Omaha Burn Injury Attorneys

Burn Injury

Burn injuries are one of the most excruciatingly painful and most dangerous types of personal injury, as they can cause damage to more than just the skin. The skin is a highly important organ that is responsible for regulating body temperature and hydration, keeping out disease, as well as other functions. If the skin is severely damaged by a burn, victims can suffer major blood loss, dehydration, and serious infection. Burns also destroy sweat glands, hair follicles, and skin elasticity. Severe burns that result in scarring may even require expensive skin grafting surgeries.

ABA Burn Injury Statistics

According to the American Burn Association (ABA), an estimated 3,500 people die from burn injuries every year in the U.S. Furthermore, approximately 45,000 people are hospitalized for burn injuries and about 450,000 receive medical treatment annually.

Causes of Burn Injuries

Burn injuries may result from a number of situations, in a number of places, including at work, at home, on the street, at a store, as well as other locations. Oftentimes, however, burn injuries are caused by preventable accidents at home or at work. Some causes of burn injuries include:

  • Electric shock;
  • Contact with noxious chemicals;
  • House fire;
  • Cooking fire;
  • Wildfire;
  • Motor-vehicle fire;
  • Exposure to radiation;
  • Excessive heat exposure;
  • Excessive sun exposure;
  • Industrial explosion;
  • Workplace fire;
  • Contact with hot liquids; and
  • Defective heat or fire producing products.

Types and Degrees of Burn Injuries

Burn injuries may be caused by a number of substances, though fire or heat from fire is the most common. Burns may be categorized as fire/flame, electrical, chemical, radiation, or scalding and their severity are determined by “degrees:”

  • 1st degree burns damage the epidermis layer or top layer of skin;
  • 2nd degree burns damage the dermis lawyer or second layer of skin; and
  • 3rd degree burns, the most severe, damage the subcutaneous layer or third layer of skin.

Consequences of a Burn Injury

Because burns expose the sensitive layers of the skin to foreign substances, the effects of such injuries are unpredictable. Even exposure to air can cause further injury or illness. A severe enough burn may even lead to amputation.

Approximately 45,000 people are hospitalized for burn injuries and about 450,000 receive medical treatment annually.

Serious non-physical consequences, such as emotional trauma, may also occur. Severe burns also tend to cause unsightly scars. Extensive scarring can create a range of social and emotional issues, including shyness and withdrawal from society. This may make it more difficult to lead a normal life. Furthermore, serious burn injuries can require multiple surgeries and/or other medical treatments than can create undue financial burdens for the victim and their family.

Recovering after a Burn Injury

Suffering a burn injury can be very traumatic. When the physical and emotional hardships are compounded with long-term medical costs, however, it can become unbearable. No victim can make a proper recovery under such circumstances. At Cullan & Cullan, our dedicated Omaha fire burn injury lawyers, who are also physicians, have a thorough understanding of burn injuries and the devastation they can cause. We have obtained several multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of injured clients and are committed to holding at-parties accountable for their actions. If you or a loved one has suffered a burn injury in Nebraska as the result of another’s negligence or wrongdoing, we can help you pursue the compensation you deserve. Call us today to learn more about your legal rights and options at 1-402-397-7600.