Fairfax, VA Severe Burn Injury Attorney

Compassionate Burn Injury Lawyers Helping Victims Rebuild in Fairfax, Virginia

When a blaze erupts, your life can change in an instant. A fire can lead to severe burns, permanent injuries, expensive medical bills, and lifelong physical and emotional trauma. The expenses surrounding burn injuries can be astronomical, which is why victims of fires need to speak with an experienced Fairfax burn injury lawyer as soon as possible. While we cannot undo the pain that resulted from the fire, we can help burn victims get their finances and lives back in order.

Do you need help with a burn injury in Fairfax or throughout Virginia or D.C.? Contact Shevlin Smith, P.C. at 703-591-0067 for a free, no-obligation consultation today.

What Are the Common Causes of Burn Injuries?

Because burn injuries can affect victims in ways that go beyond physical and financial trauma, it is important for burn victims to find out about their legal options, no matter what caused the fire. Do not wait too long to contact an attorney, because there are certain time limits that may apply in a claim depending on the type of accident and fire you were involved in.

Some of the most common causes of fires include:

• Home and residential fires
• Commercial and industrial fires
• Car accident fires
• Truck accident fires
• Motorcycle fires
• Defective vehicle fires
• Defective product fires

No matter the cause of the fire, when someone suffers a burn, it can quickly advance from the skin's surface to the sweat glands and internal organs. Within moments of a severe burn, a victim's heart may be affected, and the heat from the burn can amplify pain receptors in the body. A person can be severely affected by a fire, and they can suffer a catastrophic injury.

What Are the Degrees of Burn Injuries?

Because there are various types and levels of burns, people who suffer burn injuries may be affected differently. While some victims can suffer permanent, life-altering injuries, others may be able to heal relatively quickly.

The degrees of burns include:

• First-Degree Burn: Someone who suffers a first-degree burn will sustain a superficial burn that results in pain and swelling in the skin. Recovery after a first-degree burn is often fairly fast.
• Second-Degree Burn: When someone suffers a second-degree burn, they will develop a slightly deeper burn that will cause pain, swelling, redness, and blistering of the skin. A burn that extends to the second layer of the skin will usually be able to heal over time. However, some second-degree burns can progress into third-degree burns.
• Third-Degree or Fourth-Degree Burn: When someone sustains a third-degree burn, the burn extends through the deepest layers of the skin, and damage to cell tissue can be extensive. As a result, nerve endings may be destroyed. When a burn causes damage to the underlying muscles, bones, and tendons, it may be considered a fourth-degree burn. Both third- and fourth-degree burns can lead to permanent injuries, disfigurement, and death.

There are further degrees of burns that can affect your life in unforeseen ways. Always consult with a medical physician about any type of burn, and do not attempt to treat the wound on your own.

What Are the Types of Burn Injuries?

Burn injuries may have many different causes, including:

• Thermal Burns: This is the most common type of burn suffered. Injuries may be caused by heat sources such as steam, hot liquids, hot metal, and open flames. Thermal burns are often mild, but they can be severe depending on the layers of skin affected.
• Chemical Burns: These types of burns are caused by acidic compounds that react with the skin, such as bleach, paint thinner, gasoline, and lye. They can be more dangerous than thermal burns, as they are often made worse because people do not know how to care for them.
• Electrical Burns: These types of burns may cause more subdermal damage than chemical or thermal burns, and they can take place anywhere there is faulty wiring, such as inside homes, in old buildings, on construction sites, or after accidents where wires are exposed. When a person comes in contact with an electrical source, a burn can occur when current passes through their body.

While minor burns can be treated at home, people who have suffered any type of burn should have a doctor assess the burn. Depending on the type and severity of the burn, a burn victim will need various treatments.

How to Treat Burn Injuries

Treatment and recovery for burn victims can include:

• Hospitalization in a specialized burn unit
• Pain management
• Skin grafts
• Numerous surgeries
• Reconstruction
• Rehabilitation

Burn victims need to make sure they receive thorough medical treatment, which can be expensive. Not only can the cost of treating a burn injury add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars, but the cost of living after a serious burn injury can increase due to lost wages, counseling costs, and other related expenses.

Long-Term Effects of Burn Injuries

Approximately 400,000 people are seriously injured from burns every year, according to the American Burn Association. Of those injuries, around 29,000 will result in a hospital stay, and around 3,800 people die as a result of exposure to fire, flames, and smoke.

Sadly, even when victims of burn injuries receive extensive treatment, they may have to live with long-term effects such as:

• Scarring
• Disfigurement
• Physical impairment
• Emotional and social difficulties
• Nerve damage

In addition to these effects, burn injuries accompanied by inhalation injuries can lead to permanent brain damage. To make matters worse, insurance companies will often attempt to deny or delay settlements or offer burn victims compensation that will not fully address their damages.

Contact Our Fairfax, VA Burn Injury Lawyers

Because burn victims should receive fair compensation, it is important to work with a skilled lawyer to determine whether a burn was caused by faulty manufacturing, negligent driving, or other forms of negligence. At Shevlin Smith, P.C., we have the experience and knowledge to hold negligent companies and individuals responsible for fires and burn injuries. If you or a loved one has suffered a burn injury after a car accident or other type of accident, we can help bring the responsible party to justice. Read testimonials from our past clients.

Anyone who suffers a burn of any level should seek immediate medical treatment, and they should also speak with an attorney as soon as possible about their legal rights. Any burn can cause complications such as bacterial infections or shock. Contact our Fairfax severe burn injury attorneys at 703-591-0067 for a free consultation. We are happy to answer your questions and address your concerns.