Burn Injury Attorney in Montgomery

burn injury attorney in Montgomery, AlabamaAccording to the American Burn Association, there are approximately 500,000 burn injuries that require medical treatment in the U.S. each year. Of those, around 3,000 of these individuals suffer fatal injuries.

 

Everyone has burned his finger or hand in their lifetime or stayed in the sun too long and had a sunburn.  Striking a match, holding a sparkler, even a chemical burn when you get too close, we’ve all experienced minor burns but understand burns can be life-threatening, and healing is painful and debilitating.

 

Consider all the ways you can receive a burn:

  • An auto, truck, or motorcycle accident when the vehicle bursts into flames.

  • A fire at your home or place of business. One civilian fire death occurs every 2 hours and 41 minutes, according to the American Burn Association. Often the victim dies, not just from exposure to fire or flames, but to smoke inhalation.

  • Scalding injuries are most common in the home. A child may not understand the dangers of scalding hot liquids or steam. Between 2007 and 2013, for example, burn center admissions due to scalding increased from 29.8% to 33.7%.

  • Burns can also come from a travel mug without a tight-fitting lid or even the hot water setting in your home bath. Most scalding injuries happen in the home in connection with food or liquids.
  • Electricity keeps our food cold and security systems operating but when it escapes its insulation, humans may be burned by electricity. In the U.S. on average 400 die from electrocution and 4,400 are injured due to an electrical hazard. Electricity can also spark fires. Estimates are faulty electricity causes over 140,000 fires every year that result in 400 deaths.

  • A tanning bed or even sunlight can cause painful burning and blistering also known as a radiation burn. Not only a tanning bed but cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy can be burned during the process.

  • Chemicals stored in a household, in the workplace, or in a hospital can be a source of strong chemical burns such as paint thinner, gasoline or a strong acid. And they can continue to burn until the substance has been deactivated.

 

Unfortunately, children and the elderly represent a large number of these burn incidents in the home.

 

Most Common Burn Injuries

 

The most common burn injuries, according to the ABA are:

  • Contact with a flame or fire- 46% of burn injuries in the U.S result from contact with fire or flame

  • Scalding injuries – 32% of burn patients have come in contact with hot bath water, coffee, or steam

 

  • Thermal Burns – a hot iron or over causes 8% of burns every year in the U.S.

 

There are three types of burns – first, second, and third-degree.

First Degree Burn – will leave the skin, red but non-blistered top layer of the skin, the epidermis.


Second Degree Burn – will cause the skin to blister and thicken, expect the two layers of the skin to be turned, the epidermis and the dermis. Medical treatment will be required.


Third Degree Burn – may cause a widespread thickening of the skin with a white leathery appearance or the skin may be brown or black. Three layers of the skin are involved resulting in excruciating pain. Immediate medical attention is required.

Expect the recovery from a burn injury to present a long road, all at a time that medical bills are mounting. The burn victim can do little to help himself or others. He must stay still, follow instructions, and hopefully heal. Loved ones must attend to every need of the patient.

 

A third-degree burn carries the most risk for complications which may include shock, blood loss, and infections. Tetanus is a bacterial infection that can invade the burned area.

Keep Your Family Safe from Burn Injuries

Children should be kept out of the kitchen when there is cooking underway. Be sure to always turn the pot handles away from the front of the stove where they can be grabbed. 

In your bath keep the water temperature under 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

To keep small hands out of electrical outlets, install covers.  Lock up matches and lighters and keep dangerous chemicals out of sight and reach. Also make sure you test your smoke detectors once a month and replace them every ten years.

 

Your Burn Injury Lawyer

Dealing with investigating the cause of your dangerous fire will be almost impossible for you at this difficult time.  Attorney Chip Nix has the experience to begin the investigation into your burn injury to be able to identify the at-fault party who was negligent which allowed the burn injury to occur.

At the same time, because of Alabama’s “contributory negligence” law, the insurance company for the other side will try and blame you for your own injury claiming that you share some of the fault.  Under this law, if you “contribute” at all to an injury, you may not be able to recover damages.

It is critical that you have someone on your side who understands this law and has experience in seeking a successful recovery.

A complimentary conversation with Mr. Nix can ease your mind about moving forward under these difficult circumstances and provide you with your options for recovery.

If your burn injury is due to someone’s negligence, Mr. Nix may find you are eligible for compensation which can include:

  • Your medical and rehabilitation costs
  • Your time off work
  • Your future earnings
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of the enjoyment of life
  • Mental distress
  • Loss of consortium

Whether your burn resulted from an industrial accident, an accident on-the-job, a car, motorcycle or truck accident, Chip Nix will launch an investigation into the circumstances of the injury including witness statements, medical reports, and experts. Mr. Nix has extensive experience dealing with insurance companies and understands the length they will go to in defending their client.

If it was someone’s negligence that led to your injuries, understand that you deserve compensation during this difficult time. A serious burn injury will likely result in hospitalization and follow-up care at home. Unfortunately, it will not be a quick recovery.  

Let us start the conversation so you can have some idea of what lies ahead for your financially. It is always a good idea to understand the legal options you have so you have clear guidance and an expert opinion of how you will recover financially as well as medically.  Contact our office today at 334-279-7770. 

 

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