Burn injuries requiring medical treatment are estimated to occur 486,000 times each year. Hospitalizations for burn injuries occur in about ten percent of those cases, around 40,000 cases per year. Burn injuries can be caused by a number of different factors. Over the ten year period between 2005 and 2014, burn causes were tracked by the American Burn Association. Causes include:
- Fire or flame, 43 %;
- Scalding, 34 %;
- Contact burns, 9 %;
- Electrical burns, 4 %,
- Chemical burns, 3 %; and
- Other, 7 %.
At Hilton Somer, LLC, we handle personal injury cases, including burn injury cases. Our personal injury lawyers in Fairfax, Virginia, handle cases in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.
Facts about Burn Injuries
Burn injuries are one of the leading causes of both unintentional injury and unintentional death in the United States.
- In 2016, 3,390 people were killed in fires. These deaths occur, on average, once every 2 hours and 35 minutes.
- The odds of dying from exposure to smoke, flame, or fire in one’s lifetime are 1 in 1,498.
- Men are more likely than women to sustain burns, with 68 % of all burn victims seen at a burn unit being male.
- Unfortunately, children are more susceptible to burn injuries than adults. Children under the age of five are 2.4 times more likely to require emergency medical treatment for burn injuries than the general population. Young adults between the ages of 20 and 29 are 1.5 times more likely to sustain a burn injury than the general population.
The good news is that almost 97 % of those treated at burn centers survive. However, burns often cause problems, such as serious scaring, adjustment difficulties, and life long physical disabilities.
Complications with Burn Injuries
Burn injuries often come with complications. These can include:
- Infection;
- Scarring;
- Blood clots;
- Respiratory problems;
- Low blood volume;
- Hypothermia;
- Anxiety;
- Depression; and
- Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
These complications must be addressed during the initial treatment of burn injuries, as well as during ongoing recovery.
Recovering from Burn Injuries
Recovering from burn injuries can be a long and slow process. Surgery, pain management, and the removal of dead and damaged tissues are just the beginning. Once the burn has been treated and managed, burn rehabilitation begins. This includes physical therapy, occupational therapy, and psychiatric therapy. Therapy focuses on issues such as range of motion, assimilation, and dealing with mental and emotional trauma, anxiety, and depression.
If You Have Sustained Burn Injuries
Whether on the job, in a car accident, or in the home, if you have sustained burn injuries, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and your recovery process. Recovering from burns can feel overwhelming. Depending on the severity of the burns, it could take some time to feel up to going to visit with a lawyer. The good news is, you don’t have to. At Hilton & Somer, LLC, we pride ourselves in client focused representation. We can speak with you over the phone, or come to you to meet and discuss your case. Contact us today at (703) 560-0700 to speak to one of our Fairfax, Virginia personal injury attorneys. There is never a fee unless we win your case.
