New York City Burn Injury Lawyer

Burn injuries range from relatively mild to catastrophic, but each can be devastating to experience. Recovery may take a long time and medical care can be incredibly expensive.

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Causes and Types of Burn Injuries in NYC

Burn injuries in NYC can occur due to a variety of factors, often related to one’s environment or occupation. Common causes include sunlight radiation, chemicals, electricity, heat exposure, building fires, and scalding hot water.

These are particularly prevalent in workplaces, especially in fields like construction where exposure to hazardous conditions is more frequent.

John Hopkins Medicine categorizes burn injuries into four main types, each associated with different causes:

1. Chemical Burns

These burns happen when skin is exposed to harmful chemicals, which can cause anything from slight irritation to severe damage.

This type of burn is common in industrial settings where chemicals are used or stored. These burns can happen while working or if the chemicals were improperly stored in an apartment building.

2. Electrical Burns

These injuries result from exposure to electric currents. They may not look severe on the surface but can cause deep tissue damage.

They often occur in construction or maintenance jobs where workers are in contact with electrical systems or other exposed wires.

3. Thermal Burns

These burns are caused by direct contact with flames, hot liquids, steam, or other sources of intense heat.

This type includes scalds from hot water and oil, common in kitchens. Sever instances can happen from , and severe burns from fires, often seen in building fires or explosions.

4. Radiological Burns

These burns affect individuals exposed to radiation, such as cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy.

Though usually mild, they require careful treatment to manage pain and prevent complications.

Each type of burn injury has specific implications for treatment and legal claims, as the cause of the injury can significantly impact the potential for compensation, especially if it occurred in a work-related setting.

Liability for Your NYC Burn Injury

There are multiple parties who could be held liable for the damages you’ve suffered depending on the details of your case. Damages can cover lost wages, medical bills, and other out-of-pocket expenses.

Liable parties in your burn injury case may include:

• Building owners, property owners, or landlords
• Manufacturers of defective products (such as smoke detectors)
• Retailers of a defective product
• Negligent motorists (if injuries are from a car accident)
• Government agencies
• Transit companies
• Cab or rideshare drivers
• Employer or employee

If it is an employer or coworker who caused your workplace burn injury, you will likely file a worker’s compensation claim. However, these claims won’t cover the entirety of your lost wages, and will not cover damages such as pain and suffering. Many people recover full compensation after a workplace injury through a third party liability claim or lawsuit.

Burn Injury Treatment

If you have suffered a burn, seek immediate medical attention or visit a nearby trauma center. You should be evaluated by a doctor regardless of your injury severity. Even minor burns may require antibiotics to prevent infection. If your burns are more severe, you may need extensive treatment such as synthetic skin grafting.

A skin graft covers the exposed tissue and helps your body heal by growing new skin. These treatments can be costly and require a significant amount of your time and energy. If you were burned as a result of someone else’s negligence, you might be entitled to recover compensation.

Causes of Burn Injuries in NYC

A burn injury can happen due to:

• Sunlight radiation
• Chemicals
• Electricity
• Heat exposure
• Building fires
• Scalding hot water

Many workers are exposed to one or more of these during the job, which is why burn injuries occur frequently in workplace accidents especially accidents involving construction workers.

Burn Injuries at Work

Burn injuries are common in the workplace, with over 30,000 cases in 2020. A wide range of occupational fields can encounter these hazards, including construction, cleaning, and medicine.

Some reasons behind work-related burn injuries include:

• Concrete burns caused by the caustic mixture of cement and water
• Acid or chemical spills
• Gas explosions
• Fires sparked by welding, soldering, grinding, and other “hot work” tasks
• Exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV) generated by the electric arc in the welding process
• Exposure to x-rays or radiation
• Flammable material explosions
• Electrical fires from temporary electrical set-ups
• Explosions and fires caused by temporary heaters
• Explosions involving rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, used in many construction tools
• Smoking workers
• Pipe explosions
• Explosions caused by combustible dust

Compensation in NYC Burn Injury Cases

Burn injuries are devastating and vary significantly in severity. Burns are categorized by degrees, and each degree can affect the potential compensation available in a claim.

Typically, the more severe the burn injury, the more damages there will be associated with treating and living with them.

First-Degree Burns

The least severe category of burns, first-degree burns typically involve minimal medical costs and a short recovery period.

However, compensation might still cover any immediate medical treatment, minor pain and suffering, and a brief period of lost wages if work is missed.

Second-Degree Burns

The second lowest category of burn injury, these burns can increase a claim’s value. Victims may require more intensive medical care, there is a potential for significant scarring, and  it will take longer for victims to recover.

Compensation can include extensive medical treatments, pain and suffering for prolonged discomfort, and possible emotional distress from the aesthetic and functional changes to the skin.

Third-Degree Burns

The second-highest level of burn, these injuries often require extensive and ongoing treatment. These are often invasive procedures, like surgeries or skin grafts. Some victims must also live with adaptive devices to improve their quality of life.

All of these changes contribute to higher claim values. Victims can seek compensation for severe pain and suffering, long-term or permanent disability, extensive lost wages, and profound emotional distress.

Fourth-Degree Burns

These are the most severe burns possible. Damages often extend into victims’ muscle and bone. These injuries may lead to substantial claims due to the extreme and permanent nature of the damage.

Victims can pursue damages to cover their comprehensive medical care, complete loss of earning capacity, and compensation for lifelong pain management and disability. Some fourth-degree burns can be fatal, and it’s possible to pursue wrongful death claims.

Damages Available in Burn Injury Claims

For each of these, specific compensation is crucial to adequately address the consequences of the injury:

• Medical Treatment Expenses: From emergency care to long-term treatments and rehabilitation.
• Pain and Suffering: Reflecting the severity of discomfort and the duration of recovery.
• Emotional Distress: Especially significant in cases of disfiguring burns.
• Lost Wages and Future Earning Capacity: Covering periods of unemployment and reduced ability to earn.
• Disfigurement and Disability: Addressing permanent physical changes and capabilities.
• Lifestyle Adaptation Costs: For changes necessary in daily living due to the injury.

Understanding the link between the degree of burns, their impact on a victim’s life, and the corresponding legal claim’s potential value is vital.

It underscores the importance of securing comprehensive legal representation to ensure that all aspects of compensation are thoroughly pursued, supporting the victim’s recovery and future well-being.

A burn injury lawyer at Hecht, Kleeger & Damashek, Personal Injury Lawyers, P.C. can help you evaluate your case and find your claim’s total.

Call Our New York City Burn Injury Lawyers Today

At Hecht, Kleeger, & Damashek, P.C., we know that a successful burn injury claim or lawsuit starts with the right lawyer. Our team has served clients for more than 75 collective years. Together, we have recovered millions in case settlements for personal injury victims. Let us put our experience to work for your case.

If you or a loved one suffered a burn injury in New York, reach out to Hecht Kleeger & Damashek, P.C. and see if we’re the right firm for you. We offer free initial consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t owe us anything unless we win your case.

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