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Burn injuries are among the most common types of household injuries, especially among children. The term “burn” actually means more than just the burning sensation you feel with this type of injury. It is often characterized by severe skin damage that causes the affected skin cells to die.
Most people recover from minor burns without any serious health consequences, but this depends on the cause and degree of the burn injury. More serious burns require immediate emergency medical care to prevent complications or even death. If you have suffered a burn injury, let the Fort Myers personal injury lawyers at the Spivey Law Firm help.
Types of Burns
There are three primary types of burns:
- First-degree
- Second-degree
- Third-degree burns
The degrees are based on the severity of the damage, with first-degree being the least harmful and third-degree being the most harmful. Damage to tissue caused by burns includes:
- First-degree burns are typically red yet unblistered skin with mild to medium levels of pain.
- Second-degree burns usually include blisters, some thickening of the skin, and medium to severe pain levels.
- Third-degree burns can have widespread thickness with a white, leathery appearance and serious to very serious levels of pain.
There are also fourth-degree burns, which are burns that include all of the symptoms of a third-degree burn but extend beyond the skin and into tendons and bones.
Causes of Burns
Burns have a wide variety of causes, including:
- Scalds from hot, boiling liquids
- Chemical burns
- Electrical burns
- Fires, including flames from candles, matches, and lighters
- Sun exposure
- Hot grease and cooking accidents
- Kitchen equipment malfunctions
- Car, truck, motorcycle, and ATV accidents
- Construction and workplace accidents
- Defective or malfunctioning consumer products
- Nursing home neglect
- Acid attacks or spills
The type of burn is not based on its cause. For example, direct exposure to sunlight can cause all three types of burns, depending on how long you stay in direct sunlight. Chemical and electrical burns are particularly urgent because they can affect the inside of the body, even if skin damage is minor.
No matter the cause of a burn, it is critical to seek medical attention as soon as possible to minimize the injury and stay ahead of it. Burn symptoms are generally immediate and may cause uncontrollable pain and disfigurement, as well as headaches, difficulty breathing, dizziness, and even seizures. Burns can also cause less detectable, long-term health problems like emphysema or cancer.
Let a Fort Myers Personal Injury Attorney Help if You’ve Suffered a Burn Injury
If you have suffered a burn injury, seek immediate medical care first. Next, contact Attorney Randall Spivey at the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. online or by phone at 888-477-4839, even before you contact your insurance company. If the injury was caused by someone else’s negligence or other unlawful act, we will fight to help you recover compensation.
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