San Antonio Burn Injury Lawyers

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Burn Injury Causes in San Antonio, TX

San Antonio is home to a wide range of high-risk industries, making serious burn injuries more likely. The city’s growing industrial sector and constant traffic contribute to a range of burn-related hazards.

Potential causes of burn injuries in San Antonio include:

• Oilfield and Refinery Accidents: San Antonio's proximity to the Eagle Ford Shale means many workers are exposed to volatile chemicals, open flames, and high-pressure equipment.
• Construction Site Fires or Explosions: Faulty wiring, welding accidents, and gas leaks are possibilities at San Antonio’s many residential and commercial development sites.
• Traffic Accidents: Motor vehicle collisions on San Antonio roadways, especially those involving large trucks or buses, can cause fires and explosions, leading to severe burn injuries.
• Apartment and House Fires: Electrical malfunctions, cooking accidents, and space heater failures are potential causes of residential fires at homes and apartments in the San Antonio area.
• Restaurant and Kitchen Incidents: San Antonio has a bustling food service industry, which presents burn risks in the form of scalds and grease burns among kitchen crews and waitstaff.

Our team investigates the cause of each burn injury to hold the responsible party fully accountable, whether it is a negligent property owner, an employer who ignored OSHA safety standards, or a manufacturer of defective equipment.

How Burn Injuries Happen

Burn injuries can happen for multiple reasons and present in varying degrees of severity. In San Antonio, burns are often the result of work accidents, vehicle collisions, and building fires. These incidents may involve flammable materials, chemical exposure, or electrical malfunctions—especially in industrial areas and construction zones. The intense South Texas heat can also make burn injuries more dangerous due to the risk of dehydration and infection during recovery.

Burns can occur in various ways:

• Thermal burns occur from contact with flames, steam, hot liquids or metals, and other hot substances.
• Chemical burns occur when a person is exposed to caustic substances like acids or alkalis.
• Flash burns happen when a person is close to an explosion or sudden ignition source.
• Electrical burns result from contact with live electrical currents, which can cause extensive internal damage.
• Friction burns occur when skin is dragged across a rough surface, often seen in motorcycle crashes.
• Radiation burns may happen after extended exposure to UV rays or from medical or industrial radiation sources.

A person’s skin is not the only thing harmed by extreme heat; lungs are also at risk. Inhalation injuries frequently accompany burns as people who suffer from them inhale superheated air, chemicals, and other harmful substances. Inhalation injuries can cause lasting damage to a one's respiratory system and can also worsen preexisting conditions. 

Signs of inhalation injuries include:

As dangerous substances burn during a fire, a person can sustain inhalation injuries from toxins. Smoke inhalation accounts for about 60-80% of fatalities among burn victims.

Types of Burn Injuries & Their Impact

Medical professionals classify burns by degrees to communicate the extent of injury a person is experiencing. Distinguishing what type of burn a person has is important, as doing so determines how much medical treatment a person needs. It also provides a basic idea of how much a person’s injuries might impact the rest of their life.

• First-degree burn injuries are more common and less serious than other types of burn injuries. While they can be painful, first-degree burns only require minor treatment and bandaging.
• Second-degree burns occur when an injury extends beyond the first layer of skin. They might require a medical assessment to decide if they require more care than a bandage. Importantly, those with second-degree burns should avoid using topical treatments until consulting with a doctor.
• Third-degree and fourth-degree burns are always serious injuries and require urgent medical care. These burns go through multiple layers of skin and can even damage a person’s muscles and bones. 

Understanding the degree of a burn helps in not only medical assessments but also in legal terms. First responders and medical professionals document the burn severity, which assists our San Antonio burn accident lawyers in advocating for appropriate compensation. It is vital for burn survivors to get an accurate diagnosis to ensure they receive immediate treatment as well as ongoing care and rehabilitation, not to mention reconstructive procedures.

The Emotional & Psychological Toll of Severe Burns

Burn injuries are not just physically painful, they take a significant emotional and psychological toll on survivors. Many victims experience post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and body image issues due to scarring and disfigurement. This is especially true for children and young adults who may face bullying or social isolation after their injuries. 

Burn injuries can affect mental and emotional health in many ways:

• Anxiety and fear. Many people relive the fire or explosion in their minds and feel on edge in everyday situations.
• Depression and withdrawal. They may lose interest in activities, avoid social events, or feel hopeless.
• Sleep disturbances. Nightmares, difficulty falling asleep, or waking up frequently can make healing even harder.
• Body image concerns. Scars or mobility changes can lead to self-consciousness and reluctance to be seen in public.
• Strain on relationships. The stress of treatment, missed work, and financial pressure can affect families and friends.

Support Resources for Burn Survivors in San Antonio

In San Antonio, several support resources exist, such as the Texas Burn Survivor Society (TBSS) Support Group, which provides crucial emotional support. Our catastrophic injury attorneys in San Antonio make sure emotional and psychological impacts are considered when pursuing damages for our clients.

We also see the strain that long-term treatment places on families in Bexar County, from time away from work to constant trips to burn clinics and therapy appointments. That kind of disruption can change relationships, finances, and day-to-day routines, adding even more stress to an already overwhelming situation. When we build a case, we record how sleep problems, fear and anxiety, or reluctance to go out in public affect our clients’ lives. Careful documentation helps ensure that compensation reflects not only hospital bills, but also the very real emotional losses that follow a serious burn.

How Burn Injuries Are Treated & What to Expect

Those with burns need to get medical attention as soon as possible. Severe burn injuries require extensive medical care and can be excruciating for those suffering from them. Despite this, advances in medical technology mean that burn survivors have a better chance than ever of recovery. For example, skin grafting helps burned skin heal by taking tissue from an unaffected portion of a person’s body and applying it to an area that needs to heal. With skin grafting, skin that would never have healed on its own can have a chance at recovery.

Types of skin grafts include:

Full treatment for burn injuries often involves a multidisciplinary approach, including surgeons, dermatologists, and physical therapists. Pain management is a critical component, as is rehabilitation to restore mobility and function. Some patients might require counseling to cope with the psychological impact of severe burns. We work closely with medical professionals to help our clients receive comprehensive care and support throughout their recovery.

Burn survivors can generally expect treatment and recovery to involve:

• Emergency stabilization. Initial care often focuses on protecting the airway, managing pain, and preventing shock.
• Wound care/surgery. Debridement, grafts, and other procedures to remove damaged tissue and promote healing.
• Infection prevention. Care teams closely monitor for infection, which is a major risk after serious burns.
• Rehabilitation and therapy. Physical/occupational therapy help restore strength, range of motion, and independence.
• Long-term follow-up. Ongoing visits for scar management, additional surgeries, or adjustments to treatment plans.

Planning for Long-Term Needs

As treatment progresses, many burn survivors in the San Antonio area move from intensive care at major hospitals into rehabilitation programs focused on regaining strength and independence. That process can include learning new ways to perform everyday tasks, fitting and adjusting compression garments to reduce scarring, and returning for repeated procedures to address contractures or reconstructive needs. We help our clients plan for these stages by working with their medical teams to estimate future costs and care needs. When we negotiate with insurers or present a case in a Bexar County courtroom, we rely on this information to argue for compensation that takes into account not only today’s surgeries and medications, but also the years of follow-up care that serious burns often require.

Specialized Burn Treatment Centers in San Antonio

San Antonio is fortunate to have access to advanced burn care. University Hospital's Pediatric Trauma & Burn Center provides comprehensive care for children across South Texas, including emergency treatment, wound care, skin grafting, and rehabilitation. Methodist Hospital Burn & Reconstructive Center provides surgical, critical, and outpatient care for all types of burns and includes emergency burn rooms that are climate-controlled to regulate temperature and humidity for severely burned patients. Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC), located at Fort Sam Houston, is also home to the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center, which treats both military and civilian patients. 

Compensation Available After a Burn Accident in San Antonio

After a serious burn, many families are shocked by how quickly costs add up, from emergency transport to long hospital stays at facilities in and around San Antonio. Understanding what types of compensation may be available can help you plan for the future. In a burn case, the law allows injured people to seek damages for both the immediate impact of the incident and the long-term consequences that follow. 

Our role is to identify every category of loss so nothing is left out when we pursue a recovery.

Economic damages typically include past and future medical bills, lost wages, and loss of earning capacity if you cannot return to the same kind of work you did before. For burn survivors, this can also cover ongoing rehabilitation, medicine, and medical equipment. In cases where a person needs to make changes to a home because of mobility limitations, such as installing ramps or modifying bathrooms, those costs may also be part of a claim. By working closely with treating physicians and life-care planners in Bexar County, we build a detailed picture of what you will need over time.

Non-economic damages address the human cost of a burn accident, which can be substantial. These damages may account for physical pain, emotional distress, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life—especially when scarring or functional limitations interfere with activities you once loved. In cases involving the loss of a family member, surviving relatives may seek wrongful death damages for the loss of companionship, support, and guidance. When we assemble a case, we gather testimony, records, and other evidence to show how the injury has changed everyday life, so that any settlement or verdict reflects the full weight of what was taken away.

What to Do After a Burn Injury in San Antonio

The hours and days after a burn accident can be confusing, and many people are unsure about what to do beyond getting emergency care. Taking a few practical steps can help protect your health and preserve important evidence about what happened. While every situation is different, there are common actions that can make a real difference in any future claim or lawsuit arising from a burn injury in San Antonio.

Once your immediate medical needs are addressed, it can be helpful to document as much as you safely can. That might include saving clothing or gear, taking photographs of the scene and your injuries, and writing down the names of witnesses. If the burn occurred at work, reporting the incident to a supervisor as soon as possible creates an important record, and seeking care from a qualified doctor rather than relying only on on-site first aid is critical. Copies of discharge papers and follow-up instructions from local hospitals also gives us a clear starting point when we review your case.

Try to be cautious about discussing the incident with insurance representatives or company investigators before you understand your rights. Statements made early on can be used later to minimize responsibility or reduce the value of a claim. Instead of guessing who may be at fault or what your case might be worth, reach out to a local burn injury attorney in San Antonio to review the facts. When we get involved early, we can help gather records, communicate with insurers, and make sure important deadlines under Texas law are not missed, so you can focus on getting the care you need.

Our San Antonio Burn Injury Attorneys Fight for Results. No Matter What.

Our San Antonio burn injury attorneys know that while we cannot change what happened to you or your loved one, we can fight for the compensation needed to get the care you deserve and the chance to rebuild your life.

Our deep understanding of burn injuries enables us to tailor our legal strategies to each client’s unique needs. We leverage our San Antonio personal injury firm's vast resources, from advanced forensic analysis to top-tier medical expert consultations, to underscore the full impact of the injury. We tirelessly pursue all avenues for compensation, including current and future medical bills, lost earnings, and even home modifications necessary due to mobility changes. Being advocates for our clients’ rights helps ensure they can focus on recovery while we handle the legal battles.

Contact our San Antonio burn accident attorneys at Arnold & Itkin by calling (888) 493-1629 today.