Free case evaluation

Philadelphia Burn Injury Attorney

Burns are some of the most painful injuries a person can experience. Burn victims often carry the scars for the rest of their lives, and burn injuries typically involve several medical treatments, including physical therapy to restore functionality to burned limbs.

There are several different types of burns, and a person can be burned in several ways, including:

  • Heat burns (thermal burns). These are the most commonly seen burn injuries; close exposure to open flames, explosions, and contact with hot surfaces or liquids (scalding) can cause them. Thermal burns are typically external.
  • Electrical burns happen when a person contact an open electrical source or touches a high-voltage discharge such as an electric fence or utility panel. Electrical burns are externally painful, but carry a high risk of internal complications afterward, and they can interfere with the body’s natural electrical currents.
  • Chemical burns describe injuries caused by corrosive chemicals and sometimes by the inhalation of toxic fumes. Inhalation of corrosive or toxic chemicals can also scar the respiratory passages and cause brain damage.
  • Radiation burns result from exposure to ultraviolet light, microwaves, and other forms of radiation. While most people commonly don’t contact volatile nuclear material, sunburn is a type of radiation burn most people experience at some point.

Effects of a Burn Injury

People typically assess the severity of a burn using a degree scale. First-degree burns are the least severe and describe burns that affect only the top layers of skin. First-degree burns usually heal in a matter of days or weeks and may result in light scarring. Second-degree burns affect the skin layers more deeply and take longer to heal than first-degree burns. Third-degree burns damage the skin layers and usually require skin grafts, and typically lead to a large amount of scarring. Finally, fourth-degree burns are the most severe, and extend into the underlying tissues or bones beneath the skin.

Since burn injuries typically leave obvious scarring, they can be psychologically traumatic for the victim. Burns also leave the victim open to other complications, such as infections, respiratory problems, cardiovascular difficulties, and some types of cancer, such as skin cancer caused by excessive sun exposure.

Burn Injury Lawyer in Philadelphia

If you were burned and believe it was the fault of another person or entity, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses and pain and suffering. An experienced Philadelphia attorney can make a huge difference in the outcome of any personal injury case. To prove negligence on the part of the defendant, your attorney will need to establish that they owed you a duty to act with reasonable care, they breached this duty by some action, and their action directly caused your burn injuries.

Burns require serious medical intervention and often necessitate ongoing medical treatments, physical therapy, or other rehabilitation measures. They are also incredibly painful wounds that leave psychological scars as well as physical ones. The effects of a burn injury may also cause a victim to miss time at work, and their families will struggle with finances as a result. In some cases, a burn suffered in the workplace may entitle you to workers’ compensation benefits, but it is highly unlikely that your awarded sum will cover all your expenses.

At Ciccarelli Law Offices, our team of attorneys believes victims should not have to bear the cost of their injuries alone if the negligent actions of another caused them. Burns are serious injuries that require careful medical attention and a stress-free time to heal. Contact the legal experts at Ciccarelli Law Offices if you have any questions about a burn injury in the Philadelphia area or wish to start reviewing a case today.