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Burn Injuries Can Change Life Forever

Serious burns are among the worst injuries that a person can suffer. Besides the pain, long recovery and rehabilitation period, burn survivors are often left with serious psychological and emotional effects as well as obvious physical scarring.

Burns can be caused by fires and touching hot objects. They can also be caused by steam and hot liquids, including tap water.  Hot tap water is one of the most frequent causes of serious burn injuries. Other burns are caused by radiation, chemical exposure or contact with electrical wires.

There are three types of burns:

  • First-degree burns, such as a severe sunburn, are painful but only involve reddening of the upper level of the skin, called the epidermis.
  • Second-degree burns result in blisters and damage the lower level of the skin, called the dermis, which can result in infection and scarring.
  • Third-degree burns damage or completely destroy the skin and damage underlying tissues, such as tendons, muscles and sometimes even bones.

Because a victim of third-degree burns loses the protection of his skin, he loses huge amounts of fluid, which can lead to shock. In cases where the victim inhaled smoke or otherwise damaged his windpipe and lungs, medical staff often have to intubate and keep the patient on a respirator until he or she is able to breathe again. Infection is a serious concern until all of the burned area is covered with skin grafts, which can leave survivors with a limited range of motion and very visible scars, even after a long period of physical and occupational therapy and cosmetic surgery.

If you or a loved one has been burned, you need an attorney with experience in this area. Even a relatively mild burn that heals fully in time is a serious, painful injury for which you deserve to be compensated. If you received a life-threatening burn, your need for treatment and support may continue for years.  You only get one chance to hire the right attorney — make sure it is one who understands your needs as a burn survivor and gets you the compensation you need to rebuild your life.

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Law Office of Michael & Michelle Mandel
1438 Market Street
San Francisco, California, 94102 USA
415.640.7329