Charlotte Burn Injury Attorney

Helping Burn Survivors Get Compensation

If you or a loved one has suffered a burn injury, you should not have to suffer financially. At Shane Smith Law, we help burn survivors get the compensation they deserve. Our team of attorneys is dedicated to helping our clients navigate the complex legal system and get the compensation they need to make the best possible recovery from injury.

Contact us today at (980) 246-2656 to request a free case review.

What is a Burn Injury?

A burn injury is damage to the body's tissues caused by exposure to excessive heat, chemicals, electricity, or radiation. The severity of a burn is typically categorized into degrees, which describe the depth and extent of tissue damage.

There are three main degrees of burns, with each degree indicating a different level of injury:

• First-Degree Burns (Superficial Burns): These are the least severe type of burn. They affect only the top layer of skin (epidermis). Common causes include sunburn, brief contact with a hot object, or scalding from hot liquids. Symptoms may include redness, pain, and mild swelling. First-degree burns usually heal within a few days and rarely leave scars.
• Second-Degree Burns (Partial-Thickness Burns): These burns affect both the top layer of skin (epidermis) and the layer just beneath it (dermis). They can result from longer exposure to hot liquids, flames, or chemicals. Symptoms include redness, blistering, severe pain, and swelling. Superficial second-degree burns often heal within a few weeks, while deep second-degree burns may require more extensive treatment and can result in scarring.
• Third-Degree Burns (Full-Thickness Burns): These burns are the most severe and involve damage to all layers of the skin, potentially reaching the underlying tissues, muscles, and even bones. They are typically caused by prolonged exposure to flames, hot surfaces, electricity, or chemicals. Third-degree burns may appear charred, waxy, or white, and they often involve numbness due to nerve damage. These burns require immediate medical attention, and treatment may involve skin grafts, surgeries, and extensive rehabilitation.

Common Types of Burn Injuries

Common types of burn injuries can be classified based on the causes or sources of the burns. These burns can result from various factors, each requiring different care and management.

Here are some of the common types of burn injuries:

• Thermal Burns: These burns result from contact with hot objects, flames, steam, or other sources of extreme heat. Causes include open flames, hot surfaces, boiling water, and cooking-related accidents. Commonly seen in household accidents, kitchen mishaps, and fires.
• Scald Burns: Scald burns are a specific type of thermal burn caused by contact with hot liquids or steam. They are often associated with accidents involving boiling water, hot beverages, or cooking spills. Scald burns are particularly common in children and the elderly.
• Electrical Burns: Electrical burns are caused by contact with an electrical current or source, such as exposed wires, electrical outlets, or lightning strikes. The severity of electrical burns can range from superficial injuries to deep tissue damage, depending on the voltage and duration of contact.
• Chemical Burns: These burns occur when the skin or eyes come into contact with corrosive or harmful chemicals, including acids, alkalis, and other toxic substances. Chemical burns can happen in industrial settings, laboratories, and during household accidents involving cleaning products.
• Radiation Burns: Radiation burns are the result of exposure to ionizing radiation, such as X-rays or radiation therapy for medical treatment. They are common in the context of cancer treatment, but can also occur in industrial and nuclear accidents.
• Friction Burns (also known as Abrasion Burns): Friction burns happen when the skin rubs against a rough or abrasive surface, resulting in damage to the outermost layer of the skin. Common examples include road rash from motorcycle or bicycle accidents and rug burns from falling or sliding on a rough surface.
• Cold Burns (Frostbite): Cold burns occur due to prolonged exposure to extreme cold, freezing temperatures, or contact with cold objects. They can lead to frostbite, a condition where the affected body parts freeze, causing damage to the skin and underlying tissues.
• Inhalation Burns: Inhalation burns result from inhaling hot, toxic, or noxious gases or particles during a fire or chemical incident. These burns can affect the respiratory system and may require specialized medical attention.

How Do I Prove I Was Burned?

At Shane Smith Law, our Charlotte burn injury attorneys will use our experience to help you prove you were burned.

Our team will put the victim's story to work, along with other sources of evidence, such as:

• Medical records
• Photographs of the burn
• Eyewitness accounts
• Fire department reports
• Police reports

We will use all of this evidence to build a strong case that will help our clients get the compensation they need to get their lives back on track.

Call us today at (980) 246-2656 or use our online contact form to get the help you need.