Nearly half a million people suffer burn injuries each year. Although a majority of burn victims survive their injuries, many must deal with pain, disfigurement, and limited mobility. Victims may need multiple surgeries and extensive physical therapy to recover. Burn injury causes can vary significantly and can happen almost anywhere. At Bowles & Verna, LLP in San Francisco, CA, our attorneys specialize in representing burn injury victims and their families.
Common Burn Injury Causes
There are nearly as many different types of burn injuries as there are causes.
- Heat/Thermal Burns: These types of burns result from contact with open flames, scalding water, and steam. Heat burns can happen in a car accident, open flames in a kitchen, and even from failing to put out a cigarette.
- Cold Temperature Burns: Also known as frostbite, these burns occur when bare skin comes into contact with cold and wet elements.
- Electrical Burns: These burns can happen when working with electrical wiring and sources. Faulty wiring in a home could cause electrical burns when trying to make repairs. Faulty wiring can also cause house fires.
- Chemical Burns: Certain chemicals can burn the skin on contact. Bleach and ammonia are two of the most common types of chemical burns. Industrial workers and others who work with dangerous chemicals are at the greatest risk for these types of burns.
- Radiation Burns: These types of burns include mild to severe sunburns, as well as burns caused by tanning bed exposure and radiation therapy for cancer.
Where Do Most Burn Injuries Occur?
According to the American Burn Association, the majority of burn injuries take place at home. The second most common place that burn injuries occur is at work. Car accidents also cause burn injuries.
A burn injury can happen almost anywhere, though. You can take steps to protect yourself from certain burns. Wearing and reapplying sunblock when you are outdoors can protect you from radiation burns, for example. Unfortunately, not all burn injury causes are in your control.
What to Do if You Suffered a Burn Injury
It is not uncommon for burn injuries to result from someone else’s negligent actions. A distracted driver can cause an accident that results in the burn injury. A careless electrician may make a wiring mistake that later causes a house fire. A tanning bed company may have a defective tanning bed or fail to adequately warn consumers about the risk for radiation burns.
If you believe someone else is at fault for your injury, you need to speak with an experienced attorney. At Bowles & Verna, LLP, our attorneys have represented numerous burn injury victims. We will thoroughly investigate the events that led to your injury, collecting any relevant evidence along the way. If we determine that someone else was truly at fault for your injury, we can file a lawsuit seeking damages for your medical expanses, loss of income, and more.
Schedule a Case Evaluation
If you or a loved one suffered a burn injury, do not delay. Contact the attorneys at Bowles & Verna, LLP today to schedule a case evaluation.