A burn injury is a type of injury to the skin or other tissue caused by heat, cold, electricity, chemicals, friction, or radiation. Serious burn injuries must always be handled with the utmost care, they are painful, can leave permanent scars, and may require long-term treatment.
If you have a client that has suffered a burn injury due to someone else’s negligence, you should know that they may be facing a difficult recovery and significant medical expenses. Because of this, their legal rights in a burn injury case need to be pursued with the same diligence and care, as will be required to treat the injuries they have sustained.
Burns By the Numbers
According to the American Burn Association, there were 486,000 burn injuries in the United States that required medical treatment, including 30,000 that required admittance to hospitals and burn centers, between 2005 and 2014. Of the admissions, 43% were for fire and flame-related injuries, 34% were scalding injuries, 4% were electrical-related, 3% were related to chemical burns, and the other 7% were miscellaneous type burns.
Furthermore, according to The Center For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 3,400 burn injury deaths occur every year, with a fire-related death occurring every 169 minutes. Moreover, there is a fire-related injury approximately every 30 seconds across the country.
Where Burn Injuries Occur?
Burn injuries can occur at home, at work, in a car accident, in a public place, or as a result of a wildfire. The vast majority of burn-related injuries take place at home, while only 8% take place at work, 5% on streets and highways (mostly due to auto accidents), 5% during recreational or sports activities, and the other 9% are again miscellaneous.
The Most Frequent Types of Burn-related Injuries
In terms of the most frequent types of burn-related injuries, the two most common are:
- Scalding; and
- Fire or flame-related
Contact with hot objects, chemical burns, electrical burns, and unspecified burns make up the majority of the rest of the most frequent burn types along with random burns, inhalation burns, and others.
The Most Frequent Types of Accidents That Result in Burn Injuries
The types of accidents that most frequently result in burn injuries, according to the American Burn Association are:
- Non-work-related accidents – 74%
- Work-related accidents – 14%
- Recreational accidents – 4%
- Various other types accidents
Car accidents can often involve fires and gasoline explosions. In these cases, the fault may lie either with the driver that caused the accident or the car manufacturer.
Home fires are particularly frightening and can strike when the inhabitants least expect it. When a plaintiff has suffered a burn injury in an apartment or rental home, they may have a claim against the insurance company of a negligent landlord or tenant.
Wildfires can spread quickly to residential areas and inflict numerous injuries. Many wildfires are started by humans, whether by flammable debris, arson, or other carelessness.
Work-related Burn Injuries
An article from the US National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health states that 42% of all work-related injuries are burns, 40% percent of all burn deaths are related to workplace fires and explosions, and that 20% of all cases of thermal burn injuries result from workplace exposures.
Furthermore, the CDC states that work-related burns are the leading cause of occupational injuries in the United States. What’s more, 20 – 30% of all hospitalizations due to burn injuries are the result of workplace exposures.
Whether on a construction site, a factory, floor, a restaurant kitchen, or any other place of business, employers have a responsibility to maintain safety for all. However, the most common cause of work-related burn injuries is unsafe working conditions, involving:
- Faulty electrical equipment
- Chemical exposure
- Fuel explosions
All of these can lead to serious burn injuries and death.
Involved in a Burn Injury Case?
While the causes of burn injuries are often preventable, the effects, unfortunately, are usually irreversible. If you are representing a client that has suffered a serious burn injury, they may be entitled to substantial compensation in a burn injury case for their injuries.
Whether you are currently pursuing a lawsuit on behalf of a client who is a burn victim or if you are awaiting payment of a burn injury case settlement, pre-settlement funding can provide your client with cash up front to help alleviate bills and other expenses that can accrue during the legal process. What’s more, since most funding is approved based on the likelihood of the case succeeding, there is essentially no risk involved.
At USClaims, we offer pre-settlement funding, if a case is qualified for pre-settlement funding then we would purchase a portion of the proceeds of the anticipated court judgment or settlement for some cash now. USClaims only gets paid if a case is won or has reached a settlement! Apply now or call us today at 1-877-USCLAIMS to learn more.
