A severe burn suffered in a fire can be a particularly devastating type of injury. They can be extremely painful and have a lasting impact on the victim. Burns often require extensive treatment and rehabilitation. And they can leave the victim with restricted movement, scarring, and disfigurement in severe cases.
Burn injuries caused by fires are usually thermal burns, and burn injuries are typically classified by degrees.
The three most common degrees include:
- First-Degree Burns — A superficial burn involving damage to only the epidermis, the outermost layer of skin. First-degree burns cause mild pain and often heal on their own in a matter of days. Sunburn is the most common example of a first-degree burn.
- Second-Degree Burns — A superficial partial-thickness burn that involves damage to the epidermis and the dermis, the layer of skin below the epidermis. A second-degree burn can cause blisters and possible scarring. Skin grafting could sometimes be required. And recovery often takes several weeks.
- Third-Degree Burns — A deep partial-thickness burn in which damage extends into the sweat glands and underlying tissues. Skin grafting is always required for third-degree burns. Specific injuries could require surgery.
Three additional degrees of burn injuries are less common and often fatal. These other degrees include fourth-degree burns that extend into the fat, fifth-degree burns that extend into the muscle, or sixth-degree burns that extend into the bone.
If you’ve suffered a burn injury caused by someone else’s negligence, you could be compensated by the responsible party. Through a personal injury lawsuit, you could secure compensation for the harm you’ve suffered, including lost wages, medical bills, physical therapy, pain and suffering, and more. Hiring an experienced burn injury attorney like the ones at Hach & Rose, LLP is crucial to get the qualified legal counsel you’ll need to pursue your claim.
Contact a New York Burn Injury Lawyer
The injury attorneys at Hach & Rose, LLP represent burn injury clients on a contingency-fee-basis. This means that you won’t owe us a thing if we don’t win your case. Contact our attorneys at (212) 779-0057 or fill out a contact form to get the full and fair compensation you’re owed.