BURN INJURY LAWYERS

MICHIGAN BURN INJURY LAWYER

Burn injuries are the second leading cause of accidental death.

When they don’t end in fatality, they are extremely painful and may leave permanent physical and psychological scars. Depending on your situation, you may be in need of a burn injury lawyer. Over 60% of the estimated U.S. acute hospitalizations related to burn injury were admitted to 128 burn centers. Such centers now average over 200 annual admissions for burn injury and skin disorders requiring similar treatment. The other 4,500 U.S. acute care hospitals average less than 3 burn admissions per year.

TYPES OF BURN INJURIES

There are four categories of burn injuries

• First degree burns
• Superficial second-degree burns
• Deep second-degree burns
• Third-degree burns

Burns are also classified into two categories: partial thickness and full thickness. Partial thickness burns include first and second-degree burns, while full thickness burns are usually third-degree burns.

FIRST-DEGREE BURNS

First-degree burns usually affect the outer layer of the skin, called the epidermis. A first-degree burn tends to be moist and red in color. A burn of this nature is generally resolved within a week. A classic example of a first-degree burn would be mild sunburn.

SUPERFICIAL SECOND-DEGREE BURN INJURIES

A superficial second-degree burn penetrates the entire epidermal layer of skin and extends down to the next skin layer, known as the dermis. Pressure on a second-degree burn tends to produce red blanches. The burn may appear moist and pinkish in color. A superficial second-degree burn injury also should heal spontaneously, often within two weeks.

THIRD-DEGREE BURN INJURIES

The most severe classification is the third-degree burn. This occurs when the burn destroyed both the epidermal and dermal layers of skin and extended down to the subcutaneous tissue. These burns may be physically depressed, charred, and often leather-like in appearance.

Ironically, a third-degree burn may not be as physically painful as less severe types, because of the number of nerve endings that were destroyed. These burns are very serious and often require skin grafting or other reconstructive procedures.

These descriptions only refer to the general burn characteristics. Do not attempt to diagnose the severity of a burn on your own. Get prompt medical attention. This can be important in minimizing pain and promoting faster recovery. In severe burn cases, immediate medical treatment may save lives.

Many burn injuries are due to negligence (the fault of another person). We are Michigan's most experienced personal injury law firm with our burn injury lawyers bringing over 800 years of combined legal experience. If you or a loved one suffered a burn injury, contact us as soon as possible.

SOURCE:

http://ameriburn.org/who-we-are/media/burn-incidence-fact-sheet/