Lawrence Burn Injury Lawyers
Contact Our Lawrence Office
Contact Joseph, Hollander & Craft to discuss how our team of attorneys can help you.
Contact Our Lawrence Office
Contact Joseph, Hollander & Craft to discuss how our team of attorneys can help you.
SEND MESSAGE NOWDedicated Lawrence Burn Injury Lawyers
Recovering from a burn injury is a difficult and challenging process. Burn injuries can leave permanent physical scarring and disability for the victim as well as emotional scarring for the victim and his or her family. The Lawrence burn injury lawyers at Joseph, Hollander & Craft can help you and your family through the difficult process of recovery.
Common Causes of Burn Injuries
It is estimated that approximately 500,000 burn victims seek medical treatment every year. Many of these burn injuries are caused by fires and explosions resulting from the negligent acts or omissions of another person. Some examples of incidents that result in burn injuries are listed below.
Vehicle Accidents and Collisions
Many motor vehicle accidents and trucking accidents involve a fire that causes burn injuries to victims. Negligent behaviors such as distracted driving, speeding, driving under the influence, and drowsy driving can lead to a motor vehicle collision that results in a fire. Mechanical failures in cars, semi-trucks, buses, and other motor vehicles can result in fires causing burn injuries as well. These failures can be the result of defective tires, brakes, steering components, air bags, fuel systems, and accelerators.
Defective and Dangerous Products
Consumer product manufacturers have an obligation to create safe products intended for use by the public. The manufacturers, designers, and retailers of defective products must also adequately warn the public if any of their products are determined to be unsafe. Malfunctioning products are often the cause of severe burn injuries, for instance, electrical products, acids, flammable materials, and toys can cause burn injuries if they are defective.
Structure Fires
Building fires can be attributed to negligent landlords, owners, and property managers. When rules and regulations are ignored, such as the use of faulty wiring, dangerous appliances, or faulty smoke detectors, fires can happen and innocent people can be injured. This also includes construction negligence that causes electrical burns, fires, and other harmful incidents.
If you or your loved one has experienced a burn as a result of someone else’s fault, let JHC’s Lawrence burn injury lawyers help you pursue justice and compensation.
Burns Injury Classifications
Burns are separated into classifications based on severity. There are three primary classifications.
- First-degree burns. Also called superficial burns, first-degree burns affect only the epidermis (outer layer of skin). The burn area will be red, painful, and dry. They are very painful and can leave scars, but generally need little to no medical treatment as they heal on their own. They are often treated with over-the-counter creams.
- Second-degree burns. Second-degree burns (commonly called partial thickness burns) involve the outer and part of the lower layers of skin. The burn area will look red and blistered and may be swollen and painful. These burns may result in nerve damage and may require a skin graft procedure. Second-degree burns can result in scarring.
- Third-degree burns. Full thickness (third-degree) burns involve damage that destroys the epidermis and dermis. They usually involve damage to the innermost layer of skin, which is called the subcutaneous tissue. These burns are catastrophic and devastating. They can necessitate the total removal of the affected tissue and may never fully heal. Third degree burns usually require multiple surgeries, skin grafts, and even hyperbaric chamber treatment. They often result in permanent scarring and disfigurement.
The three additional classifications (fourth, fifth and sixth degree) are so severe they are almost always fatal. JHC’s Lawrence burn injury lawyers are knowledgeable regarding the costs and consequences associated with burns of varying degrees. We can help you determine the potential value of your personal injury claim upon consideration of the scope and extent of your burn injury.
Burn Injury Complications
Severe complications can be a consequence of a burn injury. Some of the long-term complications include extreme pain, damage to internal organs, changes in body chemistry, temperature sensitivity and tolerance problems, loss of feeling and sensation, loss of mobility, breathing problems, permanent scarring, physical disabilities, disfigurement, and psychological trauma.
Medical treatment for catastrophic burn injuries is long-term and requires multiple surgeries, skin grafting, medications, and therapies and intensive rehabilitation. In some severe instances, burn victims require life-long assistance with daily activities and are no longer able to live on their own. They can also lose the ability to be gainfully employed and experience significant changes to their quality of life.
All of this will be accounted for when you trust JHC’s Lawrence burn injury lawyers with your case. We leave no stone unturned in considering what losses may have resulted from your injury, and we aggressively pursue every dollar you need to address your expenses and hardships.
Contact JHC’s Lawrence Burn Injury Lawyers
When a burn injury results from another person’s negligent or wrongful conduct, JHC’s Lawrence personal injury attorney can help. An initial consultation with us is free, and we do not charge attorneys’ fees unless and until we win. Contact us today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Burn Injuries
What common burn injuries may give rise to a personal injury claim?
The most common cause of burn injuries is direct exposure to flames. This could happen in a building fire or if someone is trapped inside a vehicle after a crash. There are abundant causes of burn injuries, a few examples include:
- Scalding burns from hot liquids such as hot drink spills or faulty hot water heaters
- Friction burns from sliding along pavement after an accident on a bicycle or motorcycle
- Chemical burns from household cleaners or beauty products
- Defective household appliances, vaping products, or fireworks
- Cold burns, including frostbite, are the result of freezing temperatures injuring the skin
Any of these circumstances may be a basis for a personal injury case. Let JHC’s burn injury lawyers assess your circumstances and determine what we can do for you.
What should I do after a Lawrence burn injury accident?
Call 911 immediately or have someone nearby call for you. This is the quickest way to alert the police and fire department and to notify emergency medical personnel that prompt medical attention is needed. The fire department can deal with any fire that may be presenting a threat, and the police can investigate what happened and record their findings in a report. If you pursue legal action after the accident, these reports can be valuable in building your case.
Get medical treatment as soon as possible. If you sustained a burn injury, it is best to be cautious and be evaluated by a medical professional as soon as possible. This will help to ensure the burn injury does not worsen or become infected. Receiving prompt medical assistance can also help a legal case. When you visit a doctor soon after your accident, they will document your injuries in a medical report, which provides a direct link between the burn injuries you sustained and the accident.
Then, contact JHC’s personal injury attorneys to ensure your legal rights are protected.
Our Locations
Kansas City | 816-673-3900
Lawrence | 785-856-0143
Overland Park | 913-948-9490
Topeka | 785-234-3272
Wichita | 316-262-9393
Contact Our Lawrence Office
Contact Joseph, Hollander & Craft to discuss how our team of attorneys can help you.