Maryland Burn Injury Lawyers

In the United States, statistics reveal that over 450,000 emergency visits involving burn injuries occur annually. After the emergency treatment procedures are carried out, almost 10% of such injuries (45,000 people) are admitted for long-term treatment or care at a national burn center. Around 3,500 of these burn injury victims fail to survive, which speaks volumes about the nature of burn accidents.

While the survival rate of burn victims in America is quite high (93%), the injuries caused by such horrific accidents are very capable of impairing the victim for life. Permanent disfigurement, loss of income or the physical ability to generate an income, and even brain damage are just some of the outcomes of severe burn injuries.

One of the most common and most long-lasting impairments that can occur due to a burn accident is brain damage. A condition known as Cerebral Hypoxia is a circumstance where the victims’ oxygen supply to the brain is cut off, causing damage to the cerebral tissue. This results in a huge number of brains cells dying. When a fire breaks out, all oxygen in the area is quickly consumed by the fire itself, leaving very little, if any, for people trapped in the combustion area.

The condition – Cerebral Hypoxia – can easily have highly fatal results, but if the victims manage to survive, they may suffer through a life-long journey that involves dealing with the aftermath of the accident. Recovery from burn injuries is also a very difficult and expensive road.

Such accidents, caused by lack of proper care and negligence, may have extremely painful outcomes like swelling, scarring, blistering, and even death in more severe cases. The treatment needed for such injuries include IV fluids, protective dressing, skin grafts, and/or surgeries.

Sometimes, serious burn injuries make the victim highly susceptible to a wide variety of possible infections, since our skin is the outermost barrier that protects us against bacteria and viruses. When a victim’s skin becomes weak, it can easily become exposed to serious illnesses.

If you have been the victim of a burn injury where someone else’s negligence has caused you a substantial amount of pain, loss, and grief, you have the right to file a claim against the at-fault party in order to seek compensation for your medical expenditures and suffering.

Kinds of Burn Injuries

Burn injuries can be classified into three types – first degree, second degree and third degree – based on the severity of the burns. A first degree burn is the least serious, and it indicates that only the outer layer of the skin is damaged. Such injuries typically heal without any specific or guided treatments, unless it covers a large and unmanageable area of the victim’s body.

A second-degree burn affects both the outer as well as the inner layer of the skin, causing a lot of swelling and pain. The plaintiff should always seek immediate medical treatment for such cases, especially if the burn is widespread or affects your hands, groin, or face. Third degree burns are the most severe, where the affected skin is damaged to the bone. These injuries are extremely painful and are extremely expensive to treat.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of a burn injury, or any other personal injury, let the attorneys at Altmark, Rotter & Trock, LLP pursue the claim on your behalf. Please call us for a free consultation at (410) 783-9230, or toll-free outside of Baltimore at 1-(888) 966-5566.