Long Island Burn Injury Lawyers

Dedicated Burn Injury Lawyers On Long Island, NY

Suffering from burns can cause immense pain and can be very debilitating. It can take months to years to recover from burns depending on their severity, and even then, complete recovery may not be possible. Burn patients typically need to be treated at a burn center that specializes in their care. They may undergo multiple skin grafts and endure significant pain and a difficult rehabilitation process. Even with treatment, many burn victims are left with permanent scarring and disfigurement that last a lifetime.

If you or someone you care about has experienced a burn injury due to the fault of someone else, you may be eligible for substantial financial compensation. Fortunately, you can contact our Long Island burn injury lawyers at Rosenberg & Rodriguez for a free initial consultation. We specialize in representing clients with severe injuries and frequently secure recoveries in the six and seven-figure range. Please get in touch today if you think that someone else should be held accountable for the losses caused by your burn injury.

The High Cost Of Severe Burn Injuries

Burn injuries are challenging to recover from and can be quite costly due to the extensive treatment required. They can cause severe trauma, leading to lifelong changes. People could need to stay in the hospital for a long time and undergo months of follow-up care for burn injuries resulting from explosions, fires, or chemical exposure. Even after healing, the pain may persist, especially if there was nerve damage.

If you have suffered from permanent disfigurement or unsightly burn scars, restoring your appearance can be expensive and may require plastic surgery and skin grafts. If the burn injury was not your fault, you should not have to pay for these medical bills. To ensure your needs are properly met and your rights are protected, it is best to hire a Long Island burn injury lawyer with experience in gathering evidence and proving fault.

Common Causes of Burn Injuries On Long Island

Burn injuries can be caused by many things, including commonly occurring sources such as:

• Workplace accidents (explosions, chemical burns, electrical burns)
• Car accidents (fires, explosions, chemical burns, steam burns)
• Premises liability (apartment fires, explosions, chemical spills, malfunctions in electrical systems, scalding water)
• Defective products

Our Long Island burn injury attorneys can effectively pinpoint the potentially avoidable actions that led to a burn injury. For instance, a client was severely hurt by hot water while taking a shower. After we delved into the matter, we found out that the water heater in the apartment building was adjusted to an excessively high temperature, clearly flouting the building codes of the city.

Classifications Of Burn Injuries

According to medical experts, burns are categorized into four types, with first-degree burns being the least severe and fourth-degree burns the most severe and capable of putting one’s life at risk. This may not be a widely known fact among the general public.

First-Degree Burns

First-degree burns are the mildest and only affect the outermost layer of the skin. They are similar to a minor sunburn and may cause redness, swelling, and pain.

• Red skin that is painful to the touch
• Dry in appearance
• Sometimes a bit of slight swelling
• Tingling

Many thermal burns occur when touching hot metal objects or when experiencing slight scalding for only a few seconds. While some people may see a minor first-degree burn as a minor annoyance, it may be wise to seek medical attention due to the risk of infection. However, normally only one visit to the doctor is necessary.

Second-Degree Burns

The layer of skin that is located beneath the epidermis is referred to as the “dermis”. This is the region that generates the epidermis. If the dermis is burned, even if it is only a minor burn, it becomes a second-degree burn or a partial-thickness burn. Even minor burns of this type can be quite uncomfortable, and they can result in redness and swelling, as well as the formation of blisters. Scarring is also possible after healing. Symptoms associated with partial thickness burns include:

• Blisters
• The entire epidermis and upper layers of the dermis can be affected
• Wounds appear red or pink
• The wound will lighten when pressure is applied and return to its original color when pressure is lifted
• Healing time averages between two to three weeks. Scarring occurs, though is typically minimal

Common causes of second-degree burns include scalding liquids, brief contact with electrical arcing and flash explosions, hot surface contact exposure, and open flames.

Third-Degree Burns

Third-degree or full-thickness burns exhibit symptoms when exposed to a heat source for more than a few seconds.

• Appear as deep red or white; generally do not present with blisters
• The entire epidermis and most of the dermis are destroyed
• Initially there is less pain but during recovery pain can be more pronounced
• Color is unaffected if pressure is applied to the wound
• Destroyed tissue will need to be removed and skin grafts will be necessary in order for the wound to fully heal.

Common causes of third-degree burns include many of the same causes that apply to second-degree burns.

Fourth-Degree Burns

These burns are very serious as they reach all the way through the epidermis and dermis to the muscles and nerves underneath. Even though they are not as painful at first as third-degree burns, this is due to shock and damage to nerve endings, sweat glands, muscle tissue, hair follicles, and even bone in the affected area.