The CDC reports that approximately every two hours, an American is lost to a fire. In 2019 alone, the Austin Fire Department made over 120,000 runs throughout Travis County. Out of the 1.1 million annual burn injuries that require serious medical attention, 50,000 will require hospitalization. These statistics, while sobering, highlight a very real danger facing our communities. The physical, financial, and emotional burdens on victims are substantial.
While there are a variety of catastrophic burns that contribute to this data, there is a pattern of the most common types of burns and risk factors. Understanding these patterns can help burn victims categorize their injuries in order to understand what financial compensation they are eligible to claim with the help of a qualified burn injury attorney.
If you are a burn victim in the Austin area, contact an experienced burn injury attorney in Austin to learn more.
What are the Most Common Types of Burns?Burn injuries are generally categorized by “degree” of severity. For example, a first-degree burn can be as minor as a sunburn; a third-degree burn, however, damages the outer layers of the skin, the fat layer beneath, and even muscle and bone. All of the above types of burns can become a first, second, or third-degree burn injury.
Whatever the type or severity of your burn, you deserve financial compensation for your injuries. Your Austin injury attorney will help you to compile a comprehensive claim that covers the full extent of your damages.
Who is Most at Risk for Burn Injuries?The Elderly
The elderly are one of the most at-risk demographics for burn injuries. Elderly adults who suffer from dementia-related memory loss are especially prone to forgetting to turn off appliances or extinguish open flames; this can lead to accidental fires and severe injury. Adults 65 and older also can have slower reaction times that can impede their ability to stop fires from spreading.
Children
Children are less likely to understand fire safety protocols and are prone to causing accidental fires, especially when unsupervised. Children are more likely to play with dangerous items such as lighters, candles, and matches.
People Living in Poverty
Families living in poverty are less likely to live in dwellings built with fire-proof materials. The conditions of many rental units in particular are not up to fire-safety codes.
In addition, these families may not have functioning smoke detectors or fire alarms. All of these combined factors are especially dangerous when families live in multiple-household dwellings (such as large apartment complexes).
People Living Alone
People who live alone may be more at risk for burn injuries. The more people in a home, the more likely someone is to prevent a fire from spreading or call the fire department. Additionally, if someone lives alone and the fire spreads too quickly, they may be less likely to safely escape.
Additional factors that can contribute to accidental fires include:
If you or a loved one have suffered severe burn injuries, you may be eligible to seek financial compensation with the help of a qualified burn injury attorney in Austin. The team of personal injury lawyers at Carabin Shaw can offer burn victims our nearly three decades of experience as burn injury lawyers and our “client-first” philosophy. We proudly serve burn injury victims and their families in the Austin area.
Free Case ReviewIf you would like to schedule a no-cost, no-obligation initial consultation and case review with our experienced Austin injury attorneys, call our office toll-free today at 512-832-1101 or fill out our online form.