Park City Burn Injury Attorneys

Helping Clients Find Justice After a Burn Injury in Utah

Most people will experience a few burns in their lifetime—whether from touching a too-hot pan or taking a drink of coffee before it’s cooled enough. However, these burns are typically slight and heal quickly without medical intervention. They are a world away from the severe and extensive damage that can be caused by a major disaster. Car crashes, industrial accidents, and other workplace hazards can burn victims badly in a short time. The victims of deep and/or widespread burns must be taken to the hospital for emergency treatment and may even need specialist care.

Common Causes of Burn Injuries

Burns can be caused by:

• Proximity to sources of intense heat
• Toxic exposure
• Un-grounded electrical currents
• Exposure to radiation
• Explosions or fires

No matter the specifics of the accident, if it was caused by another party’s negligence, you likely have the right to file for compensation. Anyone in this position should take note of how wide their needs may reach after such an injury. Serious burns can take months to heal, even if there are no complications. Depending on their location and severity, they often have life-long effects.

If you are worried about your future after suffering a bad burn injury, know that anyone who causes an accident is responsible for all related costs—including medical care, lost wages, and a decrease in earning potential—the victim faces as a result. In a free case evaluation, our team can explain your legal options and how we can help you secure your future. Do not wait to reach out if you think you may have a case.

Call Dodd & Kuendig at (435) 296-7434 to speak with our burn injury attorneys. We serve accident victims in Park City and the surrounding areas.

Different Types of Burn Injuries

Most people associate the phrase “burn injury” with heat, but the causes range beyond encounters with hot objects. Burns happen when skin cells sustain so much damage they die. They can be categorized as:

• Thermal: Caused by intense heat (or cold) that raises cell temperatures to unsafe levels.
• Radiation: Caused by exposure to high-energy waves such as ultraviolet (UV) or x-rays.
• Chemical: Caused by acidic or alkaline liquids or items contacting skin.
• Electrical: Caused by an electrical current routing through the body.
• Inhalation Injury: Caused by inhalation of high-temperature air and/or toxic agents that cause internal damage to the respiratory system.

Though the causes are diverse, all burn injuries have the same basic effects on the human body. Aside from causing sometimes-fatal burn shock, they make patients susceptible to injury because dead and/or destroyed skin cannot keep harmful viruses and bacteria out. Treatment often involves skin grafts to replace the destroyed or dead cells that can no longer reproduce. Unfortunately, even with the most advanced treatments and technologies, burn scars are likely to last forever.

Classifying Burn Injuries By Severity

Small burns can be treated at home, but the longer a victim’s exposure and the greater the surface area of the burn, the more serious the injury will be. Anyone who suffers a burn of the second degree or higher should seek medical attention as soon as they are able.

What makes a burn first-degree or second-degree? How do you tell it’s bad enough to be considered third-degree? The difference is in the depth of the burn.

• First-degree burns only affect the outer layer of your skin—the epidermis.
• Second-degree burns affect both layers of your skin (the epidermis and dermis).
• Third-degree burns damage or destroy both layers of skin as well as tissues beneath.
• Fourth-degree burns extend into the layer of fat beneath your skin.
• Fifth-degree burns affect muscle cells and internal organs.
• Sixth-degree burns reach all the way to the bone. These burns are not typically survivable.

What Damages Could Be Recovered in a Burn Injury Claim?

Burn injury patients are likely to need treatment including skin grafts and rehabilitation before they can return to their life. And, such an injury can have detrimental effects on a victim’s abilities and mental well-being. Anyone who was harmed in a workplace mishap or another accident caused by someone else’s negligent behavior should understand their legal rights before they come to an agreement with an insurer.

As a burn injury victim, you could be able to recover compensation for: