Burns can occur just about anywhere. Sometimes the person is at work, having a good time somewhere or at home when the burns happen. Unfortunately, the repercussions can be far reaching and include both physical and psychosocial challenges.
Kinds of Burns
Even though most people think of boiling water or fire when they think of a burn, many other things can cause severe burn injuries. Following are just a few potential causes of burn injuries:
- Car accident burns. When a car crashes and bursts into flames. Since gasoline is highly flammable, car accidents in which the gas tanks are punctured can cause horrific injuries.
- Electrical burns. Electrical burns may also include “arc burns” and “thermal contact burns”. They can be caused by any number of electrical sources from lighting to stun guns. Power lines have been known to cause horrible burn injuries and death. In some cases electrical burns may appear to be minor injuries, but appearances can be deceiving and they should be looked at by a medical professional.
- Chemical burns. A chemical burn can happen if you inhale, swallow, touch or in some other way come into contact with a hazardous material or substance. Some chemicals can burn you simply by coming into contact with your clothes. In addition, some chemicals may be ingested inadvertently causing severe burns to the mouth, throat and stomach as well as other organs.
Some of the products we use on a regular basis can cause chemical burns. These include lye, bleach, rock salt, ammonia, drain cleaners, rust remover and many others products. Unfortunately, children are usually the ones who suffer burns from these products. Unsupervised children often get into storage areas and medicine cabinets and come into contact with these products.
- Gas explosion burns. Explosions causing serious burns can occur when gasses react and combust. Obviously, burns from explosions can be life threatening.
- Radiological burns. These happen when someone is exposed to high doses of radiation. While such exposure is rare, when it occurs, you must be decontaminated immediately and then treated for any resulting burn injuries.
First degree burns are easier to treat on your own, but second, third and fourth degree burns require the attention of a medical professional. Serious burn injuries can be fatal.
What to Expect After a Burn
The healing process begins when a victim arrives at the hospital for burn treatment. Depending on the severity of the burn, the treatment can take a few weeks to years before full recovery. Second degree burns are the quickest to heal, but 3rd and 4th degree burns take time because they have gone beyond the skin to muscles, nerves, tendons, and sometimes even the bone. Even though the healing process is slow, modern techniques of treatment can help the burn victim get back to a fairly normal life.
If you believe you may have a burn injury claim, please contact an experienced attorney for a confidential and free consultation.