Types and Degrees of Burns

Carabin Shaw Law Firm was started in San Antonio; as such, we have always held a special affection for the Alamo City. Our attorneys have proudly represented San Antonians for nearly three decades. If you have suffered a severe burn due to corporate negligence in San Antonio, our team of San Antonio personal injury lawyers at Carabin Shaw is here to help.

Once you schedule your initial case review, your San Antonio burn injury attorney will help you to build a comprehensive personal injury claim that includes the full extent of your injuries. You and your lawyer will need to identify the source of your burn accident, any negligent parties, and the full cost of your injuries. To begin, your San Antonio accident lawyer will consult medical records to ascertain the type and degree of your burn injury.

The type of burn injury correlates to the source of the burn (house fire, electrical fire, chemical spill, etc.). After ascertaining the type of burn, a burn injury lawyer in San Antonio can identify the source of the accident and begin building your case.

The most common types of burns include:

• Electrical burns
• Cold burns
• Chemical burns
• Thermal burns
• Radiation burns
• Friction burns

Burns are typically categorized by “degrees” of severity. Any of the above “types” of burns can fall within this range of “degrees.” Characteristics of the “degrees” of burns include:

• First-Degree Burns

  First-degree burns typically affect only the epidermis (outermost layer of skin). The effects of these burns can range from something like a mild sunburn to heat blisters. Usually, victims sustaining first-degree burns do not require stay in a specialized burn unit or long-term treatment.




Second-Degree Burns

Second-degree burns affect not only the epidermis but the dermis (the layer of skin beneath the dermis). In this range, victims may suffer scarring or discoloration after their burns have healed. These burns may blister, swell, and become painful to touch. Second-degree burns are often red and shiny (due to the swelling).




• Third-Degree Burns

  Once burns become third-degree, victims are more likely to require specialized medical care in a burn unit. Third-degree burns damage the two layers of your skin as well as the layer of fat beneath.

  Instead of the redness of second-degree burns, third-degree burns are typified by their black, brown, white, or yellow coloration. These types of burns often permanently damage nerve endings in the affected areas.




• Fourth-Degree Burns

  Fourth-degree burns damage the epidermis, dermis, fat, muscle, and bone. They are the most severe and life-threatening categorization of burns. Victims of fourth-degree burns could suffer from life-altering injuries and deadly complications. They will likely require long-term medical support, physical therapy, and extensive surgeries on their path to recovery.

The financial settlement amount you can expect to receive can depend on the severity of your burns. Victims of fourth-degree burns, for example, often incur much larger medical debt than victims of first-degree burns. However, do not let a corporation tell you that your first-degree burns are “no big deal.” You deserve fair financial compensation for any burns caused by corporate negligence.

Have you or a loved one suffered a catastrophic burn due to corporate neglect? If so, contact the qualified San Antonio accident lawyers at Carabin Shaw to learn more about your options.

If you would like to schedule a no-cost, no-obligation initial consultation and case review with an experienced burn injury lawyer in San Antonio, call our San Antonio office toll-free today at 877 697-0261 or fill out our online form.