Brooklyn Burn Injury Lawyers

Brooklyn Burn Injury Lawyers Fighting For You

If you or somebody you know has suffered a burn injury due to an accident in New York City, and the injury is impacting your daily life and finances, contact our skilled Brooklyn burn injury lawyers at Rosenberg & Rodriguez right away. You may have the right to receive compensation, and we can assist you in pursuing it. At Rosenberg & Rodriguez, we are committed to assisting burn injury victims throughout New York City who have experienced unexpected accidents. We understand the devastating effect that burn injuries can have on your life and we are here to offer you support throughout the entire process.

Understanding Severe Burn Injuries

Severe burns can be absolutely devastating, especially considering that many of them could easily be avoided. Unfortunately, burns continue to happen all too often, which is incredibly tragic. The American Burn Association notes that burns are among the main causes of unintentional injury and death in the United States. Data shows that from 2011 to 2015, nearly 500,000 fire or burn injuries were treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms. Unfortunately, it’s unlikely that the frequency of these injuries has decreased in recent years.

If you live in Brooklyn and suffer from severe burns, you have access to five local burn centers, located in Manhattan, Bronx, Staten Island, and Nassau County. These centers offer high-quality medical treatment. Information about burns is available in the Health Library of New York Presbyterian Hospital, which is one of those burn centers.

Types of Burn Injuries

Burns are injuries to one or more layers of skin and, at times, the tissue and other body structures beneath it. Here are the broad categories of burns that doctors treat at burn centers:

• Heat burns – Exposure to high temperatures, including flames, explosions, steam, hot liquids, or contact with a hot object, can cause damage to several layers of the skin.
• Cold burns – Skin tissue can become damaged by extremely cold temperatures, either by freezing or chapping, which can result in conditions such as frostbite and windburn.
• Electrical burns – When a person touches a live wire or gets struck by lightning, electricity can burn their skin similarly to intense heat.
• Chemical burns – Chemicals that are caustic or toxic, including solids, liquids, and gases, can cause chemical reactions that harm or ruin skin tissue. For example, if battery acid spills onto a person’s hands, it can result in damage.
• Radiation burns – Exposure to high energy waves and particles can damage the skin cells and tissues underneath. Both sunburn and burns caused by radiation-based cancer treatments are examples of radiation burns.
• Friction burns. When the skin comes in contact with a surface and is rubbed repeatedly, it can cause heat and abrasion that leads to burns on the skin. Examples of this include road rash from sliding along pavement after a motorcycle accident, as well as damage to hands from grabbing onto a fast-moving rope.

Burn Degrees Of Severity

A system of degrees ranks burns by how much damage they cause to skin and tissue. Below are the degrees in which burn injuries are categorized:

First-Degree Burns

First-degree burns cause damage only to the outermost skin layer. You can treat these burns at home using over-the-counter medications and ointments, and they usually heal within a few days to a week.

Second-Degree Burns 

Also known as partial thickness burns, second-degree burns damage multiple skin layers. Second-degree burns can cause blistering or discoloration, such as white or spotted patterns. It is important to seek medical treatment for these burns to prevent infection.

Third-Degree Burns 

Also known as total thickness burns, third-degree burns damage all layers of the skin and potentially the body tissue beneath it. When someone experiences a third-degree burn, their skin becomes tough and leathery. It’s crucial to seek medical attention right away because these injuries pose a high risk of infection.

Fourth-Degree Burns

Fourth-degree burns destroy skin layers and tissue and may damage body structures beneath them, such as bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and organs. Fourth-degree burns are very serious and can be life-threatening. It is crucial to seek emergency medical attention immediately if someone has these burns.

Fifth-Degree Burn

Fifth-degree burns don’t just affect the tissue; they also impact the bone underneath. The skin may look blackened or pale, and the bone will be visible. These burns can cause lasting internal harm and even organ failure. In some cases, amputation is necessary to stop the injury or infection from spreading.

Sixth-Degree Burn

A sixth-degree burn is the most severe type of burn caused by prolonged exposure to high heat or from a car accident or explosion. These burns not only affect the skin but also damage the underlying bone. It is important to note that sixth-degree burns can be life-threatening.

If you have a burn that appears to be more severe than a first-degree burn, it’s important to seek medical attention from a doctor without delay. Don’t take the risk of guessing whether your burn requires medical attention because any burn beyond a first-degree burn poses a risk of a life-threatening infection. Your health is too valuable to compromise.