The Different Types of Burn

There are many different ways a victim can be burned in an accident. The type of burn the victim suffers depends on the cause of the burn. The degree of the burn is determined by the burn’s severity.

A burn can have many severe side effects and complications like permanent nerve damage, chronic pain, and shock. Below are four different types of burn. If you suffer a burn in an accident caused by another party’s negligence, you have the right to seek monetary compensation for your damages through a personal injury claim.

Any time a burn occurs, the victim should receive appropriate first aid for the type of burn he or she suffered followed by professional medical attention. If a victim is ever unconscious after an accident that resulted in a burn, call 911 to have an ambulance sent to the scene. Receiving emergency medical attention after a burn can sometimes be the difference between surviving an accident and dying from the burn.

Thermal Burns

A thermal burn is the type of burn a victim suffers when his or her skin is exposed to an extreme heat source. This can be from touching fire, a hot object, or excessively hot water or steam.

Thermal burns can cause victims to suffer swelling in the affected area, blisters, scarring, and signs of infection like fluid oozing from the would and severe pain.

Chemical Burns

• Chemical burns occur when a victim’s skin comes into contact with an irritant like battery acid, chlorine, or bleach.
• Chemical burns can cause redness, swelling, pain, and numbness in the affected area of the body.

Electrical Burns

Electrical burns are caused by electrical current entering the body. These can be caused by stun guns, lightning, and contact with electrical objects. Sometimes, an electrical burn causes similar symptoms to chemical and thermal burns to appear on the skin. Far more commonly, they damage internal tissue and muscles, putting the victim at risk of suffering severe complications like cardiac arrest.

Radiation Burns

Radiation burns are far less common than the burn types listed above, especially in accident situations. When a victim is exposed to an unsafe level of radiation, he or she can suffer a radiation burn. This can happen to individuals who undergo radiation therapy for cancer.

There is one common type of radiation burn that most people suffer at least once in their lives: sunburn. When an individual suffers a sunburn, his or her skin is damaged by the sun’s ultraviolet radiation.

Draper Law Office can Help you Seek Compensation for your Burn-related Damages

If you were burned in an accident, you could have the right to seek compensation for your damages through a personal injury claim. To learn more about your rights and legal options in this scenario, contact our team at Draper Law Office online or by calling 866-767-4711 to schedule your initial consultation in one of our two florida offices.