Key Takeaways
- Burn injuries commonly result from car accidents, faulty wiring, defective portable heaters, and defective smoke detectors, and missing sprinklers can worsen them.
- National Burn Repository statistics show about 72% of burn injuries happen at home and 20% of victims are children aged five and under.
- Burns are classified from first to fourth degree, and fourth-degree burns extend to the muscles, bones, and tendons and can be fatal.
- Liability may fall on a negligent driver, the manufacturer of a defective heater, smoke detector, or vehicle part, or a property owner or landlord.
- Burn victims may pursue economic and non-economic damages, with punitive damages possible when injuries result from egregious conduct.
In this article
- Leading Causes of Burn Injuries in the United States
- What Are Some Important Burn Injury Statistics?
- What Are Treatment Methods for Portland Burn Injuries?
- Type of Burn Injuries in Portland
- Possible Compensation Available to You Following a Burn Injury
- Why Hire a Portland Burn Injury Attorney?
- Everyone Deserves a Passionate Advocate We’ve Got Three
- Frequently Asked Questions About Burn Injury Claims In Portland
Paulson Coletti Trial Attorneys PC is a personal injury trial law firm based in Portland and representing clients throughout Oregon and Washington. The firm stands ready to advocate on behalf of burn injury victims and their families. If you or someone you love was involved in an accident and sustained serious burns, we invite you to contact our firm today for a free review of your case. Our Portland burn injury lawyer is prepared to fight for you or your loved one.
Leading Causes of Burn Injuries in the United States
Burn Injuries in Car Accidents
Many burn injuries occur because of car accidents. In the event of a severe crash, vehicles can ignite with passengers still inside. Cars can catch fire after accidents for a number of reasons. In some cases, a defect in the vehicle’s design puts a vehicle at a higher risk of fire in the event of an accident, often because of gas tank placement. More common is a damaged crumple zone. Even the
best-designed cars can leave the engine, gas tank, and other dangerous components vulnerable in the event of an accident. A car accident lawyer in Portland can investigate the root cause of the fire and work to secure compensation for your injuries.
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Faulty Wiring
Wiring can be deemed “faulty” for a few reasons: most commonly, wires are faulty due to wear and tear, faulty by design or installed incorrectly. Faulty wiring in homes, vehicles, and other structures is a common cause of fires and burn injuries in the United States.
Defective Portable Heaters
Defective heaters, particularly portable heaters, are a common cause of fires and burn injuries. While in some cases these heater accidents are caused by human error (i.e., putting the heater too close to another object), others are issues of product liability.
Defective Smoke Detectors
Smoke detectors fail to perform their functions for a number of reasons, including missing batteries, dead batteries, improper installation, and defective design/manufacturing of the device itself. Landlords are responsible for installing and maintaining a working smoke detector; homeowners maintain this responsibility on their own. Either type of individual can have a valid injury claim, but renters may have a claim against their landlord, rather than the smoke detector manufacturer.
Missing or Defective Sprinkler Systems
While burn injuries aren’t caused by a missing/defective sprinkler system, they can be worsened by it. Older buildings built before sprinkler requirements may not be equipped with these systems. Faulty installation or manufacturing could result in sprinklers not going off at a critical time.
“At Paulson Coletti, ‘liberty and justice for all’ is more than just a phrase – it is our mandate. Our team of trial lawyers is driven to pursue justice for the injured, ensuring that the responsible parties are held accountable. Whether your case settles or goes to trial, you can trust our Oregon personal injury lawyers to be the legal advocates you need so your voice can be heard.”
What Are Some Important Burn Injury Statistics?
The following statistics were compiled by the American Burn Association’s National Burn Repository.
- The average burn injury victim is male, aged 32
- 20% of burn injury victims are children aged five and under
- 6.2% of fire/flame injury victims die from their burns
- A majority of burn injuries happen in the home or place of residence, about 72%
Nearly half of all burn injury victims sustained their injury due to open fire or flame exposure. The second most common origin of burn injuries was scalding by hot liquid, about 33.5% of all victims included in the study. Coming into contact with a hot object was the third leading cause of burn injury, but only accounted for about 8.9% of occurrences.
What Are Treatment Methods for Portland Burn Injuries?
Treatment after a burn injury depends largely on the type, severity, and surface area of the burn injury. Some common types of treatment that burn injury patients require include:
- Skin grafting: Plastic surgery and other types of skin grafting are common treatment options for burn injury victims. Typically, skin grafting involves reconstructing the surface by removing the burned skin and replacing it with a graft from another area of the body.
- Amputation: The most severe burns require amputation of the affected body part. Usually, this is only reserved for cases of fourth-degree burns that extend through all layers of the skin down to the muscle, ligaments, and bone.
- Rehabilitation: Some burns are severe enough to damage the underlying nerves and muscles, causing loss of movement or impaired movement. Sometimes, mobility can be restored, albeit partially, through rehabilitation.
Many burn injury victims also develop pneumonia (ventilator-associated pneumonia) and other types of respiratory failure due to smoke and ash inhalation. This is usually treated with antibiotic therapy.
Burns are among the most traumatic injuries that a person can sustain. These devastating injuries can be extremely painful and lead to intense medical interventions, scarring, disfigurement, and even death. Severe burns are often classified as catastrophic injuries due to their long-term impact on a victim’s life. Learn more about catastrophic injuries and how they may affect your claim..
A Portland burn injury attorney with Paulson Coletti Trial Attorneys PC can help you to navigate the legal system and fight to recover the damages you are entitled to.
“Most cases settle, but each of our cases is prepared as if it’s going to trial. The insurance companies know it and so do the defense lawyers defending them. That’s why we get such great results for our clients.”
Type of Burn Injuries in Portland
When assessed by medical professionals, burn injuries are classified by degrees. First-degree being the least serious and fourth-degree being the most severe. Below are a list and descriptions of each burn type:
- First-degree burns are the mildest category of burn. First-degree burns do not require medical treatment and only affect the outermost layer of skin, causing redness, pain, and minor swelling.
- Second-degree burns may require medical attention. They affect the outer layer of skin and the layer of skin beneath it. Expect severe pain, blistering, and swelling from second-degree burns.
- Third-degree burns are very severe because they extend through all layers of the skin. They are characterized by their black or white appearance and can leave the burned victim with substantial scarring and disfigurement.
- Fourth-degree burns are the most serious type of burn, extending beyond the skin to the muscles, bones, and tendons. These types of burns can be fatal.
Usually, depending on the severity of the injury, the victim could be treated in a hospital or burn center. Burn centers specialize in caring for burn injuries. Burn technicians clean and change bandages while the entire medical team inspects the wound and watches for problems they can head off before they become more severe.
Possible Compensation Available to You Following a Burn Injury
If you or someone you care for has suffered a burn injury caused by someone else’s egregious conduct or blatant neglect, you may be entitled to recover damages for your injuries. These damages may come as economic, non-economic, or punitive damages.
Economic Damages You May Seek For Your Burn Injury
Economic damages are more simple to calculate since they directly correlate to monetary damage. Below are a few possible economic damages that may be available to you.
- Medical expenses beginning with the initial ambulance ride, emergency room visits, diagnostic tests, procedures and treatments, therapy, skin grafts, pain relief measures, prescriptions, cosmetic procedures, hospital stays, doctor visits, and follow-up visits can be included in your damage claim.
- Loss of income can be sustained if the injury prevents you from being able to attend work. Being unable to work due to the burn injury may entitle you to compensation for your lost wages.
- Vocational rehabilitation may be necessary and included in the damages you may seek.
- Burns are painful and traumatic and may cause the injured mental anguish. Mental health counseling may be applicable for many burn victims.
- If the claimant loses their job because of their burn injuries, it is likely that they also will lose the benefits that came with the job.
- Transportation to and from medical and mental health appointments is another expense incurred by the injured party.
- Loss of educational opportunities is another unfortunate issue caused by a burn accident, for instance, not completing a class they are enrolled in because of their injury.
- Loss of future income may be another damage recovered following a burn accident. An example of loss of future income could be if the injured party were a surgeon, but nerve damage from the burn could cause a loss of sensitivity and the dexterity needed to continue that career path.
- The need for household help is another economic damage that should be considered. The injury may cause the victim to need hired help with household chores they once did for themselves.
Non-economic Damages Potentially Available to Burn Victims
Non-economic damages can be slightly more complicated to calculate but are no less valid than easily calculated economic damages. Your Portland burns injury lawyer will review your case and ensure you request all damages you may be eligible to receive.
- The pain and suffering from a burn injury can take a toll on the victim physically and emotionally. Your attorney will most certainly pursue compensation for that in your burn injury claim.
- Disfigurement is often a side effect of a burn injury, leaving the victim permanently scarred and disfigured. This lasting injury can often significantly reduce a person’s quality of life as they may face shame, embarrassment, and multiple surgeries to try to correct the physical problems.
- Burns can result in the death of the victim. The deceased’s family may be entitled to damages due to their wrongful death.
Punitive Damages Available to Burn Victims in Portland
Occasionally burn victims in Portland are awarded punitive damages. This typically happens if the injuries exist due to egregious conduct. They are awarded so that the defendant is punished and to discourage the kind of behavior that caused the injuries.
Why Hire a Portland Burn Injury Attorney?
Dealing with a severe injury is difficult. It can be further complicated when the legal process is involved. A Portland burn injury attorney can be of assistance:
- A Portland burn injury attorney will use their resources and experience to investigate the causes of your burn injury properly.
- They can determine the amount of compensation that you should be entitled to recover.
- They will negotiate with the responsible party’s insurance company to ensure you are fairly compensated.
- If negotiations are unsuccessful with the other party’s insurance agency, your attorney can pursue a lawsuit on your behalf.
- If your case must go to trial, your burn injury lawyer in Portland will be at your side while representing you in court.
The lawyers with Paulson Coletti Trial Attorneys PC tick all of these boxes and can offer you legal representation that is tenacious, compassionate, experienced, and successful. We are dedicated to our clients and will work hard to ensure that you are awarded the maximum compensation possible.
Everyone Deserves a Passionate Advocate We’ve Got Three
At Paulson Coletti Trial Attorneys PC, practicing law isn’t just a business. It’s a way of life. To be a Portland personal injury attorney, you have to be competitive to the core while simultaneously a compassionate advocate. We believe it’s these qualities that have helped us help so many people recover the compensation they deserve after a wrongful injury. If you or someone you love sustained a serious burn injury, we invite you to contact us today for a free review of your case.
Frequently Asked Questions About Burn Injury Claims In Portland
What Are The Most Common Causes Of Burn Injuries In Portland?
Burn injuries commonly occur due to car accidents, faulty wiring, defective portable heaters, defective smoke detectors, and missing or improperly functioning sprinkler systems. Severe vehicle crashes can cause cars to catch fire, sometimes due to the placement of the gas tank or damage to critical components. Fires also result from worn or improperly installed wiring in homes and buildings.
In residential rental settings, landlords may be responsible for maintaining working smoke detectors. While sprinkler systems do not cause burns, missing or defective systems can significantly worsen injuries.
Who Can Be Held Liable For A Burn Injury Accident?
Liability depends on the source of the fire or burn. A negligent driver may be responsible when a crash leads to a vehicle fire. Manufacturers can be held accountable for defective heaters, smoke detectors, or vehicle components. Property owners and landlords may be liable for failing to maintain safe wiring, install working smoke detectors, or ensure proper fire safety systems.
Determining responsibility requires examining how the burn occurred and whether negligence or defective design contributed to the harm.
How Do I Prove Negligence In A Portland Burn Injury Case?
Proving negligence involves showing that another party’s careless conduct or blatant neglect caused the burn injury. This may include evidence of faulty installation, improper maintenance, defective product design, or failure to follow safety requirements.
Investigating the origin of the fire, reviewing maintenance records, and evaluating product performance are key steps in building a strong claim. Establishing the link between the negligent act and the severity of the injury is essential to recovering damages.
What Damages Can I Recover In An Oregon Burn Injury Lawsuit?
Burn victims may pursue economic, non-economic, and in some cases punitive damages. Economic damages can include ambulance transportation, emergency treatment, surgeries, skin grafts, rehabilitation, prescriptions, hospital stays, follow-up care, vocational rehabilitation, lost income, loss of future earnings, transportation to medical appointments, and household assistance.
Non-economic damages may include pain and suffering, mental anguish, and disfigurement. In wrongful death cases, surviving family members may seek compensation for their loss. Punitive damages may be available when injuries result from egregious conduct.
How Long Do I Have To File A Burn Injury Claim In Oregon?
Burn injury claims are subject to Oregon’s statute of limitations for personal injury cases. Filing within the required time period is critical to preserving your right to seek compensation. Prompt action also allows for a thorough investigation into the cause of the burn and ensures that important evidence is not lost.
Who Is Eligible To File A Burn Injury Lawsuit?
An injured person has the right to pursue a claim when the burn was caused by another party’s negligence or defective product. In cases where a burn injury results in death, certain family members may be entitled to pursue a wrongful death claim. The specific circumstances of the injury and the relationship to the victim determine eligibility.
Why Is It Important To Contact A Portland Burn Injury Attorney As Soon As Possible?
Severe burns are often classified as catastrophic injuries because of their long-term impact, including scarring, disfigurement, nerve damage, and the possibility of amputation. These cases frequently require extensive medical treatment, including skin grafting, rehabilitation, and respiratory care.
A Portland Burn Injury Attorney can investigate the cause of the injury, determine the full scope of damages, negotiate with the responsible party’s insurance company, and pursue litigation when necessary. At Paulson Coletti, we are dedicated to advocating for burn victims and fighting to secure the maximum compensation available under the law.