Burn injuries are classified based on depth, inflammatory response, degree of burn, and metabolic changes—and not just appearance. Determining suitable compensation in burn cases raises many challenges for legal teams because severe burns result in physical injuries, mental shock, and challenges involving the immune system.
Burn Injury Trauma
Burn injury trauma affects the quality of life and can generate severe mental issues related to self-image. Victims may even choose to undergo facial reconstruction surgery.
The challenges of dealing with burns include the following:
- Dealing with intractable pain
- Facing a reduced immune response
- Managing permanent disability and severe scarring
- Dealing with a disfigured body
- Finding funds for treatment expenses, which are substantial
- Dealing with social isolation
- Managing mental depression
- Experiencing prolonged hospital stays
- Requiring extensive treatments and cosmetic surgery procedures
It’s essential to contact a burn injury attorney serving Indianapolis immediately after the accident. An experienced lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve.
Types of Burn Injuries
Many different types of burn injuries have different compensation profiles. These include:
- Thermal burns: These include traditional burns by house fires, burns caused by hot metal, and other heat sources like electric elements.
- Chemical burns: Strong chemical acids or alkalis can cause burns to the skin, face, and eyes.
- Radiation burns: Exposure to the sun’s rays, ultraviolet light, or x-ray technology can result in severe burns.
- Friction burns: These burns occur when the skin is scraped against a hard surface like concrete, cement, gravel, or even grass.
- Electrical burns: Electrical burns result from electrical current passing through the body.
- Inhalation burns: Breathing in hot, polluted air from a fire or industrial process can damage the lungs.
- Scalding burns: These often occur from drinking liquids that are too hot or being scalded by steam.
All types of burns fall into four categories: first-degree, second-degree, third-degree, and fourth-degree burns.
Burn Degree Affects Injury Compensation
The degree of burn affects injury compensation. The following list provides details about the different burn degrees:
First-Degree Burns
First-degree burns affect the outer layer of the skin. These don’t always require medical treatment except for applying an over-the-counter soothing lotion to the skin. First-degree burns heal on their own within a few days. Still, this can result in losing time off work. Injuries can be very painful, and compensation amounts for these burns usually run $10,000 or less.
Second-Degree Burns
Second-degree burns cause the skin to blister, redden and generate extreme pain. Burns usually result in loss of fluid and skin. Settlements for second-degree burns can run between $40,000 and $1,000,000 depending on other factors that are unique to each case.
Third-Degree Burns
Third-degree burns destroy underlying tissue and might require skin grafts. Skin becomes dry and leathery and often turns white, black, or brown; emergency medical treatment is essential. The average compensation for third-degree burns runs from $560,000 to millions.
Fourth-Degree Burns
Fourth-degree burns result in severe injuries to deeper tissues and often cause the loss of the burned body part—such as a limb or muscle tissue.
These burns require careful medical attention that might include antimicrobial dressings and palliative surgery. The compensation for fourth-degree burns averages millions of dollars because of the extensive medical expenses.
Other Factors That Affect Burn Compensation
You might be eligible for workers’ compensation if you’re injured while working on the job. If burned while using defective equipment, you might have a case against the manufacturer. Vehicle accidents can also result in severe burns.
Seek Legal Counsel
The recoverable compensation for your burn injury depends on the specifics of your case. Factors that influence the award include the severity of the injury, the circumstances of the accidents, and your medical bills.
Consult a lawyer as soon as possible to learn the best way to take legal action. After a careful review of your case, an attorney can offer an estimate on the award you may receive for your injuries.
Kerry L. Tucker
Early in his journalism college years, Kerry had a revelation: there were not nearly enough law communicators. Peoples’ difficulties in understanding the law, procedures, and how the justice system worked stemmed from the fact that no one took the patience to explain complicated matters to them. Therefore, he took upon him the task of helping people navigate legal matters easier. He works with attorneys and other legal journalists, and spends time doing research so that everyone – from a mother whose child got a bike injury to a company needing insurance counsel – to find the actionable answers they are looking for.
