Orange County Burn Injury Lawyer

Third-degree burns are called full-thickness burns because they destroy both the epidermis and dermis layers of the skin. They can also damage the bones, muscles, and tendons. They appear white or charred, and there is no sensation due to the destruction of nerve endings, making them less painful than first- or second-degree burns. Fourth-degree burns are even more severe and are usually life-threatening.

How Do You Treat a Burn Injury?

A first-degree burn usually doesn’t require medical treatment. These burns can be treated by soaking in cool water, taking acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain, and applying aloe vera gel to soothe the skin. If there is a break in the skin, antibiotic ointment can be applied with loose gauze as protection. It’s important to avoid using ice on any type of burn, as it can cause damage to the skin. Second-degree burns usually require medical attention because professional cleaning of the skin and proper bandaging is necessary to prevent an infection. More serious second-degree burns can take weeks, or even months, to heal and can cause permanent skin discoloration. More severe second-degree burns will require skin grafting, which takes healthy skin from another part of the body and moves it to the area of the burn. Third-degree burns usually require surgery and skin grafting to heal properly, and self-treatment should not be attempted. While waiting for help to arrive, try to keep the burned area above the heart. Burns that cover more than twenty percent of the body usually require extensive hospitalization and rehabilitation. Severe burns can have complications such as infection, blood loss, and shock that can sometimes lead to death. Severe scarring and disfiguring can have a huge psychological impact on victims.

How Much Compensation Do You Get for A Burn Injury?

Severe burns are the type of catastrophic injury that can result in millions of dollars in compensation for injured victims. In less serious cases, six-figure settlements are not at all uncommon. Victims can receive compensation for their economic losses such as out of pocket medical expenses and lost earnings, but the largest amounts of money are usually for the pain, suffering, and mental anguish sustained by burn victims, especially when there is facial scarring or other permanent injuries. Some burn victims become permanently disabled and suffer from severe psychological distress. This is why many of the highest settlements and verdicts for personal injury claims are for victims of burn injuries.