Houston Burn Injury Lawyers

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Receiving a burn injury can range from a Band-Aid to multiple surgeries depending on the severity. When you have been a victim of an injury, it is important to be prepared. Burns are an emotionally trying and painful injury. They are also, unfortunately, all too common. A burn can come from heat, exposure to chemicals, electrocution, and even time spent in the sun. If you have been injured, it is important to talk to a Houston burn injury lawyer. Our team can answer your questions during a free, private consultation. We represent clients throughout Texas, including the Houston area in cities such as Baytown, Sugar Land, and Pasadena, as well as Dallas and beyond.

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Burn Injury FAQ

Different Types of Burns

• Thermal Burns
  Very common. Associated with contact with heated items like metals, scalding liquids, steam, or flames.
• Chemical Burns
  Form when the skin comes in contact with a toxic substance like an abrasive cleaning product.
• Flash Burns
  Form when people are exposed to an explosion; it'll be more severe the closer they are to the blast.
• Inhalation Injury
  Occur when a person breathes in fumes coming from smoke or chemicals. An inhalation burn may cause swelling in the upper airway, difficulty breathing, or even carbon monoxide poisoning.

Inhalation Injuries Caused by Fires

As explained above, one injury closely related to burns is an inhalation injury. Fires where the victim breathes in particles in the air and toxic fumes commonly cause this. It can not only damage the victim's eyes but can cause significant damage to their respiratory system—most significantly their lungs. If the victim previously suffered from chronic heart or lung disease, exposure to these toxic items can severely aggravate their preexisting condition.

Inhalation injuries result in the following symptoms:

• Coughing Up Phlegm
• Scratchy, Irritated Throat
• Irritated Sinuses
• Shortness of Breath
• Pain or Tightness in the Chest
• Headaches
• Running Nose

Inhalation injuries typically occur in one of three ways:

• Heat Inhalation
  If a victim breathes in extremely hot air or a fire source, it can cause a burn to the inside of the lungs. This also occurs when high-pressure forces heat into your lungs. Because the trachea attempts to shield your lungs, the majority of damage is limited to the upper airways.
• Systemic Toxins
  Fires may release systemic toxins into the air, which if inhaled, can inhibit the body's ability to absorb oxygen. Those who breathe in these toxins often become confused or can even become unconscious. Prolonged exposure can cause permanent organ damage.
• Smoke Inhalation
  The inhalation of smoke is one of the most common causes of fire-related injuries. This is less visible but still catastrophic; smoke inhalation causes 60 to 80% of burn injury fatalities.

First-Degree Burns

First-degree burns are quite common. This can if you bump your arm with the curling iron or accidentally splash hot oil on yourself while cooking. Generally these are not severe; usually running cool water over the area will help lessen the pain. Remember you don’t want to use ice, but cooler water will bring some relief. Next, you will want to make sure you protect the wound by covering it with a bandage. Use one without adhesive to avoid getting the sticky stuff inside the wound. There may be some inflammation and pain, so if needed, a simple over the counter pain medication can be taken. With first-degree burns, they can be treated at home and will heal in due time.

Symptoms of first-degree burns include:

• Pain
• Redness
• Swelling
• White (or blanched) skin

Second-Degree Burns

For second-degree burns, the size of the burn will determine whether emergency care should be sought out or if it can be treated at home. Usually, it will be no larger than three inches in diameter as a second-degree burn. It is important to realize that these are not just surface level skin injuries, but rather affect the next layer of the skin as well. Make sure you don’t use ice when trying to treat a burn, and, if there is blistering, whatever you do, don’t try popping it open to release the fluid. Finally, it is common to want to relieve some of the pain with ointments or butter, but this may further irritate or infect the area, so avoid all topical treatments without the advice of a doctor.

Symptoms of second-degree burns include:

• Blistering
• Intense redness
• Severe pain
• Splotchy appearance
• Swelling

Third-Degree Burns & Fourth-Degree Burns

Third- and fourth-degree burns are among the most severe types. Not only do these affect the different layers of skin, but this intense of a burn injury can also reach as far as the bones, and the surrounding muscles and fat as well. A burn like this may also damage nerves, which would explain if you experience any form of numbness or tingling in the burn area. These burns are generally caused by prolonged time in the flames, rather than a quick encounter with a candle, etc. This severity of burns can happen when there is a building fire, and if that is the case, there is also a possibility of inhaling too much smoke, therefore, poisoning your lungs with carbon monoxide.

When dealing with these, the first thing you must do is contact the emergency services. These require medical care. Do not attempt to do anything that could further injure yourself. If you were wearing clothes that have been burned to your skin, don’t try and remove them. Wait for the professionals to do that. Avoid using cold water to treat the wounds. The pain is going to be severe, but the cold water may further irritate the area. If at all possible, try elevating the areas on your body that received the burns, to decrease the blood pressure near the wounds.

Symptoms of third and fourth-degree burns include:

• Charring
• Stiff or waxy appearance
• Leathery or tan appearance
• Numbness (resulting from destroyed nerves)

To learn more about burn injuries, visit MedlinePlus.gov today.

Burn Injury Treatments

Immediately after a burn, victim needs medical care. Cooling via water can reduce the burn's depth and pain, but over-cooling can lead to hypothermia. For minor burns, pain-relieving medications and bandages can help.

For more extensive burns, additional treatment will be required. This can include the following:

• Amputation may be necessary
• Antibiotics or other treatment for infection
• Intravenous fluid, as fluid leakage occurs
• Massage or antihistamines
• Skin grafts
• Surgery

Modern advancements in medicine have made surviving burns much more likely, and treatment much more effective. Skin graft and flap procedures can repair many burn scars, to improve the quality of living for victims.

Skin Grafts

One of the most common treatment options for a severe burn is a skin graft. A skin graft is a surgical procedure where the skin is taken from a healthy donor spot on the victim and transplanted onto the damaged areas.

There are several different types of skin grafts, including:

• Pinch grafts
• Split-thickness grafts
• Full-thickness grafts
• Pedicle grafts

Generally, if the graft "survives" the first 72 hours after its initial implantation, then the body will accept it. Should infection be kept at bay and steady blood supply is given, the graft should take around six months to heal fully.

Filing a Lawsuit for Scarring & Disfigurement

While many accidents result in scars or disfigurements, there are two main categories of scars. A scar or disfigurement can either be medically reversible or irreversible depending on the nature of the injury. In both circumstances, the injured may file suit against an entity for their role in causing the scar or disfigurement. In the case of a medically reversible scar or disfigurement that is caused by another entity, it is entirely possible that that entity is sued for the medical expenses that the injured incurred in reversing the damage.

Some examples of medical costs that could be covered under a scarring and disfigurement injury claim:

• Reconstructive surgery
• Synthetic hair
• Plastic surgery
• Bone reconstruction

These medical procedures are expensive, and there is no reason the innocent party should have to pay for it themselves. In the event of permanent scars and disfigurements, it is possible that a client can file for emotional trauma. Their outward appearance will never be the same again, which can cause depression, anger, or social anxiety. These symptoms are completely understandable given the circumstances, and it is more than fair to ask that the responsible party be held accountable for the emotional trauma of the injured.

Common Causes of Burn Injuries

• Auto Fires: Serious car fires and car crashes can cause burns due to explosions, extreme heat exposure, or smoke inhalation.
• Industrial Accidents: Working with heated metals, exposed electricity, or other toxic substances can often lead to burns.
• Oil Industry Fires: When working in oil and gas, the potential for being exposed to toxic chemicals or explosions is elevated.
• Work Accidents: This can occur from many hazards, including dangerous chemicals, electricity, flash burns, thermal contact burns, explosions, heated mechanisms, hot oils or liquids, or tools that are not properly insulated.

Industrial Burns from Chemical Plant Explosions, Oil Refinery Fires & More

Fires kill more Americans than any other kind of natural disaster, while more Americans die in plants and factories than any other country. Our country is, unfortunately, excelling at hurting our workers. With plants exploding at a faster rate and fuel within arm's reach at virtually every industrial site, it's no surprise that plant burns are causing hundreds of injuries every year. Industrial burns are often more intense than residential fires. First, the fuel you might find in a refinery fire is far different than the fuel available for a house fire. Second, a chemical burn is going to create a more intense fire and a more damaging effect. Refinery burns are far more likely to be catastrophic

Call (888) 493-1629 to Talk to Experienced Houston Burn Injury Lawyers

If you have been injured in an accident that resulted in serious burns, then it is highly important that you work with a Houston injury attorney you can trust. At Arnold & Itkin, we have recovered billions on behalf of our clients; in fact, we handle more cases each year than most attorneys will handle in their entire careers. If you hire our firm, we will go the distance in our efforts to provide you with the reliable assistance you deserve.

We fight to help you recover the compensation that you need for medical treatment, lost wages, pain, suffering, mental anguish, and more. Regardless of whether you suffered a burn after being injured on the job or in a vehicle accident, we are the team of burn injury lawyers that you need on your side. Call to see how we can help.

Contact our Texas burn attorneys to learn how we can help during a 100% free, confidential consultation.