CALIFORNIA BURN LAWYER: ACCIDENTS, INJURIES AND DEATH DUE TO FIRE

Burn injuries can occur as a result of accidents at home, on the road or in restaurants or other establishments. Mild to severe burns can be painful, costly and traumatic. Approximately 700,000 victims receive medical treatment for burn and fire injuries per year; while 4,500 people will die from these injuries. Severe burns affect more than just the person injured: family members, friends and others are involved in the trauma, treatment and recovery. Fire and burn injury is an extremely common and present danger.

While most burns are preventable, most people are not familiar with the range of burn injury hazards and the psychological, physical and social impact a severe burn can have. When a person suffers a severe burn, family and friends also go into crisis. Everyone around the victim is affected by this terrible and often avoidable tragedy. Here is some general information about burns.

Burn Classifications:
Not all burns are the same. There are varying levels that are used to describe the extent and severity of a burn:

1st Degree Burn: Results in redness or whiteness of the first layer of skin. Minor pain and little or no scarring

2nd Degree Burn: Blistering of first and/or second layers of skin. Can involve more or less pain depending on nerve involvement. Minimal scarring.

3rd Degree Burn: Most of the upper layer of skin is lost, and damage to ligaments, tendons and muscle occurs. Nerve endings are destroyed, and pain may not exist. Possible loss of hair follicles and sweat glands. Scarring and possibly fatality depending on size of area burned.

4th-6th Degree Burn: Extreme burns usually used to describe burns resulting in death.

Burn Causes:
Burns can be caused by a variety of factors from fire, electricity, chemicals, radiation, or hot liquids and gases.

Scalding is a type of burn caused by hot liquid or gases. Steam, very hot tap water, and boiling food at a restaurant can cause scalding.

Chemical Burns from chemicals such as acids or bleach can cause damage down to the bone.

Electrical Burns are caused by an external electric shock, such as lightning or poorly installed or maintained electric outlets.

Radiation Burns can be caused by overexposure to UV light, tanning booths, X-rays or chemotherapy.

Burn Accident Locations:
Burns can occur almost anywhere:

Motor Vehicle Accidents

Restaurants

Construction site accidents

Fires in hotels, stores or nightclubs

Home water heater, plumbing or electrical cord malfunctions

Let us help you recover from your burn incident. If you live in California and have been injured by a fire or burn, call the Law Offices of Greenberg & Rudman LLP at 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) for a free consultation. We have over 50 years of experience and knowledge handling accident cases and have been successful in recovering just compensation for our clients.