Macon Burn Injury Lawyer

Burn Injury Layers That Determine Long-Term Recovery Outcomes

Burn injuries happen all the time and can vary widely in their severity, from relatively minor and life-changing.

The more serious burns are those that penetrate the skin, which can cause excruciating pain and have lasting impacts on how people live and work. These injuries may require reconstructive surgery using skin grafts and other extensive treatment. Severe burn injuries often never fully heal, leaving physical scars, emotional trauma and financial burdens.

The Macon burn injury lawyers at Merritt & Merritt Law Firm help people who have suffered these and other injuries in a wide range of accidents. We are experienced attorneys who have dedicated our careers to getting injured people and their families the full compensation available under the law.

It is important for people impacted by burn injuries to understand how these injuries happen and what comes next. This information helps people and families make decisions about their future, including how to pursue claims against those responsible.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, our Macon burn injury lawyers are just a phone call away. Call us today at 478-845-6464 to speak with an attorney about your rights and options.

What Makes Burns Different Than Other Injuries?

Many injuries, including those that are catastrophic, involve damage to bones, muscles or organs beneath the skin. Burn injuries are different because they destroy the skin itself. That can make them both painful in the moment and harmful to how a person’s body functions in the long-term.

The skin is the body’s first line of defense against infection, dehydration and temperature regulation. Burn injuries can cause problems with immune function, fluid balance and pain regulation, not to mention unsightly scars and disfigurement.

Even burns that appear small or minor can worsen over time, become infected or require surgical intervention. That is why it is vital to seek medical treatment as soon as possible following an accident causing a burn. Severe burns may require months of hospitalization and years of follow-up care.

The Three Layers of Skin That Can Be Affected by a Burn Injury

The depth of a burn is more critical than the size when it comes to recovering from an injury. The layer of skin affected by a burn injury plays a major role in how your body heals, what treatments you may need and what your long-term recovery looks like.

Skin has three main layers: the epidermis, the dermis and the subcutaneous layer.

The epidermis is the thin outer layer of skin you see every day. It protects against bacteria and infection, regulates moisture and produces new skin cells. The epidermis regenerates quickly when it is damaged.

The dermis, or middle layer, lies beneath the epidermis. It contains blood vessels, nerve endings, hair follicles, sweat glands, collagen and connective tissue. Dermis damage affects sensation, temperature regulation and skin strength.

The subcutaneous layer is the deepest layer of skin. It contains fat, connective tissue and structures that cushion muscles and organs. Below this layer are muscles, tendons and bone. Burns that reach this depth are often catastrophic and life-threatening.

Burn injuries are classified by depth. A small area of deep burns can be more dangerous than a larger area of superficial burns. Severe burns can affect breathing, circulation, and organ function, even when the burned area is not large.

First-Degree Burns

These injuries are at the more minor end of the spectrum as they impact only the outer layer of skin. They tend to cause redness and pain and usually heal without long-term damage. Because the regenerative layers remain intact, the skin can repair itself fully.

Second-Degree Burns

Penetrating deeper into the skin, these burns cause blistering, swelling and severe pain. They may result in scarring or pigmentation changes. Healing can take weeks to months, especially for deep second-degree burns. Skin grafting may be necessary because the body may not regenerate enough healthy skin on its own.

Third-Degree Burns

These burns destroy all layers of skin, including the epidermis and dermis, and may damage nerves, muscles or fat. These burns cannot heal on their own. They often require skin grafts and can permanently alter appearance and function.

Fourth-Degree Burns

The most severe burns extend into muscle or bone. These burns are life-threatening and frequently result in permanent disability, chronic pain and a need for lifelong care.

Accidents That Cause Burn Injuries

Burn injuries happen in many types of accidents. Here are some of the most common causes of burn injuries that our lawyers see.

Traffic Crashes

Car, truck and motorcycle collisions are a leading cause of serious burns.

Burns often are the result of explosions and vehicle fires that occur after the impact, whether they stem from leaks or electrical systems failures. They also can be caused by extremely hot engine components or airbag deployment.

Accidents involving large trucks with massive fuel tanks increase the risk of catastrophic burns. That is especially true for big rigs that haul flammable and other hazardous materials.

Construction and Other Workplace Accidents

Burns frequently occur in construction, manufacturing, warehouse and industrial settings. They may result from:

• Chemical spills or splashes
• Explosions
• Electrical contact
• Hot equipment or machinery
• Welding and industrial fires

Workers in these settings risk burns and a number of other serious injuries that can limit their ability to earn a living. Fortunately, employees in Georgia who are injured in slip and fall accidents generally are covered by the state’s workers’ compensation system.

Medical care and compensation for missed pay are the two primary benefits.

Chemical Exposure

Chemical burns can occur at work, in apartment buildings or during traffic accidents involving hazardous substances. These burns may continue to damage tissue until the chemical is fully removed.

Residential and Property-Related Accidents

Faulty wiring, defective appliances, gas leaks and unsafe building conditions can lead to fires or explosions that cause severe burns.

Faulty Products

Defective and malfunctioning products such as space heaters, batteries and electronics frequently are to blame for burn injuries. These and other consumer goods may cause burns even during normal use.

Burn Accident Injuries: Who Is To Blame?

Burn injuries change lives in ways few people truly understand until they experience these injuries for themselves. The pain, procedures, emotional toll and the financial stress are significant.

This is why it is so important to hold people and entities accountable when their actions lead to burn injuries. Many burn injuries are preventable. They happen because someone failed to act safely or responsibly.

Burn injuries from traffic accidents, for instance, commonly are the result of negligent or reckless driving. Drivers in Georgia and across the country have a legal duty to operate their vehicles in a reasonably safe manner at all times.

Property owners and worksite operators have a similar legal duty to keep the premises in reasonably safe condition. They often are required to warn people of any hazards that they know about or should know about through reasonable inspection.

People and entities that do not meet these standards are likely to be considered negligent and can be held liable for accidents they cause as a result.

Compensation for Burn Accident Injuries

A person who suffers a burn or other injury in an accident in Georgia has the right to seek compensation from those responsible. Whether it is a negligent driver, a faulty product manufacturer or a property owner who allowed hazards to fester on the premises, pursuing a personal injury claim ensures these and other parties are made accountable.

The money damages available in personal injury cases generally are meant to put an injured person back in the financial position that he or she was in at the time of the accident. They cover costs that injured people already have incurred, as well as those that can reasonably be expected in the future.

That includes compensation for:

• Hospital and medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Impact on day-to-day life activities
• Pain and suffering
• Rehabilitation costs
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Disability
• Emotional distress and trauma

Punitive damages, which are designed to punish a person or entity, may be added in certain cases. Such damages are most likely to be handed down in situations where especially reckless or egregious conduct causes severe injuries.

In the tragic event that a person is killed in an accident in Georgia, certain family members have the right to seek similar compensation for wrongful death. Spouses, children and sometimes parents can pursue wrongful death claims.

No amount of money will allow you to rewind the clock and stop an injury from ever happening or bring back a loved one who has been killed. Still, compensation can help injured people get back on their feet and resolve some of the financial strain that often comes with accidents.

Merritt & Merritt Law Firm Helps People Get Back on Their Feet

At Merritt & Merritt Law Firm, our Macon burn injury lawyers are dedicated to helping people and families who have been injured through no fault of their own. We fight diligently to protect and defend our clients rights, from the first consultation through final resolution.

Our goal is to help you move on with your life after an accident by getting the full compensation available under the law. Call our team at 478-845-6464 for a free, no-risk consultation.