Santa Clarita Burn Injury Lawyer

There is no denying the excruciating pain a burn victim suffers. Burn injuries are typically some of the most mortifying and disfiguring injuries imaginable. Along with the physical pain and suffering, those injured in a burn accident can also suffer debilitating psychological and emotional trauma when faced with disability and disfigurement.

These types of injuries often constrain the survivor to a very long recovery period. The melted skin, damaged tissue and tormenting nerve damage can leave a person dealing with the trauma for the rest of their life. Catastrophic burn injury survivors face exorbitant medical bills that often accumulate for many years and may not be fully covered by insurance.

Degrees of Burn Injuries

• Burns can produce swelling, redness, blisters, shock, and even fatal injuries.

• They are categorized into 3 types by severity:
  • FIRST-DEGREE BURNS damage only the outer layer of skin:

The affected skin is commonly red and painful. First degree burns generally do not blister but they are dry in appearance.

• • SECOND-DEGREE BURNS damage the outer layer and the layer underneath:

These can be classified as partial or full thickness, depending upon the extent of the burn.

With partial thickness burns, blistering appears and involves the whole epidermis (outer layer of the skin) and dermis (the thick layer under the skin that contains nerve endings and hair follicles). These burns are red and wet in appearance and are excruciatingly painful. These heal without skin grafting but some scarring can be expected.

In full thickness burns, the epidermis is destroyed and most of the dermis is affected. These burns require surgical removal of burned tissue and can be improved with skin grafting.

• • THIRD DEGREE BURNS damage or destroy the deepest layer of skin and tissues underneath:

The most severe of all burn injuries, third degree burns always require immediate medical attention. All layers of the skin are destroyed, along with fat tissue, muscle and even bone possibly being affected as well. Burned areas can be either black or white in appearance and may look dry and leathery in texture. In cases of third degree burns, call 911 or get to a hospital immediately.

Common Types of a Burn Injury

• Thermal burns — caused by flames and other hot objects
• Scalds — caused by boiling liquids, typically water
• Chemical burns — caused by the volatile combinations of chemicals or skin contact
• Burns from explosions — caused by motor vehicle accidents, industrial/construction site accidents or accidents in the home

Your Rights as Burn Victim

During this terrifying time, you need the guidance of a personal injury attorney who can answer your questions and guide you through the daunting process. At the law offices of Brent Duque, our Santa Clarita burn injury attorneys have the expertise you need to protect yourself against insurance companies that may seek to settle quickly, limiting the compensation you deserve.

If your burn injuries were caused by the negligence of another, you have a right to recover damages. Serious burns cause immediate trauma and damages that can be truly life-altering. We know that every case is unique and every burn victim will face a different set of struggles. We work with a variety of experts, including medical specialists, to help us assess the extent of your injuries and rehabilitation needs. We work closely with financial experts to help determine the extent of your economic losses. Our team of fire accident reconstruction engineers examine combustibility, temperature, burn rates, explosive coefficients, hazardous chemical reactions and other variables. We will bring the right resources to effectively represent your case.

In a fatal burn injury, the victim’s spouse, relatives and dependents have a right to seek damages as well. Even if the person who caused the accident is charged with a criminal penalty, you have a right to sue in civil court and get compensated for your loss.

Contact our Los Angeles County Personal Injury Attorney at 1-877-241-9554 to learn more about your legal options. A free consultation is just a phone call away. You can even use our online contact form, and we’ll reply to you quickly.