Helping Clients Cope with Serious Burns in Florida
Because of their chaotic nature, fire accidents can be catastrophic, resulting in severe burn injuries or even death. It is possible that these fires can be accidental, but sometimes such fires are intentionally set by an individual. Other times fires result from the negligent acts of a person or entity. When this is the case, they should be held responsible.
If you or a family member is a burn victim and you think the fire was caused by the negligent actions of someone else, reach out to the firm of Ginnis, Krathen, & Zelnick, P.A. today. Our burn injury lawyers in Fort Lauderdale have the same experience, knowledge, and access to necessary resources as the large firms, but we also have the unique ability to provide our clients with personal attention. As a burn survivor, you probably have overwhelming medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. You deserve to be compensated.
Call us today and speak with a compassionate attorney who is knowledgeable in dealing with burn victims at (954) 905-4600, or fill out our online form.
Common Types of Burn Injury Claims
With ample experience handling and settling personal injury claims, our attorneys have worked with burn victims who acquired their injuries from a variety of different fires, explosions, and other types of accidents. Burns can be caused by virtually anywhere a hot object or flammable substance exists.
Common types of lawsuits our team has seen or worked on that cause burns include:
- Electrical accidents, such as fires caused by faulty electrical cords
- Motor vehicle accidents, which can cause fires from gasoline leakage or tanker explosions, if a truck is involved
- Apartment building fires, which can be caused by arson or some building or property defect that hasn’t been fixed
- Defective products, which allows victims to file product liability claims against product manufacturers, designers, and other companies
- Locked fire exits, which is a premises liability issue and can be blamed on the negligent property owner
Burns can be acquired from workplace accidents, especially in industries where fires and explosions are known to happen, such as in construction.
How Serious Can Burns Get?
While some burn injuries are minor, many are severe and penetrate through layers of skin and muscle, causing major bodily damage that may be permanent. According to the American Burn Association, there are more than 1.1 million burn injuries every year in the United States, 45,000 of which require hospitalization. Approximately 4,500 victims die from their wounds.
Doctors categorize burn injuries depending on how deeply the skin has been harmed. The higher the degree, the more serious the injury is and the more medical care you may need to heal.
These types of burns include:
- First-degree: These burns are typically minor and affect the outer layer of skin, causing redness and pain when touched. Sunburn is a common example of a first-degree burn.
- Second-degree: This more serious burn damages both the outer layer of your skin and the layer underneath it, which is known as the dermis. You may experience blisters and pain. These burns can result in scarring or a permanent change in the color of your skin.
- Third-degree: These burns fully destroy both layers of your skin and can reach your bones, muscles, and tendons. Your nerve endings may also be destroyed.
Depending on the accident, burns can be chemical, electrical, or result from fires or hot, boiling liquids. Burns can cause additional complications because they allow bacteria to enter the broken skin and cause infections. Some common symptoms of burns include blisters, swelling, pain, peeling skin, and skin that appears white or charred.
You Deserve Compassionate Support
A knowledgeable lawyer in burn injuries should be compassionate and caring. A burn accident is particularly devastating because a burn injury is not only excruciatingly painful, but it can also be severely deforming or disfiguring and leave you needing multiple painful and expensive procedures. A burn injury can also lead to death. If you are a burn survivor or have a family member who is a burn victim, please reach out to a Fort Lauderdale burn injury lawyer today. A number of people may be responsible for negligence, including drivers, product manufacturers or designers, property owners or managers, and more.
At Ginnis, Krathen, & Zelnick, P.A., you can speak with a knowledgeable attorney who will give you the personal attention you deserve. We’re able to recover your burn-related damages, including the costs of skin graft surgery, physical therapy, rehabilitation, lost wages, pain and suffering, and even disfigurement. We can work with you, the burn patient, to make those responsible for your injuries pay and for you to get the reimbursement you deserve.
