A severe burn injury can cause physical and emotional pain—and the treatments and therapies throughout the healing and recovery process frequently pose financial burdens for the victim and their family. Whether work-related or caused by a traumatic accident, our Kansas City burn injury attorneys provide these facts on how often burn injuries occur and how they are treated.
Types of Burn Injuries
Burns are categorized into four different degrees and range from minor to severe. Here’s a brief explanation of each type of burn:
- First degree. These superficial injuries only damage the outer layer of skin, are considered minor without blistering, and typically don’t take long to heal.
- Second degree. There’s damage to the outer skin layer and the layer underneath. This burn may blister and could take one–to–three weeks to heal.
- Third degree. A severe injury that mars or destroys the deepest layer of skin and tissue. These burns result in permanent scarring and disfigurement, and depending on the location, can be life-threatening.
- Fourth degree. This sears down into muscle and bone, and results in the entire loss of the affected area. Can also be life-threatening.
How Often Do Burn Injuries Happen?
According to the latest statistics reported by the American Burn Association, in 2016, 486,000 burn injuries were treated in medical facilities, such as hospitals, clinics, community health centers, and private medical offices. First and second-degree burns are typically not life-threatening, and most people can recover. However, a third-degree burn can have life-threatening complications. Here are some additional 2016 statistics reported by the American Burn Association:
- There were 2,745 deaths from residential fires.
- 310 deaths from vehicle crash fires.
- One death occurs every 2 hours and 41 minutes (civilian).
- The chances of dying from fire exposure are 1 in 1,442.
- 220 deaths were from other sources.
For anyone involved in a fire, not only can skin burns be an issue, but smoke inhalation can compound complications for a burn victim.
Experiencing a burn injury is a traumatic experience, and when the injury is life-threatening and permanent, it can be that much more devastating. Not only do the long-term effects take a toll on burn victims physically, but they can also pose mental health challenges and financial burdens. When a burn injury happens because of another’s carelessness, you have a right to hold the responsible parties accountable and fight for the compensation you deserve.