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What Causes of Burns in Brownsville? Determining the Severity of Your Burns Burn Injury Compensation Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat Causes of Burns in Brownsville?
Burns can happen anywhere, and the same Texas burn injury laws apply wherever you are hurt. Many minor burns occur in the home, but others can occur at work or after a vehicle accident. Common causes of burn injuries include, but are not limited to:
- Faulty wiring in the workplace or home
- Gas explosions
- Structural fires
- Flammable materials
- Defective equipment or products
- Defective household items
- Automobile accidents
Electrical burns come from exposure to electrical current and can happen inside or outside the body. The strength of the current affects how severe the burn is. Chemical burns can result from product liability, whereby a product contained detergents or acids that failed to explain proper handling and as a result, led to severe injuries. It can also result from mishandled alkalis on a job site. Malfunctioning products can also cause burns, and claims against their makers and sellers are governed by Chapter 82 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code.
When steam, smoke, toxic fumes, or gasses, are inhaled it can result in inhalation burns. Inhalation burns happen during worksite accidents, motorcycle or car accidents, and in accidents involving fires.
Determining the Severity of Your Burns
According to the American Burn Association, hundreds of thousands of people are treated for burns each year, and many suffer severe burn injuries, which can result in extreme pain, tissue damage, permanent scars, even death.
In Texas, you need a medical professional (preferably from a hospital such as Valley Regional Medical Center or Solara Hospital Brownsville) to evaluate your burns after the injury is sustained. In so doing, they will classify the severity of your burns using a four scale system.
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1. First-degree burns are the least damaging. These only impact the outer layer of skin and are equivalent to a sunburn. No medical treatment is typically required.
2. Second-degree burns affect the dermis and are often experienced when, for example, a burn is severe enough that it blisters or causes pain.
3. Third-degree burns are severe, medically speaking, and impact the skin and tissue below. The skin will change color and be quite painful. Professional medical attention is required at this level.
4. Fourth-degree burns are incredibly severe, but the least common. These burn skin, tissue, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and bones, often resulting in the need for amputation, permanent disfigurement, or death.
Burn Injury Compensation
To receive compensation in Texas, you should work with a Brownsville burn injury lawyer to determine whether the injury took place at work and therefore requires a worker’s compensation claim, or whether it was the result of negligence (i.e., product liability or a car accident) and requires a negligence lawsuit.
In Texas, you need to prove negligence by the four-tier system, which requires you to:
- First, prove that the defendant had a duty of care, meaning a responsibility to avoid causing harm to others.
- Second, prove that this responsibility was breached.
- Third, prove that said breach directly resulted in your burns and had they not breached their duty of care you would not have been burned.
- Fourth, prove that you have endured financial strain as a result and are owed compensation.
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Consider this: if you burn your hand touching hot metal and can prove the first three negligence items, but the burn was a first-degree burn that went away without medical care, lack of medical bills and without the injury impacting the rest of your life, it would not be adequate for pursuing a case. By comparison, if that burn was a third-degree burn with multiple bills, it would be.
If you were burned on the job and your employer carries workers’ comp, you usually file a workers’ compensation claim with its insurance company instead of a negligence lawsuit, and you only need to show you were burned while doing your job. If your employer opted out of workers’ comp, you can sue it for negligence.
In a negligence case, you can seek compensation for the following damages. Workers’ comp benefits are more limited and do not pay for pain and suffering:
- Medical expenses relating to the burns
- Out of pocket expenses related to the injury
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering (especially for disfigurement or amputation)
- Punitive damages
Frequently Asked Questions:
Brownsville Burn Injuries
Can I File a Claim for a Burn Injury?
Yes. If someone else’s negligent or wrongful actions caused your burn injury, they are typically liable for your losses.
What if I Caused My Burn Injury?
You may still have a claim if someone else also contributed to your injury and your share of the fault is 50% or less. That is why it’s important to consult a lawyer after a burn injury, even when you believe your actions are to blame.
What Kind of Compensation Is Available in a Burn Accident?
You can recover the full cost of your past and future medical care. You can also get compensated for your income losses. Finally, you can receive compensation for pain, suffering, disfigurement, and disability.
Do I Need a Lawyer for a Burn Injury Claim?
Having a law firm like The Law Giant in your corner can make a significant difference in the amount and speed of your settlement. It can also reduce your stress and provide you with peace of mind as you recover.
AT THE LAW GIANT,
We Win Big!
Burn injury accidents come in many forms. At The Law Giant, Personal Injury & Accident Lawyers, our Brownsville personal injury lawyers understand how tough this situation is for you and your family. We know that you need help and are here to get you the justice and all the compensation you deserve.
If you or a loved one is hurt in a Brownsville burn accident, we recommend contacting our attorneys to discuss your rights and options. Call the Law Giant today at (956) 982-1800 or contact us online for a free case evaluation.
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