Santa Ana Burn Injury Lawyers

Burn Injury Attorneys in Santa Ana

Legal Help After a Burn Injury Accident in Santa Ana and Orange County
What Are Burn Injuries?
What Are Some Causes of Burn Injuries?
Smoke Inhalation Injuries
Medical Treatment and Rehabilitation

Compensation for Santa Ana Burn Victims
Potential Defendants and Liability
Work with Experienced Santa Ana Burn Accident Lawyers
How We Help Protect Your Rights After a Burn Injury in Santa Ana

Legal Help After a Burn Injury Accident in Santa Ana and Orange County

When a burn injury results in severe injury or the death of a loved one, victims and their families may have many questions. Who is going to pay for medical expenses? How should you handle communications with the insurance company? What about lost earnings? Without an experienced attorney, it may be difficult, if not impossible, to obtain full and fair compensation for your injuries or the death of a family member.

Before you make a recorded statement to the insurance company or accept a settlement offer, talk to an experienced Santa Ana personal injury attorney and get an unbiased opinion of the value of your case. You may be entitled to far more compensation than the insurance company will initially offer you. To discuss your burn injury claim, contact HN Injury Lawyers at (657) 333-5726 today.

What Are Burn Injuries?

A burn injury refers to any damage to the skin or deeper tissues from exposure to heat (thermal), chemicals, electricity, or radiation. Thermal burns result from contact with flames, hot liquids, or objects. Chemical burns occur when skin comes into contact with corrosive substances like acids or alkalis. Electrical burns are caused by electric current passing through the body, leading to tissue damage. Radiation burns result from exposure to ionizing radiation, such as X-rays or nuclear sources.

Each type of burn injury presents unique challenges and requires specialized treatment to minimize damage and promote healing. The severity of a burn injury is classified into the following degrees:

First-Degree Burns: First-degree burns are the mildest form of burns, affecting only the outer layer of the skin (epidermis). These burns typically result in redness, minor swelling, and pain. Though they may also cause mild discomfort, they generally heal within a few days without leaving scars. Sunburns are common examples of first-degree burns.
Second-Degree Burns: Second-degree burns affect the outer layer of the skin and the underlying layer of skin (dermis). These burns result in redness, blistering, swelling, and severe pain. The skin may appear moist and shiny due to blister formation. Second-degree burns can be caused by exposure to flames, hot liquids, or prolonged contact with hot objects. They may take several weeks to heal and can potentially cause scarring.
Third-Degree Burns: Third-degree burns are the most severe type of burn injury, affecting all layers of the skin, including the deeper tissues. The skin may appear charred, white, leathery, or blackened. Third-degree burns often result in numbness or a lack of sensation due to nerve damage. Since these burns destroy nerve endings, they may not initially cause significant pain. However, surrounding areas may experience extreme pain. Third-degree burns require immediate medical attention and may necessitate skin grafts or surgical intervention to promote healing and minimize scarring.

Burn injuries often result in various complications. For example, scarring can be disfiguring and limit mobility, nerve damage may cause chronic pain or numbness, and respiratory issues can arise from inhalation of smoke or hot gasses, leading to lung damage or respiratory distress syndrome.

Long-term effects on physical well-being may include impaired mobility, chronic pain, and respiratory conditions. Emotionally, burn survivors may experience anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder, affecting their overall well-being and quality of life. Comprehensive care, including physical rehabilitation and psychological support, is essential for addressing these challenges and promoting recovery.

What Are Some Causes of Burn Injuries?

Burn injuries are common in car accidents, motorcycle and truck collisions, and SUV rollovers. Some other possible causes of burn injuries include:

Industrial Accidents: Burn injuries can occur in industrial settings due to chemical spills, fires, or explosions.
Construction Accidents: Burns may result from contact with hot materials, chemicals, or electrical sources at construction sites.
Electrical Accidents: Contact with exposed wires or faulty equipment can cause electrical burns.
Gas Tank Explosions: Explosions involving gas tanks, such as those in vehicles or industrial machinery, can lead to severe burns.
Building Fires: Fires in residential or commercial buildings can cause burns from direct contact with flames or inhalation of hot gasses.
Motor Vehicle Fires: Vehicle accidents can result in fires, causing burns to occupants.
Flammable Liquids: Accidental ignition of flammable liquids, such as gasoline or alcohol, can cause burns.
Hot Liquids/Scalding: Burns can occur from contact with hot liquids or steam, often in kitchen accidents or industrial settings.
Radiation Exposure: Exposure to radiation sources, such as X-rays or nuclear accidents, can cause radiation burns.

Smoke Inhalation Injuries

More than 50 percent of fire-related deaths are not from contact burn injuries — but from inhalation injuries. For victims of indoor fires, smoke inhalation is the primary cause of death.

Fires burning with insufficient oxygen may produce toxic chemical compounds, including carbon monoxide, which may quickly cause loss of consciousness and hydrogen cyanide. Inhaling smoke can also cause suffocation (simple asphyxiation) from a lack of oxygen.

Symptoms of smoke inhalation include coughing, shortness of breath, headaches, and loss of consciousness.

Medical Treatment and Rehabilitation

It is essential to seek immediate medical attention for burn injuries to receive proper wound care and minimize complications. Specialists like dermatologists or plastic surgeons can provide customized treatment plans for burn care. Rehabilitation includes physical therapy to regain mobility and occupational therapy to restore independence in daily activities.

Specialized burn centers offers comprehensive care, including psychological support to cope with trauma. And support services, such as counseling or support groups, can help address emotional needs.

Collaborating with healthcare professionals enables a holistic approach to recovery, optimizing physical and emotional well-being throughout the rehabilitation process.

Compensation for Santa Ana Burn Victims

When burn injuries are the result of another person or party’s negligent actions (i.e., leaving a candle burning that causes an apartment fire or causing an accident that ignites a car on fire), victims may be entitled to compensation from whoever is responsible for their injuries. Compensation awarded in an Orange County burn injury claim can include damages for:

All medical expenses
Future medical care costs
Skin grafting
Plastic surgery
Lost earnings
Loss of earning capacity
Therapy and rehabilitation
Emotional pain and suffering
Compensation for disfigurement and scarring

To recover monetary damages in a personal injury claim, the injured victim (the plaintiff) must be able to prove that the at-fault party (the defendant) caused their injuries. With years of collective experience representing burn injury victims, the attorneys at HN Injury Lawyers are familiar with how to establish liability in accidents caused by negligent motorists, negligent supervision of children, dangerous and defective products, and unsafe premises and, of course, burn injuries.

Potential Defendants and Liability

Not all burn injury cases are the same even in the legal sense. The defendants in a burn injury case can involve different types of individuals and entities:

Individuals: Individuals can be held liable for burn injuries if their negligent actions cause harm to others. For example, if someone causes a fire due to careless smoking or recklessly handling flammable materials, they may be held responsible for resulting injuries through personal injury claims.
Property Owners: Liability for property owners is determined based on premises liability laws. Property owners have a duty to maintain a safe environment for visitors. If a burn injury occurs due to negligence, such as failure to repair or warn about hazardous conditions (like exposed wiring or flammable materials), the property owner may be held liable.
Employers: Employers can be held liable for burn injuries under workers’ compensation laws if the injury occurs during employment. Additionally, if the injury results from employer negligence, such as failure to provide proper safety equipment or training, the employer may face liability through personal injury lawsuits.
Manufacturers: Manufacturers can be held liable for burn injuries caused by defective products under product liability laws. If a product, such as a faulty electrical appliance or flammable material, causes injury due to design defects, manufacturing defects, or inadequate warnings, the manufacturer may be held responsible.
Contractors: Liability for contractors depends on the circumstances of the burn injury. If the injury occurs due to the contractor’s negligence, such as improper electrical wiring installation or failure to follow safety protocols, they may be liable for damages.

Work with Experienced Santa Ana Burn Accident Lawyers

Many personal injury attorneys can win burn injury cases; however, not all can get maximum, full, and fair compensation. Since burn injuries cause not just physical pain but lifelong scarring and disfigurement, it is crucial to choose an attorney who can recover damages to fully compensate you for your injury. The Santa Ana burn injury attorneys at HN Injury Lawyers have a proven record of obtaining maximum settlements and verdicts in burn injury cases. If we cannot get a fair settlement in a reasonable amount of time, we will promptly take a case to trial.

How We Help Protect Your Rights After a Burn Injury in Santa Ana

At HN Injury Lawyers, our experienced Santa Ana burn injury lawyers are fully committed to protecting the rights of burn accident victims. We offer a free and comprehensive consultation to review your situation, answer your questions, and give you an honest opinion of your potential case. A statute limits the time you have to bring a claim for your injuries, so do not waste any time contacting an experienced burn injury lawyer. Call today at (657) 333-5726 for a free consultation.

Santa Ana Personal Injury Attorneys