Burn injuries are one of the most painful types of injuries a person can endure, often causing permanent scarring and disfigurement. This legal guide offers information on personal injury claims for burn victims and their families in California.
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Types of Burn Injuries
Burn injuries can be caused by unlimited sources, including chemical exposure, hot liquids, contact with hot objects, or of course, fires and explosions. Scald injuries may be caused by spilled liquids or food, or even contact wit hot tap water. Thermal burns include burns from fires and burns from contact with a hot object, like a hot pan or a curling iron. Inhalation injuries, another type of burn injury, may result from inhaling chemicals such as carbon monoxide, benzene, sulfur dioxide, styrene, benzene, hydrogen sulfide, acrylonitrites, isocyanates, ammonia, acrolein, and hydrogen cyanide. Burn injuries can also result from fires and explosions, auto accidents, accidents at home, and accidents involving defective products. All injuries are unique and will require a different course of treatment and rehabilitation. The recovery period for burn injuries may be lengthy, and may require multiple skin grafts and surgeries.
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Complications of Burn Injuries
With any burn injury, there is always the very serious risk of infection and other major complications including kidney failure. When burns affect more than 20% of the body, burn victims may experience a decrease in blood volume known as hypovolemia. This can cause kidney failure and may be fatal, if not treated promptly. Kidney failure can also be caused by sepsis, which leads to inflammation and clotting throughout the body. Kidney failure is a particular risk for those that suffer electrical burns and thermal burns.
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Burn Injuries and Wrongful Death
If a member of your family died due to burn injuries, you may be entitled to compensation for your family member’s wrongful death. This may include damages for burial or funeral expenses, medical expenses related to their injuries, lost earnings, loss of companionship and emotional pain and suffering the victim experienced prior to their death.
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Compensation for the Physical and Emotional Consequences of Burn Injuries
Burn injuries are often life changing. Unlike internal injuries, burn injuries can cause permanent disfigurement and scarring, which may cause depression, anxiety and emotional distress. If you are a victim of a burn injury, contact a California burn injury lawyer with experience handling burn injury cases. You may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, surgeries, rehabilitation, earnings lost related to your injuries, pain and suffering, and other accident related expenses. The amount you may recover may vary depending on the type and severity of your injuries, the extent of scarring and disfigurement and other factors.
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