New Jersey Burn Injury Lawyer
Burns cover a broad spectrum of damage to your skin. One end of the spectrum is minor sunburns that are mildly irritating and heal after a day or two. The other end is much more serious, with damage to the skin, muscle, and bone that has fatal consequences.
If you have been injured in a fire or similar incident, a New Jersey burn injury lawyer may be able to help. The support of a dedicated catastrophic injury attorney can be critical for anyone considering legal action.
Understanding Burn Injuries
Burn injuries can vary both by their source and severity. While some are relatively minor, others can lead to life-threatening health conditions, extensive scarring, and other permanent consequences. When negligence is to blame for these burn injuries, a New Jersey attorney could help.
Types of Burns
Burns are categorized by degrees, with a fourth-degree burn representing the most serious type. The extent of the wound determines which category is appropriate. They include:
- 1st Degree: Mild, superficial injuries that heal on their own
- 2nd Degree: Moderate, painful, with a lasting red mark
- 3rd Degree: Serious, with discolored skin, blisters, and scarring
- 4th Degree: Catastrophic injuries that can damage not only the skin but also muscle or bone.
The health consequences of some of these wounds can be long-lasting. In addition to permanent scarring or disfigurement, a person also faces an increased risk of infection.
How Burns Happen
These incidents can occur in many ways. Thermal burns are the most common example, and they are caused by human skin coming into contact with extreme heat. Fire and steam are possible causes of thermal burns.
Other injuries are not related to heat at all. For example, radiation and extreme cold can damage the human body in similar ways. What these conditions have in common is an injury that destroys multiple layers of skin due to contact with a dangerous substance.
Who is at Fault for a Severe Burn?
Like any personal injury lawsuit, a New Jersey attorney will need evidence of negligence to prevail in a burn case. Whether the incident in question involves a motor vehicle accident or an explosion, these wounds can have lasting health consequences that keep the victim in the hospital and out of work.
Financial compensation could be available for medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses. To secure this award on behalf of the injured person, a New Jersey burn attorney will need to develop strong evidence of negligence.
The first step in proving negligence involves proving the defendant owed the injured person a duty of care, which is an obligation to avoid carelessly harming another person. The second element is to prove this duty was breached. For example, running a red light and causing a car accident or failing to clean up harsh chemicals that ultimately burn someone.
The final two elements are causation and damages. A person must show their injuries are linked to the actions of the defendant and that they sustained compensable losses.
Call a New Jersey Burn Injury Attorney Today
If you have been burned through no fault of your own, you have an opportunity to seek justice. A New Jersey burn injury lawyer can investigate the facts, determine a theory of negligence, and pursue a lawsuit on your behalf. Reach out to GGL right away for a private consultation.