After a burn injury, you have a limited amount of time to hold the at-fault party accountable. To do that, you must follow a few steps and then you must hire a personal injury attorney.
The Different Levels of Burns
First-Degree Burns
A first-degree burn is superficial and only involves the top layer of the skin. It will be painful and red, but it will not have a blister.
Second-Degree Burns
Second-degree burns affect the top layer of skin or the epidermis. These burns are painful, swollen, red, and blistered.
Third-Degree Burns
Third-degree burns affect the epidermis or the top layer and the dermis or the second layer of the skin. The source may even penetrate the bones, muscles, and tendons. The top portion is usually charred or white.
Fourth-Degree Burns
Fourth-degree burns affect the epidermis, dermis, hypodermis and possibly the bone and the muscle. Of course, the nerve endings are destroyed with fourth-degree burns, so the victim is spared any pain.
How to React if You Were Part of a Burn Incident
It may be tempting to hide from the world, but after a burn injury, you must refrain from doing this. You may be concerned about seeing people again after your burn injury, but you can prepare for the reactions and questions you may get.
You can rehearse answers to the questions people will ask you about your burn. If they don’t ask, you can bring the subject up, and this will help relieve your anxiety. For example, you can say, “I had an accident, and I was burned, but I am healing now.”
Ensure that the speech you rehearse makes you feel empowered, resilient and strong.
Legal Reactions after a Burn Accident
If your burn injury is due to someone else’s negligence, you are entitled to receive monetary compensation, but you must make sure that you do several things before you contact an attorney.
Go to the Emergency Room.
It is very important to seek medical attention after a burn. It may be a first-degree burn, but it still requires medical attention. Your injuries will be treated, and the medical staff will create a medical record that will be highly useful to your attorney.
Collect Evidence.
Document the location where the accident took place. Note where the hazardous conditions or defective products were located. If any equipment or clothing was damaged by the burn, keep it as evidence. If there are witnesses present, take their contact information and their statements.
Contact Relevant Authorities.
If you were burned at work, notify your employer. If the burn happened while using a defective product, notify the manufacturer. If someone committed arson and you were burned in the attack, call the police.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney.
Personal injury attorneys work to identify the negligent party and file a claim for monetary compensation. An attorney knows exactly how to navigate the legal process so that you do not have to do this alone. Your attorney will file a claim, and your case may or may not go to court. Whichever is the case, you will have an advocate to stand by your side during every step of the process.
How Long Does Take to Get Over a Burn?
This depends on the type of burn. First-degree burns may take three to six days to heal, and second-degree burns may take one to three weeks. Third-degree burns may take several weeks or several months to heal.