When you suffer burn injuries, it can impact your life. Between the physical pain these injuries can cause and the scarring to your skin, burns can lead to chronic issues that will change how you live. If you’ve sustained burn injuries due to another person’s negligence, you may be eligible for compensation. Keep reading to learn more and discover how an Ouachita Parish, Louisiana personal injury lawyer can represent you.
What Are the Different Types of Burn Injuries?
There are four different kinds of burns one can sustain – thermal, electrical, chemical, and radiation. Thermal burns occur when the skin directly contacts hot substances or surfaces, while electrical burns happen when the skin is shocked. Radiation burns are sustained when the skin is exposed to these waves through the sun or radiation therapy, while chemical burns occur when harsh substances contact the skin.
Aside from the different ways one can sustain a burn injury, there are varying degrees of severity of each kind of burn. The worse the burn is, the more complications it can cause. Generally, first-degree burns impact the epidermis or the outmost layer of the skin. However, a fourth-degree burn penetrates both layers of the skin and can reach bone and muscle, eliminating nerve endings in the process.
What Treatment Is Necessary?
The treatment you receive will vary on the type of burn and its severity. In some instances, it could be as simple as cleaning and applying a prescription antibiotic cream, while other burns will require debriding and skin grafts.
Generally, it’s best to go to your doctor or seek emergency medical treatment for any burn you sustain, even if you don’t think it’s serious. This is essential for preventing infections. Also, when you sustain an electrical burn, currents can travel through your body, causing damage to your internal organs.
Do I Need to Contact an Attorney?
If you believe your injuries were the direct result of another party’s negligence, you should contact an attorney. Negligence that leads to burns can occur on behalf of an employer, through a product defect, or at the hands of a distracted driver. You may be entitled to financial compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. An attorney will examine the evidence surrounding your cases, such as medical records, police reports, and witness accounts.
Medical expenses can be astronomical, and you may suffer a loss of income as you receive treatment. Ensuring the party responsible for your injuries is held liable is crucial, as you can receive payment to help cover the costs. However, you should not wait to contact an attorney. The statute of limitations for personal injury cases in Louisiana is only one year. You must act fast to receive justice.
You don’t have to remain silent when suffering because of another person’s actions. Contact Breithaupt, DuBos, & Wolleson to connect with a competent attorney. We will fight to help you receive the justice you are entitled to.
