Seeking Legal Support From a San Antonio Burn Injury Attorney
Burns are considered to be one of the most common types of injuries in workplaces and homes around the world. But in addition to occurring frequently, burns also result in far more dangerous situations than many other types of injuries. Statistics show that about 70% to 80% of burn-related accidents occur at home, especially in rural areas, because of a lack of safety precautions or inattentiveness. Other burn-related injuries occur in workplaces as a result of chemical spills, explosions, steam, and heavy machinery.
According to research conducted by the American Burn Association (Burn Incidence Fact Sheet – American Burn Association (ameriburn.org), in the United States, about 1.1 million burn victims need medical attention every year as a result of accidents. About 4,500 burn victims die, and approximately 10,000 victims experience severe consequences as a result of burns that get infected. A reputable San Antonio burn injury attorney can be a great help in handling the aftermath of burn injury accidents and seeking compensation for all types of losses and damages.
What makes burns different than other types of wounds?
Burns are injuries to your skin or the organic tissues that lay below, and they are caused by radiation, chemicals, heat, electricity, or even friction. Contact, flame, and scalds are the three types of burn injuries from which victims may suffer. The different categories are named based on the various contact sources through which the victim incurs the injury. Many people face burns while working in factories and other workplaces. If you suffer a burn injury while on the job, you may seek workers’ compensation in such instances.
If you have experienced even a minor burn wound at some point in your life, you will probably remember that moment for years. A burn that causes the skin’s surface to become damaged and creates a wound can be extremely painful. In fact, injuries resulting from heat or flames are often much more painful than other types of wounds. This is why a large percentage of burn victims and their families get in touch with a burn injury lawyer san Antonio trusts to manage the difficult situation with ease and skill.
Burn injuries can destroy most of the surface of the inner skin layer and the cells that protect the sensitive derma. Depending on the degree of the burn, the damage can even reach the muscles, tendons, and bones. There are also rare and severe cases in which the degree of your burn begins to change. This takes place when the wound continues to spread, even after removing the source of the burn. If this happens, there is a much higher likelihood of complications in the long run, including bone and joint issues, severe bacterial infections, and soft tissue damage. However, one of the most complicated post-accident issues that patients find difficult to deal with is their psychological health after the burn accident. Wrongful death can occur as a result of severe burn injuries, as well. It is important to consult a legal professional in the aftermath of any kind of burn injury case.
How can burn-related accidents impact a victim’s psychological health?
While burns are one of the most painful types of injuries a person can incur, they are also one of the most traumatic injuries that a person can suffer, possibly creating life-changing impacts on the patient. With today’s advanced and long-term treatments, the physical aspects of wounds from heat or explosion can be healed in many cases. However, as more victims with fire-related wounds survive their injuries, a new need for attention to the psychological challenges one struggles with after the initial physical pain fades.
Health professionals often report that patients with burn injuries require extensive care to handle their emotional health, especially when they face disfiguring injuries. Social workers and vocational counselors have stated the mental health recovery of burn patients can require a long time. At times, this time span can prolong longer than the physical wound recovery.
This is because burn recovery is a long process that is often broken down into three stages, which include critical, acute, and long-term rehabilitation. During these stages, the patient might often experience traumatic feelings, panic attacks, disorientation, overstimulation, delirium, extreme pain, low self-esteem, and insomnia.
It becomes essential to pay attention to these issues to bring the patient back into their regular life schedule. The patient and the victim’s family members sometimes face severe distress due to a range of new challenges. In these scenarios, a legal professional can act as your trusted companion to help you focus on your recovery and file an appropriate claim for the compensation you truly deserve.
How can a San Antonio burn injury attorney help you deal with losses?
The treatments and medical attention that burn accident recovery demands are often lengthy and expensive. There is a range of medical examinations the patent has to go through, and burns can create damage to multiple parts of the body, causing severe pain, emotional breakdown, and disfigurement. Some patients are also suggested to treat their conditions surgically based on the extent of their injuries.
However, there can always remain a high chance of encountering long-term complications if you have a higher degree of burn or any underlying health conditions. To ease your situation, you can file a burn-related accident lawsuit and seek appropriate compensation to recover your losses. But to file a proper claim, you will need to have an in-depth understanding of the laws and requirements involved in the process. Working with a reputable personal injury lawyer in San Antonio can help ensure that you file your lawsuit with the perfection it demands. Here are some of the ways in which your legal professional can help you:
- Helping you determine whether you have a viable claim for compensation
- Gathering detailed pieces of evidence and contacting witnesses, if any were present for the accident
- Meeting your legal requirements and managing the required paperwork
- Dealing with insurance agencies strategically and protecting your rights
- Pursuing a fair settlement amount with strong negotiation skills
- Identifying tactics to maximize your compensation
- Offering you specific guidance and tips with regard to your case
It is recommended that burn victims and their families prepare themselves for any eventuality when dealing with post-injury life challenges. Being prepared for every challenge becomes important in such circumstances, and seeking legal support from experienced injury lawyers is one of the vital steps to take after the accident.
We have an experienced legal team to help burn injury victims in San Antonio in every possible way. Our team can stand by your side and fight for your rights.