Douglas County Burn Injury Lawyer

Burn injuries are notoriously challenging to treat. Individuals who suffer a burn injury may require medical care for the rest of their lives; depression and anxiety often follow suit. These injuries come at a great financial strain, as well, due to high medical bills and lost income.

If you or a loved one are suffering from burn injuries caused by another person, a seasoned catastrophic injury attorney could help you recover monetary compensation. Whether your injuries resulted from a fire, a workplace accident, a motor vehicle collision, or a defective product, an experienced Douglas County burn injury lawyer could work hard to secure vital resources on your behalf.

The Impact of Burn Injuries in Douglas County

The American Burn Association reports that, in 2016, there were 486,000 burn injuries treated in hospitals, resulting in over 40,000 admissions. Approximately 5,000 people die every year from burn-related injuries.

Burn survivors often sustain long-term or permanent injuries that can interfere with their ability to work and care for their families. At the same time, mounting bills to cover hospital admissions, surgeries, wound care specialists, and medications may lead to immense financial strain or debt. For injured victims, seeking legal recourse with the help of a burn injury lawyer in Douglas County could be an effective way to deal with such expenses.

Types and Degrees of Burn Injuries

There are several categories of common burn injuries, which may cause external and/or internal damage. Any of the following types of burns – if caused by another’s carelessness, recklessness, or intentional conduct – could serve as the basis for a burn injury lawsuit in Douglas County. Our compassionate lawyers at Inkelaar Law could help you file a claim to recover the damages you deserve.

Thermal Burns

Caused by an external heat source, such as a fire or boiling liquids, that comes into contact with the body, thermal burns can destroy skin, tissue, and nerve endings. In extremely severe cases, tendons, muscles, and bones can also be damaged. Blisters usually form, or the skin may appear white or charred.

Electrical Burns

Electrical burns result from contact with electrical currents, such as live wires. While the skin is often affected at the point of contact, the most severe electrical burn symptoms are usually internal. They include cardiac arrest, lung failure, destruction of tissue and nerves from the passing current, seizures, and other injuries.

Chemical Burns

Also referred to as caustic burns, this type of injury occurs when an irritant, such as acid or base, comes into contact with a person’s skin, eyes, or lungs, or is ingested. The resulting injuries might include blackened skin, vision loss, and burning, as well as cardiac arrest, seizures, and headaches.

Burn Severity

A burn’s severity is measured, in part, by the injury’s depth:

  • First-degree burns, including most sunburns, are relatively mild and affect only the outer layer of skin, called the epidermis.
  • Second-degree burns are more serious, injuring the outer and inner skin layers, as well as sweat glands, hair follicles, connective tissue, blood vessels, and nerves.
  • Third-degree burns are the most severe, penetrating both layers of skin, fat, muscles, tendons, or bones, and often leaving open wounds that are susceptible to infection.

A Douglas County Burn Injury Attorney Could Help Win Compensation

If you sustained a burn in an accident stemming from another party’s negligence, you might be able to recover monetary damages. Nebraska law permits burn injury plaintiffs to recover current and future out-of-pocket expenses, as well as additional compensation for pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of consortium.

Filing a lawsuit on a timely basis is crucial, so connect with a Douglas County burn injury lawyer today to learn more.