A burn injury can impact every aspect of your life. Burn injury victims are more susceptible to life-threatening infections, respiratory distress, chronic pain, and nerve damage. Individuals who experience severe burns are more likely to sustain scars and disfigurement, impacting their emotional and mental health. The physical effects and psychological distress of a burn can cause body image issues, leading to more significant mental conditions.
The injury attorneys at Shollenberger Januzzi & Wolfe have seen firsthand the devastation that burn victims experience. If you or a loved one has suffered a personal injury causing severe burns, our legal team would like to discuss your case.
Personal Injuries Causing Serious Burns
Any of the following may cause severe burns:
Car Wrecks
Many of us do not realize the temperature engine oil can reach, which can exceed 240° Fahrenheit. Following a crash, gasoline and oil may leak out of a car, potentially burning vehicle occupants. In this situation, individuals can experience third-degree burns (also known as “full thickness burns”). These burns damage all three layers of the skin, requiring immediate medical intervention.
Defective Products
Various products can be defective, including space heaters, electrical blankets, kitchen appliances, electrical appliances, and water heaters. In the case of a water heater, the pressure relief valve may have a defective thermostat, or the valve may be unable to open to release excessive pressure. This could cause the tank to explode, scalding anyone nearby. This could potentially result in second and third-degree burns.
In recent years, e-cigarettes and other vape products have become a source of concern when it comes to exploding. The cause of these explosions has been pinpointed to the lithium batteries that power the device, which have been known to leak. Identifying the source of the explosion will determine which party owes you damages.
Workplace Accidents
Various industries carry a risk of burn injuries. Workers at heightened risk of burns include construction workers, welders, electricians, plant workers, and offshore drill rig workers. Basically, any industry that handles hazardous chemicals or works with items that generate extreme heat or electricity is at risk. If these injuries happen in the scope of your employment, you can file a workers’ compensation claim.
Explosions
Gunpowder, dynamite, and nitrocellulose are just a few of the substances that can propel an explosion. Depending on the source, you may experience either thermal, chemical, or electrical burns, or sometimes a combination. Your distance from the blast, the explosion’s force, and the type of burn you sustain will be significant factors in determining your recovery timeline.
Compensation for Burn Injury Victims
Many times, burn victims are unable to work, with the severity of their injury playing a significant part in whether they will be able to work again. On top of lost wages, severe burn victims will have to spend weeks or months in a burn center, potentially requiring skin grafts. The medical costs alone can cost tens of thousands of dollars, forcing a once financially solvent family into debt. These economic damages are nothing compared to the psychological distress that a burn victim experiences, requiring mental health therapy sessions and medications to cope.
Our firm is dedicated to advocating for burn victims and their loved ones. Burn victims are likely to have future medical expenses and lost wages, making it essential that you recover maximum compensation to take care of yourself and your family. If you have suffered a burn that has resulted in physical, psychological, or financial distress, we are ready to go to bat for you.
Why Wait? Contact Our Harrisburg Burn Injury Attorneys Now
If you have fallen victim to a personal injury causing burns, you deserve compensation for your suffering. At Shollenberger Januzzi & Wolfe, our team of legal professionals has worked tirelessly to recover just compensation for burn victims. It is ready to fight on behalf of many more. To arrange your free consultation with one of our Harrisburg burn injury lawyers, contact us online or call (717) 229-6580.