What Are the Most Common Types of Burns?
Most burn injuries seen in emergency rooms and clinics across the country are due to flame or scalding accidents. These accidents are at increased risk when a home does not have the proper smoke detectors or when someone is under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Some of the more commonly seen burn injuries include:
- Flames – It is estimated that 44 percent of all burn injuries occur from flames or fire. These include the improper use of indoor fire, complications while cooking, cigarette burns, and motor vehicles that ignite after impact. The smoke from these flames also poses a risk to victims because smoke can be more deadly than the fire itself.
- Scalds – About 33 percent of burn injuries happen from scalds. This is when hot liquid or steam comes into direct contact with the skin. These types of accidents typically occur during food preparation, but can also occur from faulty products, hot water heaters that are at too high of temperature or products that heat water. Children are at a higher risk for scalding injuries than adults.
- Chemical and Electrical Burns – These are most commonly seen on the job, but can also occur at home or in public places. A chemical burn can occur when improper chemical concentrations are used or chemicals are inaccurately applied. Electrical burns can occur when working on live wires or when products have faulty wiring and cause electrocution.
Thousands of Americans each year suffer from a burn injury. It is estimated that 70 percent of such injuries occur in a person’s home, while the rest occur at the victim’s place of employment or in a motor vehicle accident. Most of these burn injuries are preventable and an increased awareness of fire safety as well as responsible monitoring can limit the number of these burns seen in the future.
While burn injuries and deaths have been slowly declining in the United States, there are still injuries that are commonly seen and need to be prevented.
When a Burn Becomes a Legal Matter
Sometimes burns are nothing more than accidents that happen at home. But, there are also times a burn injury can occur due to someone’s negligence or wrongdoing. For example, a manufacturer releases a product without proper testing only for that product to ignite and cause a fire in a home, burning the occupants.
The same occurs in car accidents where a vehicle ignites at impact. If someone has caused that accident or the vehicle’s natural default causes the vehicle to ignite, the victim of that crash and associated burn injuries could hold the individual liable for their injuries and losses.
Speak with an Attorney Regarding Your Burn Injury
If you or a loved one was injured by a burn or scalding injury, you may be entitled to compensation for those injuries. Contact the attorneys at Carey, Danis & Lowe today regarding your injury case by calling 877-678-3400 or by filling out an online contact form.
