BURN INJURY

There is nothing that properly describes the agony of suffering a serious burn injury. Even small first-degree burns can sting for days. When an accident causes deep and/or widespread burns, a victim’s suffering is multiplied manifold. Unfortunately, aside from being painful, burn wounds also take a long time to heal. Unlike most other injuries, serious burns cannot mend on their own. Patients may need skin grafts and physical therapy as part of their long-term recovery program.

These injuries not only disrupt a victim’s life but also come with serious expenses. Anyone suffering a severe burn wound that was caused by someone else’s negligence likely has standing to bring a claim for compensation. If you or a loved one is in this position, taking this step can help ensure your financial stability and continued access to the specialty treatment a burn victim needs. Our Kansas City burn injury lawyer can help you understand your legal rights and why filing a claim may be advantageous. We’re happy to learn more about your situation and offer qualified advice in a free consultation.

Call our office any time at 816-608-7949 to schedule your consultation. We offer home visits if you can’t make it in to visit our team.

Burn injuries can be caused by a variety of accidents and mishaps, and by a variety of circumstances. Most people conjure the image of a raging fire when hearing about burns. This is one way someone can be burned, but it’s not the only method.

Our team can help with all types of burns:

• Flame
• Flash (caused by explosions)
• Scalds (caused by hot liquids or steam)
• Electrical
• Chemical (also known as caustic)

Though the cause of injury is different across some of these burn types, the end effect is the same: skin cells are completely damaged by a harmful transfer of energy. These wounds, aside from being painful, put a patient at an increased risk of infection as well as disrupting the internal balance of the body. The severity of a burn injury can depend on factors like the intensity of heat, the length of exposure, and how much of the body was exposed.

Burns are classified according to these factors:

• First-degree burns typically do not need medical intervention to heal. They impact only the outer layer of the skin, called the epidermis.
• Second-degree burns go one layer deeper, affecting the dermis as well. Patients may be able to heal with medical support, or they may need skin grafts.
• Third-degree burns damage all layers of the skin, including nerves, hair follicles, and sweat glands. Burns of this degree and higher cannot heal on their own; a patient will need tissue grafts and will likely sustain noticeable scarring.
• Fourth-degree burns penetrate into the fat layer below the skin. While tissue grafts may be able to aid healing, patients may require a medical amputation if the damage is too extensive to fix.
• Fifth-degree burns also affect muscle and underlying organs. Due to the severity of the damage, victims typically are not able to survive these injuries.
• Sixth-degree burns are full-penetration burns: They reach all the way to the bone. Such burns, when they occur, are always fatal.

Burn risks are around us every day, though we may not think about it: Electricity, household appliances that heat up, and even chemical cleaners can cause injury. All it takes is one moment of distraction to cause a severe burn. In some cases, one person’s negligence can affect many. Burns may be caused by:

• Car accidents
• Construction accidents
• Faulty or defective products
• Workplace accidents

If you or your loved one experienced a burn in such circumstances, and it was caused by another party’s actions or mistakes, talk to our team today to see if you are eligible to bring a claim. When someone else is liable for an accident that can so thoroughly change a life, it is only fair that they help the victim(s) recover.

We know how time- and energy-intensive healing from a burn injury is. These wounds, when severe, are among the most serious harms a human can survive. This is all the more reason to pursue compensation. If your life has been changed, both in the short-term and the long-term, you need support to help you move forward in your new reality. Our team can help you identify potential elements of your claim including:

• Medical bills
• Future medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Lost/reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering

We want to make sure you are as well taken care of as is possible if you’ve been through such a serious and painful event. Reach out to our team at any time to learn more about your legal options.

Klenofsky & Steward, LLC is available 24/7 at 816-608-7949. We offer free consultations, in our office or your home, throughout the Kansas City area.