Classification of Burn Injuries
Burns are classified by severity:
- ✓First-degree burns: Affect only the outer skin layer (epidermis)
- ✓Second-degree burns: Damage epidermis and part of dermis
- ✓Third-degree burns: Destroy all skin layers, may damage underlying tissue
- ✓Fourth-degree burns: Extend through skin to muscle, tendon, or bone
Common Causes of Severe Burns
Burn injuries often result from negligence in various contexts: vehicle accidents and fires, workplace accidents, defective products (appliances, chemicals), premises liability (building fires, hot surfaces), medical malpractice, and chemical exposure.
Long-Term Effects of Severe Burns
Severe burns cause lasting physical and emotional consequences including: permanent scarring and disfigurement, need for multiple skin graft surgeries, chronic pain, limited mobility from contractures, psychological trauma (PTSD, depression), and temperature sensitivity.
Burn Injury Compensation
Burn victims may recover damages for: emergency and acute care, skin grafts and reconstructive surgery, long-term wound care, physical and occupational therapy, psychological treatment, lost wages and earning capacity, pain and suffering, and disfigurement.