Understanding Burn Injuries and Your Rights

Burn injuries are some of the most serious and life-changing injury there is. In many cases, the victim experiences severe, painful injuries that require extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation that can go on for a lifetime. Unfortunately, burn injuries are quite common here in the United States, with the American Burn Association estimating that more than 450,000 people seek medical treatment as the result of a burn each year. Furthermore, approximately 45,000 people are hospitalized annually for severe burns and there are around 3,500 fatalities caused by burns each year in our country.

Burns are extremely serious and can happen anywhere – from an individual’s home, place of work, or even a car. These types of accidents are typically quite damaging, to both the victim and the property. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the loss caused by burns in the U.S. is estimated to be around $7.5 billion annually.

There are numerous causes of burn injuries, but the most common are from electrical, chemical, or heat (fire) accidents. Depending on how severe and deep the burn is, the victim may be left with deformities and permanent disabilities that will have a huge impact on their overall quality of life and physical abilities.

Common Causes of Burn Injuries

Burn injuries happen every single day in the United States and range from minor to severe. Burn injuries do not discriminate and can happen to anyone, anywhere. Some of the most common causes of burn injuries include:

• Car accidents – When two cars collide, the gasoline in one or both vehicles is at risk of igniting, causing the car to burst into flames and burn the people inside. The U.S. Fire Administration estimates that fires in cars, trucks, vans, and other vehicles account for approximately 16 percent of all fires

• Defective products – If a product is improperly manufactured or includes a faulty part, there is a heightened risk of the components sparking or overheating and causing a burn or fire. Products that use batteries or combustible fuel sources are more likely than others to cause burn injuries.

• Fires – The most common cause of burn injuries is fire-related accidents, either in the home or workplace. The CDC estimates that roughly 3,000 people are killed and almost 20,000 are injured in fire accidents each year. Fire accidents often happen as a result of cooking accidents or one of the following:
  • Fault smoke detector
  • Poor electrical wiring
  • Lack of supervision
  • Defective space heater
  • Failure to comply with fire code

• Scalding injuries – These type of injuries are most common among children and the elderly. According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International, more than 100,000 people are treated in emergency rooms each year as a result of being scalded. The most common cause of scalding injuries – especially among children – is hot tap water

• Gas explosions – The United States has more than 2.6 million miles of gas pipelines, which just goes to show how the potential for explosions is high. In addition to pipelines, gas explosions resulting in burns can also occur as a result of propane tanks on grills, gas furnaces, or hot water heaters

Burns are extremely serious and happen as a result of many different accidents. These types of cases can be quite complicated, depending on the specific scenario. In order to get a better understanding of what your rights are following an accident in which you sustained a burn injury, please contact Rad Law Firm today. Our Dallas personal injury attorneys will help you with your case, ensuring you know what to expect moving forward. If the burn injury occurred as a result of someone else’s negligence, you may be able to hold that party responsible. Please contact Rad Law Firm today for more information on your rights following a burn injury.