Burn Injuries

When the skin has contact with heat, cold, electricity, chemicals, friction or radiation, it can result in a burn. When a burn occurs to the skin, the nerve endings are damaged and cause feelings of pain. While sustaining any type of a burn can be painful, there are multiple degrees of burn injuries:
 
First degree burns:  First degree burns usually cause the skin to redden, and the person will feel minor to extreme pain. The burn only penetrates the epidermis, or the outer lawyer of skin, and can regrow and heal itself with no visible after effect, except possible minor scarring.

Second degree burns: Second degree burns are more severe than first degree burns and can result in blistering, reddening, the appearance of clear fluid, and of course pain. Second degree burns penetrate through the epidermis, as well as the second layer of skin, the dermis. If treated well, second degree burns will heal with little scarring.

Third degree burns:  Third degree burns are the most severe because they penetrate through all layers of the skin. Third degree burns can cause skin to char, turning black or white.  Often, third degree burn patients feel little or no pain because their nerve ending have been destroyed. As they heal, third degree burns leave dense scarring on the affected areas.

Fourth degree burns: Occasionally, a burn is so severe that it can injure the tissues underneath the skin, such as muscles or bones. Depending on the severity of the burn, fourth degree burns can result in the loss of skin or muscle, and charred bones.

COMMON CAUSES OF BURN INJURIES:

• Automobile accidents
  
• Electrical burns or electrocutions
  
• Chemical burns
  
• Fires in building or homes
  
• Thermal burns (exposure or contact with steam, flames, flash, and hot surfaces or liquids with temperatures above 115 degrees)
  
• Radiation, including nuclear sources and ultraviolet light
  
• Fireworks
  
• Scalding
  
• Defective appliances (i.e. furnaces, smoke detectors, etc.)
  
• Explosions

The effects of burn injuries can be horrendous: severe scarring, long-term hospitalization, loss of nerve endings, respiratory damage, impairment of body temperature, body regulation, joint function and dexterity, and death. A person who has sustained burn injuries also may also face physical therapy and emotion or psychological damage.

Every year, over one million people in the United States suffer a burn injury. If you have suffered a burn injury in Long Island due to the negligence of another, it is important to speak to a skilled personal injury lawyer. A knowledgeable attorney will be able to provide you with legal options and protect your rights.

The Law Offices of Palermo, Palermo & Tuohy have successfully handled numerous personal injury cases involving burn injuries in the Long Island area. While the outcome of each case varies depending on circumstance, the attorneys at the Law Offices of Palermo, Palermo & Tuohy are committed to fighting on behalf your personal rights and best interest.

Call the Law Offices of Palermo, Palermo & Tuohy at (631) 265-1051 or contact us here.