usually life-threatening and may require amputation.

Fifth-degree burns

Fifth-degree burns cause damage to the skin, tissue, and also the bones at the site of the injury. Skin may be charred or white, with exposed bone. These burns are usually life-threatening and can lead to permanent internal damage, organ failure, and amputation.

Sixth-degree burns

The most severe degree of burn, sixth-degree burns are typically the result of extended exposure to high heat or an explosion. The damages from these burns won’t just expose bone under the skin and tissues, it can even do permanent damage to the bone. They are also potentially fatal.

Costs and Expenses Associated with Burn Injuries

While no two burn injuries are the same, recovery from a burn injury can be devastating and costly. Common effects include pain and mental and emotional anguish. Depending on the severity and location of the burn injury, medical treatment can be long-term and require lifelong assistance. Some burn victims are no longer able to live independent lives and lose their ability to work and interact with their family and loved ones.

Severe burn injuries can cause some of the most painful symptoms imaginable. Other effects experienced by the victims of severe burn injuries include loss of mobility, lung damage, breathing complications, muscle damage, infection, and skin grafting.

Many victims live the rest of their lives with permanent scarring, disabilities and psychological trauma.

All of these consequences of burn injuries can be part of a personal injury claim. If you have suffered damages as a result of a burn injury, JHC’s Kansas City burn injury lawyers can investigate the causes of your harms, collect evidence of the damage, and pursue justice and compensation on your behalf.

It costs nothing up front to hire our Kansas City burn injury attorneys. You only pay us if we win money for you. Contact us today to determine whether you may have a claim and how we can help you with it.

Common Questions About Burn Injuries

Are there instances in which a house fire may be caused by negligence?

Absolutely! This is why it is so important to have a personal injury attorney with experience litigating house fire and burn cases to help you. Our investigative team can work to uncover the cause of the fire and identify all parties that may have had a role in creating the situation which caused the fire. Residential fires can be caused by: faulty wiring, malfunctioning smoke detectors, defective appliances, such as space heaters, a contractor who took shortcuts, a propane appliance, negligent repairs, and a host of other causes. Our skilled burn injury lawyers will ensure that the person or company at fault is held accountable and that you are compensated for your losses.

Why does my attorney need to hire experts to prove my case?

While it might be obvious what happened in your case, proving who is responsible is an essential component of developing a successful case. Experts can provide the necessary testimony needed to prove a case based on their specialized field of knowledge. Examples of experts include a fire origination expert, building expert, or fire investigator. A medical professional can provide expert testimony regarding the extent of your injuries and the necessary medical treatment needed to recover from your injuries or maintain your normal activities now that you have been injured.