One of the largest adult burn centers in the northeast can be found in Boston. Many patients of this center may seek out Boston burn injury lawyers for legal representation when a personal injury claim is required.
The Massachusetts General Hospital Sumner M. Redstone Burn Center treats hundreds of patients each year. They provide cutting-edge therapy for acute thermal burn injuries and innovative reconstructive procedures.
Their complete services include:
- Burn Reconstruction Program
- Burn – Acute and Critical Care Program
- Lester and Nancy Fraser Outpatient Burn Center
- Laser and Scar Treatment Program
- Reconstructive Makeup Program
- Psychiatry Service at the Burn Center
- The Wound Center at Mass General
The process of healing from burns, especially extensive ones, is painful and expensive. When someone else caused your pain from their negligence, TorkLaw is here to help you file your personal injury claim.
Understanding Burns and the Human Body
The burns experienced by the human body can level in the degree of intensity. Your skin is made up of three layers – epidermis, dermis, and subcutis. The epidermis is the outermost part of your skin and is made of the stratum corneum, keratinocytes, and basal layers. The epidermis is also the layer where you will find the cells that produce melanin (skin pigment).
The dermis layer of your skin is held together by collagen and is home to:
- Blood vessels
- Lymph vessels
- Sweat glands
- Hair follicles
- Fibroblasts
- Collagen bundles
- Nerve endings
The subcutis layer is the deepest layer of skin, consisting of collagen and fat cells that insulate the body. This layer is also your body’s built-in shock-absorbing system.
Seven Types of Burns
People most commonly associate burns with fire, but that is not the only type of burn a person can endure. Understanding more about burns can help you decide if you need Boston burn injury lawyers to help you with a personal injury case.
Friction burns – Friction burns are created when a hard object rubs off your skin. Not only is your skin being scraped, but the friction is producing heat, burning it at the same time. In bicycle and motorcycle accidents, road rash would be an example of a friction burn.
Cold burns, aka frostbite – Cold temperatures can do damage to your skin. If you get frostbite, the skin is damaged due to frigid temperatures, often endured for an extended period.
Radiation burns – UV rays are one type of radiation that can burn a person’s skin – think sunburns. Also, some cancer treatments require patients to undergo radiation therapy, causing burns that damage the skin.
Thermal burns – Thermal burns occur when the skin touches a hot surface, open flame, hot liquids, and the cells begin to die. Thermal burns are the most associated type of burn associated with the skin.
Electrical burns – Electrical currents can cause burns to the skin. After touching a live wire, a person may notice scorch marks where they touched the wire. If intense enough, an electrical burn could be fatal due to the current.
Chemical burns – Acids, cleaners, solvents, and other chemicals can cause burns to the skin if they are not appropriately handled. For instance, acids can eat through metal, which means your skin may practically melt off if in direct contact.
Inhalation burns – A burn doesn’t have to be external to qualify as a burn. Some burns, such as inhalation burns, manifest within the body. Heat, smoke, and chemical vapor all can cause burns within the airways and lungs.
Classifying Burn Severity
Doctors group burns into four categories, also referred to as degrees, to describe the damage. The higher the degree, the more severe the burn is. Burn treatment plans are often determined based on the severity of the patient.
- First-Degree Burn: First-degree burns are the least severe of burns. Your skin may be red, and you may experience pain (no blisters). An excellent example of a first-degree burn is a mild sunburn.
- Second-Degree Burn: Second-degree burns affect the outer layers of skin and the dermis. The skin will appear bright red, swollen, and may look shiny or wet. Some blistering may occur, and it will hurt to the touch.
- Superficial Second-Degree Burn: The burn damages only part of the dermis, so scaring is unlikely.
- Deep Partial Thickness Burn: This is a more severe burn, which may leave a scar or change the color of the skin in the area permanently.
- Third-Degree Burn: Two full layers of skin are damaged with this degree of burn. It will appear black, white, brown, or yellow– without pain due to the damaged nerve endings.
- Fourth-Degree Burn: Fourth-degree burns can be life-threatening burns. The burn is so deep that it destroys all the skin layers and damages bones, tendons, and muscles in its wake.
When To Call Boston Burn Injury Lawyers
Burn injuries take a lot of time and medical expenses to recover from. There are even some circumstances where a person may not fully recover or succumb to their injuries – leaving their loved ones with pain and medical expenses.
When we listen to your experience during your consultation, we will be able to discern if your claim meets personal injury requirements. The legal practice is more than car accidents and slip and fall injuries. Burn injuries can occur in many different circumstances.
Suppose you find that the medical bills from a burn injury are adding up. In that case, you may want to reach out to a team of experienced Boston burn injury lawyers to discuss your options.
Free Boston Burn Injury Claim Consultations
If you or a loved one have been the victim of a negligent act that resulted in a burn injury, you may need to pursue legal action to obtain compensation. This compensation can help you cover medical expenses, pain and suffering, missed time off work, and other damages.
Our burn injury legal team at TorkLaw has been working on cases just like yours for many years. We provide our prospective clients a free case consultation when they call our offices at 888.845.9696.