Burn Injuries
Treatment of burns is a lengthy process often requiring months of therapy, as the healing process is slow. Treatment includes over-the-counter pain relievers for less serious burns. In serious cases, tetanus shots, antibiotics, skin grafting, and silver nitrate burn treatments are utilized. For individuals who sustain burns in a workplace accident, workers’ compensation in Las Vegas may be essential to cover medical expenses and lost wages during recovery. Before contacting one of our Burn Injury Lawyers, it’s important to seek immediate treatment for your injury. If you need further care and reside in Nevada, Benson & Bingham Accident Injury Lawyers, LLC can connect you with a specialist to help you recover to the fullest extent.
Skin burns are one of the more painful injuries. It is critical that burns be treated promptly to avoid long term damage; oftentimes, the risk of infection is very severe as the skin is open and prone to bacterial disease. Cooling the burn is extremely important, so ice-cold or cold water is crucial in the first few seconds of a burn. Once cold water or ice has been applied to reduce the immediate temperature, emergency services should be utilized. Covering the burn with gauze and taking an anti-inflammatory medication is recommended. Burns are very serious because they pose a large risk for infection given the open wounds and lack of skin protection.
The types of burns are classified into (3) major degrees:
- First Degree Burns are the outer layer of the skin. These are the least serious of burns, but still cause redness, swelling and pain.
- Second Degree Burns are very painful accompanied by blisters and deep redness. The Mayo clinic suggests if the burn is larger than 3″ then it is considered a major burn. Do not break the blisters as this will open up the underlying skin for increased risk of infection.
- Third Degree Burns are the most serious and affect all layers of the epidermis/skin. Call 911 immediately and cover injuries with cool wet towels.
Hot Water Burns
Hot water boils at 220 degrees Fahrenheit and will scald skin down to the dermis layers causing severe pain, but water need not be boiling to cause a burn. Coffee is typically served at 180 degrees and will scald most skin. The famous McDonald’s coffee case is not typical of most cases. Without going into the merits of that case, the lady who was burned for spilling coffee suffered major burns to her skin and collected a major award (that was subsequently reduced on appeal); however, the failure to warn issues presented have created a major debate, but the public is not educated on the issues that were actually presented at trial. See Liebeck v. McDonalds’s Restaurants, 1994. Hot Drinks like coffee and tea need to be handled very carefully.
Shock and infection can occur leading to serious health conditions. Scalding water is most common in hot drinks like tea and coffee where they are inadvertently spilled on guests in a restaurant or hotel. Frequently the cases Benson & Bingham Accident Injury Lawyers, LLC encounter involve the use of hot liquids from accidental spills or mishandling of equipment that holds hot liquids. Hot shower water or bath water should be checked frequently, especially around children.
Steam Burns
Steam is a very serious heat source and steam burns occur very quickly and are painful. Steam penetrates the skin pours faster then hot water. Steam is the result of water so hot that it evaporates into the air. Steam is the easiest way to get burned because the steam will penetrate the skin since it holds so much energy. Given your body is made of water, the steam opens the pores and melts the skin cells. Steam does not smell like smoke so the silent harm does not give warning.
Steam is a gas that is ultra heated causing instant penetration into the ski. Also known as thermal burns, these burns have very painful ramifications. Steam is so powerful, that it is often used in industrial applications to peel paint off of wood, clean fibers and melt piping. This shows how hot the steam gasses can be. Steam is used in commercial kitchens and throughout the hospitality industry in commercial applications like steam boilers.
Electrical Burns
Chemical Burns
Chlorine, liquid gas, acid and other chemical burns effect the skin on contact and need to be treated as soon as possible.
Light & Radiation Burns
Radiation burns can occur from simple sun tanning to tanning booths. Sun exposure is the most common form of a skin burn. Medical radiation is often used in Cancer treatments to kill cancer cells. Too much radiation will burn good and bad skin. Lasers are becoming more and more common in different industries. Firearms and power tools are using lasers as guides. Retina burns can occur from laser beams that do not appear harmful. Call Benson & Bingham Accident Injury Lawyers, LLC today if a product has been misused causing a skin burn of any type.
Fire
Fire burns come from direct contact with a heat source emanating an extreme temperature. Fire temperature is around 980 degrees F with the blue flame or middle temps approaching 2,400 degrees F; thus it does not take much to melt the flesh of human skin. For more information on fire burns.
Burn Treatment
Burns are treated based on the burn classification. 3rd degree burns get the most intense treatment requiring antibiotics and silver sulfadiazine treatments to help fight infection. Depending on the severity of the burn, skin grafts may be needed and are performed by plastic surgeons.
Worker’s compensation may also come into play for individuals who sustain burn injuries in a workplace accident.
Burn Care Centers
Las Vegas has only one burn care center, the Lions Burn Care Center at UMC. Opened since 1968, it is well recognized and helps with all types of burns: 702-383-2000.
For a burn care specialist in Reno, Tahoe or Northern Nevada, victims may need to be transported to the UC Davis Regional Burn Center for the best regional burn care. Once you have cared to your injuries, contact the attorneys at Benson & Bingham Accident Injury Lawyers, LLC for a free case evaluation.
Our Las Vegas Burn Injury Lawyers Answer Your Questions
Suffering a burn injury is a painful experience. While the physical injuries can last a lifetime, so can the mental scars. The stigma associated with visible scars adds to the difficulty of chronically living with burn injuries. Recent analysis shows that many burn injury victims suffer long-term mental and societal consequences from their injuries.
An experienced Las Vegas burn injury attorney can help you do everything possible to maximize your compensation. Burn injuries are often severe, resulting in years or a lifetime of medical treatment. The costs associated with this medical care can be astronomical.
Besides handling the medical costs, you may have other questions about what comes next for you. Below, we answer some of the most common questions we receive from burn injury victims. To find out more and get help with your burn injuries, speak with an experienced Las Vegas burn injury lawyer at Benson & Bingham Accident Injury Lawyers, LLC.
What causes burns?
Causes of burn injuries vary greatly. More severe burns require prompt medical attention.
The most common causes of burns include:
- Direct contact with fire or flame;
- Kitchen fires;
- Car accidents;
- Motorcycle accidents;
- Thermal burns;
- Electrical burns; and
- Fireworks.
Why are burns so painful?
Even a mild burn can hurt. The more severe the burn, the more intense the pain usually is and the longer it may last.
The medical care a burn requires can add even more pain to an already painful injury. Especially with severe burns, cleaning the wound is often described as the most intense and painful experience of a person’s life.
How are burns categorized?
Medical experts categorize burns into three levels of severity.
The higher the degree of the burn, the more damage the burn has caused and the more painful and time-consuming the recovery.
- First-degree burns. A first-degree burn damages only the outermost layer of skin. Redness or inflammation may appear around the burn area. People can treat some first-degree burns at home with cool water and aloe. If the pain and injury persist after a week, your injury might require medical attention.
- Second-degree burns. More severe, second-degree burns damage more layers of skin. Second-degree burns often cause blistering and may take weeks to heal. If not properly treated, a second-degree burn can lead to infection and cause further pain.
- Third-degree burns. Third-degree burns are the most severe burns. These injuries cause such extensive damage that victims may not feel any pain. That happens because the burn victim’s nerve endings were burned away. Third-degree burns often cause white or black dry wounds and can be so deep that the injury affects organs and bones. If not immediately treated by a medical professional, third-degree burns can be deadly.
Who is at fault for my burns?
Understanding how you were burned will help your legal team decide who may be to blame for your pain and suffering. Making this determination is not always straightforward.
It’s also possible that more than one person or entity could be at fault for your burn injury. That’s why it is vital to the success of your recovery that you work with a skilled burn injury attorney in Las Vegas.
How do I hold them responsible for my Las Vegas burn injury?
To hold someone else accountable and receive compensation for your burn injury, you must prepare and file a Las Vegas burn injury lawsuit. Doing so is probably the last thing on your mind. Your focus should be on your physical and mental recovery.
When you partner with a knowledgeable burn injury lawyer in Las Vegas at Benson & Bingham Accident Injury Lawyers, LLC, you can let go of your worry about how you pay your medical bills or any formal dealings with the at fault party or their insurance company. Your lawyer will aggressively work to protect your rights and help you collect maximum compensation for your burn injuries.
How much is my Las Vegas burn injury case worth?
We get this question frequently from potential clients. Unfortunately, there is no clear answer.
As with many legal questions, the answer depends on:
- The type and severity of the injury;
- The amount of time you had to spend off work recovering;
- The length and cost of any hospital stays you had to endure;
- The number of surgeries and medical procedures you had to undergo;
- Your future prognosis; and
- How clear and convincing the evidence is that the other party was at fault for your injury.
Many factors go into how much you may recuperate for your particular burn injury. Do not overlook how much money you need to get better. That’s where the experience and skill of a Las Vegas burn injury lawyer can be vital to your ability to recover every dollar you deserve. Working with medical experts and burn injury experts, the team at Benson & Bingham Accident Injury Lawyers, LLC can understand the full value of your claim and work toward achieving that result for you.
Do I have to file a Las Vegas burn injury claim soon?
Yes. In Nevada, you only have two years from the date of your burn injury to file a Las Vegas burn injury claim against the negligent party. Two years might seem like a long time right now but when you consider all the hurdles you may face on your path to recovery, that time will quickly expire.
Missing this important filing deadline means you cannot recover any compensation for your injuries. To help you avoid this situation, choose to work with a trusted burn injury lawyer at Benson & Bingham Accident Injury Lawyers, LLC. Our team can help you meet this and all other important deadlines.
Why do I need a Las Vegas burn injury lawyer?
When you partner with an experienced burn injury attorney, you get peace of mind that they will handle your Las Vegas burn injury claim while you heal. Your focus can now be on recovering and getting back to everyday life.
If you or a loved one has suffered a burn injury, you deserve skilled legal representation guiding you through the complex legal process. Contact Benson & Bingham Accident Injury Lawyers, LLC today to set-up a free consultation with an experienced Las Vegas burn injury lawyer.
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