Burns are among the most painful and costly injuries the human body can sustain. Burns can result in nerve damage, loss of feeling, and chronic pain, and severe burns frequently require months or years of treatment with painful and expensive skin grafts. Because burns result in changes in to the survivor’s physical appearance, they are often accompanied by feelings of depression, anxiety, and diminished self-esteem. In many instances, burns are long-lasting injuries which can inflict years of physical agony, emotional trauma, and financial hardship.
How Do Burn Injuries Occur in Philadelphia?
Approximately half a million people seek medical care for burn injuries in the United States. According to the American Burn Association, the exact number of burn injuries requiring medical treatment is 486,000. However, the number does not account for the 3,275 smoke inhalation related deaths or the 40,000 hospital admissions for treatment related to burn injuries.
Burn injuries are extremely common because they can be caused by so many sources and accident types, including but not limited to:
- Fires – Fires can occur in a broad array or locations, but the most common place for a burn injury to occur due to fire is the home. The risk of burn injuries due to fire in the home can be mitigated by the use of smoke detectors on all levels of the home and through frequent, regular battery testing.
- Car Crashes – Car crashes, truck crashes, and other vehicle accidents can cause burn injuries in a number of ways. To start, fuel and other substances can ignite following a crash leading to a fire. Some chemicals that may be spilled from the vehicle can cause chemical burns. Finally, friction burns are also possible.
- Heat – Any source of sufficient heat can cause serious burn injuries. This can occur while working on a car engine, cooking in a kitchen, or a broad array of other circumstances.
- Explosions – Explosions causing burn injuries can occur in the home and workplace.Defective products ranging from lithium-ion batteries to other electronics can overheat and explode potentially causing serious burn injuries.
- Chemicals – Chemical burns are extremely serious and can cause significant pain and suffering. Chemicals ranging from drain openers to industrial solvents can casue serious injuries to the skin, eyes, and other parts of the body.
- Hot Liquids – Despite the lessons learned from the famous hot coffee case, some restaurants still insist on serving beverages at temperatures that are unsafe for human consumption. This risk is even more pronounced when the product is served through a drive-through window.
- Electrical Accidents – Electrical accidents can cause serious burns. Improperly insulated wires and other electrical faults in electrical systems and consumer products can lead to serious injuries of this type.
Construction Burn Injuries
Construction sites are full of heavy machinery, equipment, power tools, and materials. Some of these items commonly cause burn injuries and other serious problems for construction workers. Every day, construction workers all around the country are at constant risk of sustaining severe injuries in the workplace. Out of the many possible injuries a construction worker can experience, burn injuries are one of the most common and painful. Things like chemicals, gasoline, leaking gas pipes, and more can lead to severe burn injuries. Injured workers often require ongoing and costly medical treatment until they fully recover from their injuries. If you were injured in a burn accident at a construction site, you could be entitled to receive compensation for medical expenses, loss of wages, pain, and suffering.
Lack of training
Working at a construction site often requires the use of dangerous tools, like torch welders. These and other tools can create sparks that can cause burns or start serious fires when handled improperly. Proper training in the management of every piece of equipment is necessary to avoid any possible accidents from poor training. Inadequate training and lack of experience could lead to accidental burn injuries in the construction industry.
Exposure to heat
Exposure to heat caused by scalding liquids, steam, and fires can lead to dangerous, life-threatening injuries. Depending on the severity of the damage a person can suffer from painful burn injuries that could take extended recovery time and continuous medical attention. Boiling tar, hot machinery, welding torches, and other objects can cause serious burns if you touch them without the proper safety gear. Your employer is usually responsible for ensuring you have the right gear to keep you safe at work.
Exposure to electrical sources
Wiring in construction is as necessary as it is dangerous. Exposure to energized panels and exposed wires can lead to burn injuries and in severe cases death. If there is poor communication and you are not aware that a wire is live, you could face serious injuries or death because of your supervisor’s bad communication and warnings.
Exposure to Chemicals
Many corrosive and dangerous chemicals are used in the construction industry. Etching and cleaning chemicals can cause serious irritation if they touch your skin or get in your eyes. Even cement can be a harmful irritant, causing serious injuries.
Burns from Gas Grills are Surprisingly Common
Grilling in the backyard is a favorite pastime of many people living in and around Philadelphia and in Pennsylvania. However, these popular cooking devices are often the source of many injuries and accidents. The following are facts and statistics from the National Fire Protection Association:
- From 2007 to 2011, gas grills were involved in roughly 7,200 home fires – Gas grills can run at extremely high temperatures, and can quickly ignite and cause a fire to rapidly spread throughout an entire house.
- Charcoal grills and other grills using solid fuel were involved in 1,400 home fires. In addition to gas grills, charcoal grills are another common type of cooking device. When one of the hot coals falls out of a grill it can lead to a fire.
- Roughly 29 percent of home fires involved grills that were started on an open porch or exterior balcony.
- Roughly 27 percent of home fires involved grills that were started on a terrace, courtyard, or patio.
Nearly half of these home fire incidents were caused by a combustible or flammable liquid or gas catching fire, so while having a grill and using one may be a great way to enjoy the outdoors while you make food for you and your family, they can also be a dangerous device that can lead to fires and injuries.
Can You Sue the Grill Manufacturer?
When something goes wrong with your grill, you may face the potential of severe if not permanent injuries. In these cases, you may be able to bring a product liability claim. This is where you are suing an individual because there was a defect in the product. Typically products liability cases fall into three categories: manufacturing defects, design defects, and failures to warn.
Types of Injuries from Fires
When you ask about fire injuries many people automatically and exclusively turn to burns. While burns are a very common injury, there are other injuries that can be just as severe and have an equally detrimental impact on a persons’ life.
There are two types of burns from fires: flash burns and burns from flames. Flash burns result from a sudden intense heat, which usually result from some form of explosion. Generally, people who have sustained flash burns can be treated as an outpatient and do not require extensive medical care. On the other hand, those who suffer burns from flames may incur extensive damage depending on the severity of the burn. There are four widely accepted burn types, which are separated by degrees.
First-Degree Burns
Compared to other burn injuries, first degree burns are considered mild. This type of injury affects the outer layer of the skin, causing redness and pain. Conventional treatment for first-degree burn injuries includes ointments, aloe vera, pain relief medicine, and other localized medication.
Second-Degree Burns
Second-degree burn injuries are more dangerous than first-degree burns, as they cause more extensive damage. Generally, second-degree burn injuries affect the outer and lower layer of the skin. In addition to pain and redness, burn injuries if this type can cause blistering and swelling to the affected area. Conventional treatment for this injury includes the use of antibiotics, creams, and ointments. Second-degree burns can take from two weeks to a month to heal completely.
Third-Degree Burns
This type of burn injury is more severe than the other degrees. Third-degree burn injuries affect the outer and lower layers of the skin, penetrating deeper and affecting nerves and other tissue. Charred or blackened skin is a common characteristic of these burns. There is no set timeline for recovery, which is why immediate medical attention is essential. Depending on the severity of the burn, third-degree burn injuries could take weeks, months, or years to heal fully. As a recovery method, victims often need surgery and skin grafts to replace the damaged tissue.
Partial Thickness Burns
Partial thickness burns are generally characterized as partial thickness burns when there are blisters. They involve the entire epidermis and upper layers of the dermis (the lower level of the skin as an organ). The wound will usually be pink or red and is typically painful. It often looks wet. A partial thickness burn will usually heal in two to three weeks and does not typically associated with scarring or require grafting.
Full Thickness Burns
Things get very difficult if you have a second-degree full thickness burn. These appear red or white but dry. They also involved the destruction of the entire epidermis and most of the dermis. The sensation of touch will be diminished but often returns partially. Many times the skin that returns is blanched or sluggish. Many times the skin that returns is absent, it just will not grow back. Most of the time this level of the burn will require excision of dead skin and grafting of new skin.
Brain Injuries
Surprisingly, one of the most common lifelong results of burn injuries sustained in a fire is brain injury. Cerebral hypoxia is a condition in which oxygen is cut off from the brain, causing brain cells to die. In these cases, a person can die or suffer severe life-long impairments.
However, often there are many other injuries that may result from a fire which are often overlooked however equally as dangerous. Some of these include:
- Smoke inhalation
- Broken bones
- Strains and sprains
- Wounds/bleeding
- Dizziness/dehydration
Who is Liable for Burn Injuries that Occur in Philadelphia?
If you have been in an accident involving a fire you most likely want to know who can be held liable for your injuries if anyone?
When someone is severely injured because of an accidental fire, liability for your injuries may rest with the person who started the fire. Alternatively, a person who caused a fire to go out of control may be held liable for any resulting injuries. Responsible parties may include:
- Corporations
- Product manufacturers
- Property owners or landlord
- Ordinary individuals who act negligently
One of the most frequent questions about fire injuries comes from when a person is injured on another’s property. Generally, an owner or business is responsible for keeping its property safe for persons lawfully on the property. Therefore, if you have suffered an injury as a result of a fire stemming from improper use of a product or maintenance of the property, you may be able to hold the property owner liable.
Burn injuries could cause lost wages and steep medical bills. However, you could be entitled to receive compensation for your damages from those responsible. An experienced Philadelphia personal injury lawyer can help you file your injury claim.
What Types of Compensation Can I Receive from a Fire Injury in Philadelphia?
As noted above, injuries from fires may require extensive and expensive surgery and may put you out of work for an extended period of time. Many people want to know what types of compensation can they receive in Pennsylvania. In Pennsylvania, the courts have consistently held that damages are to be compensatory to the full extent of the injury sustained. This rule “is to give actual compensation, by graduating the number of damages exactly to the extent of loss” Forsyth v. Palmer, 14 Pa. 96, 97 (1850). Some of the types of compensation you may be entitled to receive are:
- Past medical expenses
- Future medical expenses
- Emotional trauma
- Property damage
- Out of pocket expenses
There may be other damages that you may be able to recover in the event that you have been injured in a fire. You should be aware that personal injury awards are usually paid in lump-sum payments, and therefore, if you believe that you will have future expenses as a result of your injury you will be expected to prove this at the time of trial.
Rely on an Experienced Philadelphia Burn Lawyer
To speak confidentially with an experienced Pennsylvania Fire Accident attorney, call the law offices of The Reiff Law Firm at (215) 709-6940, or contact us online for a free consultation.
