Burn Injuries

A San Diego burn injury attorney answers
questions about burn injuries.

How frequent are serious burn injuries in the US?
About 1.1 burn injuries occur each year, and about 45,000 of these require hospitalization. More than 4000 people die of burns, and another 10,000 will die of complications, usually infections, that arise from their burn injuries.

What makes burns so dangerous?
Burns destroy skin, and without the protection of skin, burn victims are very exposed to infections. Treatment of burns requires prevention of infections.

Why does burn treatment take so long?
Successful treatment of burns requires stabilizing the patient, preventing infection, and then supporting the growth of new tissue. All of these processes carry risks of infection. Complications following injury, shock, or burns may occur long after the initial incident, often when the patient is in an intensive care unit (ICU).

Are there psychological effects from severe burns?
Severe burns usually occur in sudden and frightening situations, like a motor vehicle crash or an explosion. Severe burns are extremely painful, their treatment may take months, and even with the best treatment outcome, the victim may be left with significant disfigurement and disability. For all of these reasons, severe burns exact a serious psychological toll on their victims.

If I or a loved one has suffered serious burn injuries, may I seek compensation?
If your injuries resulted from the negligence of another, such as a driver in a motor vehicle accident or an employer, or the manufacturer of a defective product, you may be able to file a claim with your auto insurance, or against the employer or manufacturer. You may also be eligible for worker’s compensation if your injury occurred while at work.

How do I file a claim or a lawsuit?
You should consult an experienced San Diego burn injury attorney as soon as possible to determine whether your situation warrants a claim or lawsuit, and for advice about how to proceed.

How important is evidence in a burns claim?
Evidence such as burned clothing, tools or materials, anything associated with the events that led to the burn injuries, can be very important to a case. If you have any material associated with your burn injuries, no matter how small or how charred, be sure to keep it.