More than one million people receive medical attention for their burn injuries every year in the U.S. annually. These injuries occur from fire, scalds, chemical burns, and electrical burns.

Fire

Dry heat is typically the cause of burns like from iron or fire. According to the American Burn Association, thirty percent of all fire-related injuries are caused by flames each year.

Scalds

Scalds are caused by a wet substance that is severely hot that causes substantial damage to the skin. Hot water or steam can cause scalding.

Chemical Burns

When the skin comes in contact with either an acid or a base and that substance causes a burning sensation, this is considered a chemical burn.

Caustic substances or materials that can cause chemical burns are bleach, teeth whitening products, ammonia, pool chlorinators, concrete mix, paint thinners, and other chemicals found in homes.

Electrical Burns

Electrical burns occur when a high-energy current makes contact with the skin or travels through the body from an electrical source.

Some examples of electrical sources that can cause electrical burns to include high voltage wires, lightning, or currents from the household.

Burn Degrees

The severity of a burn is categorized in degrees. Epidemiology is a major factor in determining the level of a burn.

There are four degrees of burns. The four degrees of burns are first degree burns, second degree burns, third degree burns, and fourth degree burns.

First Degree Burns

First degree burns are injuries caused by heat, chemicals, or electricity that damage the epidermis. The epidermis is the first layer of skin.

First degree burns are painful, however, these burns do not form blisters or leave scars.

Second Degree Burns

Second degree burns are injuries that have caused damage to the epidermis and the dermis. Second degree burns run the risk of infection and scarring if not treated properly.

Third Degree Burns

Third degree burns cause damage to all three layers of the skin, the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis. These types of burns

Fourth Degree Burns

Fourth degree burns are the most severe type of burn because of the damage it does to the skin and the depth of the damage. This degree of a burn  damages all three layers of skin and involves damage to the muscle or bone.

Surface Area

The severity of a burn is also determined by the surface area the actual burn covers. Medical professionals follow the “rule of 9” when determining the severity of a burn by surface area.

A burn is measured by the anatomic surface it covers. For instance, if a victim is burned in their head and neck, the burn covers nine percent of the body’s total surface area or anatomic surface. If a burn covers the right leg of a victim, the surface area established is 18 percent. If a victim is burned on both legs, a burn covers 36 percent of their anatomic surface. If a victim suffers burn injuries on their head, neck, and both of their legs, the entire anatomic surface that a burn covers is 45 percent.

Burn Injury Lawsuit

If you were injured due to no fault of your own and received medical attention for those injuries, compensation may be entitled to you.

The first step towards receiving the monetary rewards and justice you deserve is to file a claim. If you were a victim of a burn injury, you can file a claim with the clerk of courts in the county or city you live in.

Each state’s process is different, so ensure to research how to file a claim in your given county or state. It’s important to research the statute of limitations in your state.

One of the most important steps in this process is hiring a lawyer. A burn injury attorney is there to help you file your claim, help you through your case, and help you understand the court proceedings in a language you understand.

To find the best possible option for your case, research burn injury lawyers in your area. For example, if you live in California, search burn injury attorney Los Angeles to find the best results.

After finding a law firm that specializes in and has experience in handling cases like yours, hire them.