The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that approximately 359,000 people sought emergency medical treatment for burns and corrosive injuries in 2020. This number excludes damages from sunburns. National Burn Awareness Week is a time to remember those injured or killed by burn injuries and to take steps to protect ourselves against the devastating impacts of burns.

In this post, Church Church Hittle and Antrim (CCHA Law) offers background information on Burn Awareness Week and provides information about filing a legal claim against someone who inflicts a burn injury on another.

CCHA Law understands the challenges faced by burn victims. Burn injuries can be excruciating and are prone to scarring, leaving a lasting effect on your life. A burn injury attorney on our team is prepared to fight tirelessly to help burn victims recover the compensation they deserve from at-fault parties for causing such senseless harm.

What is National Burn Awareness Week?

National Burn Awareness Week is from February 5 to February 11, 2023, and calls attention to the severe impacts and risks of burns. By increasing burn injury awareness, organizations like the National Fire Protection Association and the American Burn Association hope to decrease the number of burns individuals experience each year.

The American Burn Association assigns an annual theme to Burn Awareness Week to help Americans focus on a particular aspect of burn injuries. In 2023, the focus is on “scald” injuries, such as from cooking, hot liquids, or foods.

What Are Common Sources of Burn Injuries?

Despite what most people may believe, not every burn injury comes from fire or flame. Many burns come from other sources. For example, car accident victims may suffer from airbag burns acquired during the collision.

Other sources of burn injuries include:

• Hot liquid
• Steam
• Radiation exposure
• Electrical wiring
• Fire
• Sunlight
• Chemicals
• Fireworks
• Hot metal
• Hot glass

Regardless of the source of the burn, severe complications and conditions can result. Burn victims may develop excruciating blisters, peeling skin, loss of feeling in the area, or even an infection. Some burns may fully heal, while others leave lifelong scars on the person’s body, such as the face, hands, neck, abdomen, or arms.

What Is the Resuscitation Phase of a Burn Injury, and Why Is It Important?

When your body experiences a severe burn, it causes a cascade of reactions in response. Even minor injuries to particularly vulnerable areas of the body, such as the eyes, ears, nose, hands, throat, or genitals, can trigger a significant reaction and require immediate medical attention.

Burn resuscitation describes the medical intervention needed to address severe burns or burn injuries to vulnerable areas of the body. During the resuscitation phase, medical professionals attempt to minimize the impacts of the burn by immediately hydrating the area with liquids using a specific formula. They also clean and dress the wound to prevent further damage to the skin and organs.

When Should I Contact a Burn Injury Lawyer?

If someone else’s actions caused your burn, you might have a legal claim against them. Burn injury claims may arise out of a variety of circumstances, such as:

• Accident on someone else’s property such as hotels or restaurants
• Apartment fires
• Car crash
• Truck accident or explosion
• Work accident
• Scalding water and pipes
• Electrical cord fire
• Locked fire exits
• Negligence
• Product defect

A burn injury lawyer can review your case and determine if you have a cause of action against the person who caused you harm.

Contacting burn injury law firms may also be in your best interest to ensure you meet your filing deadlines. In Indiana, burn victims typically must bring a legal claim against the at-fault party within two years after the incident. Sometimes, this deadline may be shorter or longer than the standard two-year deadline. A burn injury attorney can help you understand your legal rights and file a claim in the applicable statute of limitations period.

What Are Average 3rd Degree Burn Settlement Amounts?

Third-degree burns are the most severe type of burn that someone typically experiences. These burns penetrate all three layers of the skin, causing painful blisters, peeling of the skin, tissue death, and even nerve damage.

Victims of third-degree burns may be entitled to legal compensation from the person or organization responsible for their injuries. The amount of a financial settlement or jury award varies on a case-by-case basis and depends on many factors, including:

• The severity of the injury;
• The likelihood that the plaintiff will make a full recovery;
• The conduct of the at-fault party leading to the accident;
• The percentage that the court believes the plaintiff shares in fault, if any;
• The applicable law;
• The medical costs incurred by the plaintiff because of the injury;
• Past and future lost wages of the plaintiff because of the injury; and
• The pain and suffering endured by the plaintiff.

Because calculating the appropriate damages depends heavily on the situation, there is no standard or average 3rd degree burn settlement amount. That said, an attorney may review your case and help you understand the compensation range you might expect if you file a claim against the at-fault party.

CCHA Law: Burn Injury Attorneys Trusted by Indiana Since 1880

Suffering a burn injury can lead to a highly challenging road to recovery. Sitting, standing, walking, or lying down can be painful, or you may even permanently lose feeling in the affected area. At CCHA Law, our personal injury team is ready to fight for you to help you obtain the relief you need to move forward. If you or a loved one suffered a burn injury because of someone else’s negligence, call our team today at 317-773-2190 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.