Burn Injury in Texas

Burns from auto accident fires, chemical exposure, electrocution, and explosions are almost always due to negligence – the failure of another party to exercise a reasonable duty of care for you and your family. If you or a family member has suffered such an injury, you may be eligible for compensation. The American Burn Association estimates that 450,000 people are treated for severe burns annually in the United States. 2016 reports from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality found that burn injuries cost 1.5 billion dollars in treatment and over 5 billion dollars in lost wages for the year 2010. But not all burn injuries are the same. Burn injuries vary widely in severity and cause and can happen pretty much anywhere you go. Unfortunately, burn injuries are not always an injury the victim recovers from. Irreparable damage and extreme pain can come from everyday activities in your own home. Sometimes, the accident that caused your burn may be the result of another party’s negligence. Faulty equipment or improperly designed appliances are common causes of household burns.

If you or someone you love has suffered a burn injury, it may be the result of another party's negligence. Contact our law firm today to find out at 800-862-1260.

Burn injuries are among the most painful kinds of injury a person can experience, and they can happen from common everyday experiences. Burn injuries range in severity from 1st to 3rd degree. It is important to note that the following information is not intended as medical advice, nor do we recommend self-diagnosing with this information. If you have been badly burned, please see a medical professional as soon as possible.

• 1st degree – this minor burn only affects the outermost layer of the skin, the epidermis. They are usually light red in color and can be mild to extremely painful.
• 2nd degree – these burns affect a deeper layer of the skin underneath the epidermis, known as the dermis. They can be darker red or white and splotchy and cause extreme pain. They may also swell and develop blisters. There is a type of 2nd-degree burn known as "full thickness," which penetrates deep into the dermis and forms a dry layer of skin and is usually white in color. These are usually from explosions.
• 3rd degree – these burns affect beyond the dermis and into the fatty layer beneath it. Although these are the most severe type of burn, they can sometimes not cause pain due to nerve damage creating numbness in the affected area. The burn may be black, brown, or white and cause a leathery look to the skin.

Contact burns are just what they sound like – a severe burn due to the prolonged transfer of heat from an object to the skin. These are the most common type of burns that occur during normal household activities and are often the result of faulty appliances. Exposure to gas-induced flames as a result of an auto accident is an unfortunate cause of contact burns, especially on public transportation like a bus. Aircraft also commonly catch on fire in an accident, and victims who become trapped in their seats may suffer severe contact burns as a result.

Portable gas cans are a very common part of a household garage, but did you know that they are vulnerable to explosions? Plastic gas cans can become a dangerous potential explosive if common defects in design are combined with improper use. A slight alteration of the design of these gas cans, as well as sufficient instructions and warning labels, could prevent serious injury and even tragic loss of life from a household gas can explosion.

These types of burns are common on construction sites. Workers can suffer electrical burns while accidentally digging into a power line buried in the ground or a power line dangling dangerously over a job site. Workers can also be injured during house calls or while installing electrical equipment in a client’s home. Dangerous and defective products can cause electrical burns from household appliance use, especially space heaters.

Prolonged exposure to toxic chemicals such as lye can cause extreme burns over a wide area. Exposure to these chemicals can happen at work or in a grocery store, or even at school. They aren't always immediately obvious and can be internal due to inhalation, making them extremely dangerous. They can be highly unpredictable and often occur on the face and hands. If you have received a chemical burn, it should always be considered a medical emergency, so see a doctor as soon as possible.

If you have suffered any of the above burns, you may be entitled to legal compensation. Reach out to our team at 800-862-1260 today to find out.

Whether you were injured on the job, at home, in a grocery store, or in school, Carabin Shaw is here to help. As we previously mentioned, burns from auto accident fires, chemical exposure, electrocution, and explosions are almost always due to negligence – the failure of another party to exercise a reasonable duty of care for you and your family. Whatever the cause, burn injuries can be debilitating and extremely painful. The last thing you’ll want to do is deal with complicated legal battles. Leave that to us.

The Carabin Shaw Law Firm has been representing burn victims for thirty years in San Antonio and across Texas. Our legal team has the experience and access to ample resources necessary to represent you in your burn injury claim. Contact Carabin Shaw today at 800-862-1260. We look forward to serving you.