Burn Injury Lawyer in South Carolina

Burn Injury Classifications

A burn’s severity depends on how it occurs and the extent of the damage it does to the skin and underlying tissue. Some burns are superficial, causing minor damage to the outermost layer of the skin, these wounds typically heal quickly. However, more severe burns can damage the nerves, muscles, and tissue below the skin. These serious injuries require more significant treatment, such as surgery and skin grafts. Victims of severe burns may spend months hospitalized, fighting for their lives.

The primary classifications of burn injuries are:

• First-degree burn is a superficial injury. Minimal damage to the epidermis, your outer skin layer, leads to inflammation, swelling, and redness. While extremely painful, scarring is unlikely as the wound heals.
• Second-degree burn referred to medically as a partial thickness burn, causes damage to the epidermis and the dermis, a deeper skin layer. The injury site is often sore and appears red. Blisters might develop at the injury site, scabbing over during healing. This type of burn can also cause skin pigmentation changes and scarring.
• Third-degree burn medically called a full-thickness burn, damages both the epidermis and dermis, as well as subcutaneous tissue. These severe injuries can be fatal.
• Fourth-degree burns damages both skin layers and deeper tissue, possibly destroying muscle and bone. While rarely survivable, extensive damage can destroy the nerves and dull the sensation of pain.

Types of Burn Injuries

Aside from being classified by degree, injuries are also typed by the source of the burn.

The most common types of burn injuries include:

• Thermal – A thermal burn results from exposure to a hot object, heat source, or flame. Touching hot items or liquids or standing near an open flame can lead to thermal burn injuries.
• Electrical – An electrical burn occurs when an electrical current passes through the body, damaging skin, tissue, nerves, and internal organs.
• Radiation – Exposure to ultraviolet rays and other forms of radiation can also burn tissue. Sunburn is the most common type of radiation burn.
• Chemical – A chemical burn involves physical contact with caustic chemicals such as bleach that can burn skin immediately and damage underlying tissue with prolonged contact.

Common Causes of Burn Injuries

Some of the most common causes of burn injuries include:

• Motor vehicle accidents
• Live electrical wires
• Malfunctioning machinery or equipment
• Nursing home abuse or neglect
• A defective product, such as a crockpot or air fryer
• Building fire
• Explosions
• Electric shock from exposed faulty wiring
• Exposure to flammable or corrosive substances

South Carolina Lawsuits Based on Burn Injuries

Someone who suffers a burn injury because of another party’s negligence or disregard for safety can sue that individual for compensation for their resulting losses, such as medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.

Many circumstances can give an injured person grounds for a lawsuit, from a careless driver causing a traffic accident resulting in a car fire, to a manufacturer releasing an unsafe product onto the market.

For example, suppose an 18-wheeler is speeding toward a traffic signal and fails to stop in time when the light turns red. The driver hits another car in the intersection, which subsequently catches fire, burning its occupants. The driver who ran the red light might be at fault because they caused the wreck. If the brakes on the car failed and contributed to the accident, however, the manufacturer of the defective brakes could also be financially liable. Recovering full compensation requires a thorough investigation to determine everyone who contributed to the incident and who may be liable for the victim’s injuries.

The legal theories commonly used in burn injury cases are:

• Product liability– Anyone involved in designing, manufacturing, assembling, transporting, or selling a product can be financially responsible if it causes burn injuries. Product liability holds manufacturers, sellers, and designers liable for injuries if a product is unreasonably dangerous or defective. At Joye Law Firm Injury Lawyers, our attorneys have represented people injured by exploding gas tanks in cars, gas heaters in campers, and faulty machinery on job sites.
• Premises liability– Property owners and managers must maintain their premises so that they are safe for visitors. You could pursue legal action against a restaurant, grocery store, movie theater, or other business owner if they are at fault for dangerous conditions that lead to fire and burn injuries.
• Negligence – Negligence is the failure of one party to exercise reasonable care to avoid injuring another. Multiple types of negligent actions can justify bringing a lawsuit against someone else. Examples include ignoring defective electrical components on a construction site, running a red light while driving through an intersection, or violating fire safety codes in an apartment building.

Each of these legal theories requires an injured party to prove a different set of facts. An attorney can review your case and determine which grounds may apply to you. Working with an attorney to develop your case will provide the best chance of a positive outcome.