Torrance Burn Injury

Very few injuries can be more painful and devastating than burn injuries. Between severe nerve damage, unimaginable pain, possibly needing skin grafts, and the potential for permanent disfiguring scars, burn injuries could affect every aspect of your life. If you have suffered any type of burn because of the reckless or negligent actions of some other person, business, or organization, then you may be entitled to fair and just compensation.

The legal advocates at Crockett Law Group have extensive experience handling all manner of personal injury cases, including various burn injuries. We have represented more than a thousand personal injury survivors with recovered compensation totaling more than $100,000,000 for our clients. You can be confident that choosing a dedicated Torrance burn injury lawyer from Text Kevin Accident Attorneys may be your best chance to maximize the compensation for all you have endured.

Incidents That Could Result in Severe Burn Injuries

Skin can usually seem like a very durable material to protect our internal structure and organs but it can be susceptible to certain conditions. Almost any heat source from fire to hot stoves to boiling water can melt your skin. Other materials and situations can also cause various types of burns from incidents such as:

Home Heating Sources

Nearly every home in the United States has some type of heat source to keep the house warm or to cook food or heat water. Stoves, hot water sources, and fireplaces can all be hazards that can cause burn injuries. If your burn injury was caused by a faulty heat source at someone else’s home who failed to warn you or your landlord failed to repair a dangerous condition, Text Kevin Accident Attorneys can be an excellent choice to help you pursue fair compensation for your burn injury.

Motor Vehicle Crashes

Car and truck accidents can often result in burn injuries of various types. Whether you were in a collision in which you were not at fault and were burned by hot vehicle parts or your vehicle or the one that hit you had there fuel system rupture that resulted in your burn injury, your highly experienced and dedicated car accident attorney from Text Kevin Accident Attorneys can conduct a thorough investigation to determine if faulty equipment could have contributed to your burn injuries. Modern vehicles also carry many different types of chemicals like lubricants, diesel exhaust fluid, and hydraulic fluids that even without ignition, could cause devastating chemical burns.

Burns Caused by Electricity

Electrical burns can range from minor skin damage to serious abscesses. While not traditionally thought of as electrical burns due to the presence of molten metals, welding materials can cause catastrophic injuries and burns when inexperienced workers use welding machines they are not familiar with. Other trades where workers could be subjected to electrical burns include linemen, automotive workers, structural and precision welders, and electricians.

Radiation Burns

Few industries offer the danger of radiation burns but improperly calibrated equipment can cause burns on cancer patients or oncological technicians. Malfunctioning tanning beds could also cause dangerous radiation and ultraviolet (UV) radiation burns. Your attorney with Text Kevin can evaluate the details of your case to see if a hospital, radiation technician, or professional tanning salon owner could all be potentially liable for your radiation burns.

Product Failures or Malfunctions

There are a wide variety of products that could malfunction or fail which could cause devastating burn injuries. Toasters with damaged heat sensors, gas line failures on stovetops, and industrial electric heaters with faulty tip-over sensors could all lead to severe burn injuries. Your burn injury lawyer in Torrance with the Crockett Law Group can review the circumstances of your injuries to see who may be liable for the suffering you have endured.

Improperly Stored or Used Chemicals

Chemical burns can be particularly damaging to soft tissue. Some combinations of common household chemicals can corrode right through skin and bone with little resistance. If those chemicals are not stored safely or used without personal protective equipment, chemical burns can lead to serious infection and possible amputation or permanent disfigurement.

Pro Tip
Some burns can be fatal and result in the loss of a loved one. Connecting with a wrongful death lawyer from Text Kevin Accident Attorneys for a free consultation can help you understand if filing a wrongful death lawsuit could be appropriate for your situation.

Burn Injury Types and Degrees

Burn injuries can take many different forms depending on how the injury occurred and the level of the burn, normally measured in degrees one through four. The different types of burns will usually require specialized treatments. Here are the most common types of burns you may have suffered including the four different levels of burns:

Thermal Burns

Some of the most common burns you can experience, thermal burns can range in cause and severity. Simple burns from a hot shower or tap can be classified as scalds. More serious burns from direct contact with flames or hot metal parts can lead to first, second, third, or fourth-degree burns.

Chemical Burns

Burns caused by exposure to hazardous chemicals should be taken very seriously depending on the chemical involved. Some chemicals react violently with water so contacting poison control and EMS is critical to avoiding making your injuries worse. Proper personal protective equipment and following safety procedures can be instrumental in avoiding chemical burns.

Friction Burns

Although not generally thought of in the same sense as traditional thermal burns, friction burns can be thought of as a combination of heat burns and abrasions. According to a study by the National Library of Medicine, friction burns are most commonly associated with motorcycle accidents or bicycle accidents, as well as in industrial and agricultural industries where contact with fast-moving belts can cause serious injuries. While friction burns usually only result in first-degree burns depending on the area of the body and length of exposure, worse burns or permanent scarring are possible.

First Degree Burns

The first category of burns and generally considered the least serious, first-degree burns damage the first layer of skin and produce redness and minor inflammation. First-degree burns may be treated with cool water and aloe but if symptoms persist after more than a week, it may be a good idea to seek medical attention. Minor sunburns and hot tap water exposure are common examples of first-degree burns.

Second Degree Burns

Damaging multiple layers of skin, second-degree burns may usually require medical intervention. Severe redness and blistering can indicate second-degree burns and may take several weeks to heal. Some examples of second-degree burns include severe sunburn, short-term exposure to open flames, and kitchen accidents involving stoves, toasters, or ovens.

Third Degree Burns

Also referred to as full-thickness burns, third-degree burns are some of the most serious injuries you can sustain. Characterized by damage through all layers of the skin and may likely lead to permanent scarring or necessitating skin grafts, third-degree burns will certainly require immediate medical treatment. Examples of third-degree burns can include extended exposure to open flames, high-voltage electrical burns, and certain chemical burns.

Fourth Degree Burns

The worst type of burn injury is a fourth-degree burn and will likely require hospitalization and specialized treatment. This level of burn destroys every layer of skin and may also damage the underlying tissue, tendons, and muscle and may cause injury to the bone. Some examples of fourth-degree burns can include severe chemical burns from strong acids, molten metal, or certain materials that burn extremely hot such as magnesium which can burn at more than 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

Tip
Even if you think your injuries do not warrant professional medical attention, if your injuries were caused by the reckless actions of someone else, you should still have medical personnel evaluate your injuries. This can be powerful evidence showing you did everything possible to protect your health and alleviate your condition.

Compensatory Damages You Could Recover From Your Burn Injuries

When someone else’s negligence contributes to you receiving serious burn injuries, that responsible party should compensate you fairly for every way you have suffered. Burn injuries can cause severe and chronic pain, permanent scarring, and emotional distress, all of which can demand compensation for. There are generally two categories of compensatory damages that you are entitled to in a personal injury lawsuit and a third category that may be awarded at the court’s discretion.

Local Results

Detainee Received $1,045,000 Settlement for Head Injury During Police Car Accident While Being Transported in Los Angeles

Economic Damages

Any cost associated with your injury that has a fixed financial cost and can be verified with estimates or receipts are considered economic damages. Some examples of economic damages can include, but are not limited to:

• Lost wages
• Medical bills
• Prescription medications
• Personal property damages
• Future medical care
• Loss of household services
• Loss of employer-supplied benefits
• Medical devices

Non-Economic Damages

Without fixed financial values, non-economic damages can be difficult to calculate but may be even more difficult for you to overcome. Using the per diem or multiplier methods as described by Bloomberg Law’s Guide to Compensatory Damages can help your burn injury attorney in Torrance assign financial estimates for your non-economic damages such as:

• Emotional distress
• Mental trauma
• Pain and suffering
• Depression
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of relationships
• Loss of consortium
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Feelings of shame and indignity from permanent scarring or disfigurement

Punitive Damages

While technically a third category of damages, punitive damages are not guaranteed in every personal injury case. Also known as exemplary damages in California and codified in California Civil Code Section 3294, punitive damages are only awarded when the defendant’s conduct is proven to be malicious, egregious, or intentional. If these factors do apply in your case, the court may decide to issue punitive damages as a way to further punish the defendant and send a message to the community that these actions are intolerable.

Note
How your injuries have affected your life can give a jury a window into your struggle. Keeping a written journal of how your injuries have changed your life can provide strong evidence for your personal injury lawyer with Text Kevin Accident Attorneys to build the most powerful case we can for you.

Great customer service willing to answer any questions at hand. Definitely recommend giving them a call if you’re in any legal situation and don’t know where to start.

Paul Floyd
California Accident Victim

Torrance FAQs