Baltimore Burn Injury Lawyer

Advocating on behalf of burn victims throughout Maryland

Moderate burns can result in pain and tissue damage that can take anywhere from weeks to months to heal. Severe burns can cause permanent damage and chronic pain, often requiring extraordinary efforts by doctors and caretakers to ensure that the patient can lead a normal and pain-free life. Patients can experience burns from a fire, an explosion, toxic chemical exposure, or any number of ways. What is important is that if you are a victim of negligence, you may be entitled to pursue compensation for your losses if negligence can be proven. The skin is the body’s largest organ, and significant burns to the majority of the body will cause disruption to many systems in the body. A significant burn is a lifelong injury that can require ongoing care.

At Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A., our burn injury lawyers understand just how serious burns can be and the medical attention they require. Our skilled team of Maryland catastrophic injury attorneys provides hope for a better future for Maryland burn patients, and we can work tirelessly to pursue compensation on your behalf to care for your wounds and your family in the future.

How burns are classified

Most people have accidentally burned themselves by touching a hot oven or by turning the tap too far to the left. You put some ice on the burn or run cold water over it, and the pain goes away. When a burn is serious, however, it can have long-term effects on your health. Burns are measured in degrees of severity. Cause and surface area are further factors.

By degree or depth

First-degree

These are the least serious burns; the examples we listed above, like touching a hot surface or running the tap too hot, are good examples. A first-degree burn usually presents with redness or swelling, and medical treatment may not be necessary unless the burn encompasses a large part of the body.

Second-degree

Second-degree burns reach the second layer of your skin and are painful. Most second-degree burns cause blisters, and if they cover a large enough area, they require medical attention. There could be scarring, which may or may not be permanent.

Third-degree

A third-degree burn cuts through every layer of skin and typically results in permanent scarring. These injuries may appear white or charred and require immediate medical care. Because third-degree burns can destroy nerve endings, the burned area itself may not feel pain, though surrounding areas often remain extremely painful. These injuries are incredibly serious and require expert medical attention immediately.

Fourth-degree

Fourth-degree burns are life-threatening and often fatal, though survival is sometimes possible with immediate and advanced medical care. The injury extends into the muscle and tissues and eventually into the bones. If a victim survives, skin grafts and other surgeries will be necessary.

Fifth- and sixth-degree

Some sources may refer to fifth- and sixth-degree burns to describe extreme tissue destruction extending into muscle and bone, though these terms are not part of standard medical classifications and are rarely used outside of forensic contexts. If a victim did survive this extreme level of burn, the chances are high that the burned body part would need to be amputated.

It is possible to survive the most serious burns, but it is incredibly rare. Those who do so face almost unimaginable medical expenses and may not be able to return to their jobs or to their everyday life and activities.

By cause

Though most people think of fire when they think of burns, there are many ways to sustain a burn injury. The Mayo Clinic lists some of the common ways people suffer burn injuries in the United States:

• Chemicals
• Electrical currents
• Fire
• Hot metal, glass, or other objects
• Radiation (like X-rays)
• Steam and hot liquids
• Sunlight or other sources of ultraviolet radiation, such as a tanning bed
• Explosions, including from common gases like propane or natural gas

The personal injury attorneys at Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A., have decades of experience working with these types of cases and understand the medical complexities behind burn injuries.

By surface area affected

Burns are also classified based on how much of the body is affected. This helps determine how serious the burn is and what level of medical care is required to treat it. Many medical professionals often use the “rule of nines” to estimate the percentage of total body surface area (TBSA) that has been burned.

●     The entire head and neck: 9%

●     Upper extremities: 18% (9% for each arm)

●     Lower extremities: 36% (18% for each leg)

●     The entire torso: 36% (18% anterior and 18% posterior)

●     Groin area: 1%

Even burns that are not deep can become serious if they cover a large portion of the body.

Who is responsible for burn injuries in Baltimore accidents?

Determining who is responsible for a burn injury depends on how the injury occurred. In many cases, many different parties can be at play, including:

• Drivers who cause car accidents that lead to fires or explosions
• Property owners who do not maintain safe conditions, such as faulty wiring or gas leaks
• Manufacturers of defective products, which can include appliances, batteries, or chemicals
• Employers who do not have or follow protocols to keep employees safe in hazardous work environments
• Gas companies that install gas lines or appliances that use gas

Damages for burn injury victims in Baltimore

When you suffer from a burn injury, the costs can be extensive. An experienced Baltimore attorney can help you pursue compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages.

Medical expenses

Severe burns can result in emergency room visits, multiple surgeries, further appointments, and ongoing treatment, such as physical therapy.

Pain and suffering

Burn injuries can result in physical pain and emotional distress. Compensation for pain and suffering can include the impact the injury has on your daily life and well-being.

Lost wages

If burn injuries make you miss work, you may be able to claim lost income. Compensation includes lost income, as well as long-term effects on your ability to work.

When to talk to a lawyer about burn injuries in Baltimore

Serious burn injuries can cause long-term damage, affecting your physical health, emotional state, and ability to earn money. If your injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, an experienced lawyer can help you understand your legal rights in Maryland.

Burn injury complications can be deadly

Burn injuries can quickly become more serious than they first appear. Even mild burns may lead to complications such as infections, nerve damage, or long-term scarring. In more severe cases, burn injury complications can be life-threatening and require extensive medical care.

What are chemical burns?

A result of touching or ingesting caustic substances, chemical burns can cause tissue damage similar to burns from heat. Caustic chemicals can be found in household or industrial products like drain cleaners, deodorizers, swimming pool chemicals, or home cleaning products. These types of burns are typically caused during an accidental spill, but sometimes a product may be mislabeled or a product may be misused, resulting in injuries.

Symptoms may include redness, swelling, and blistering, depending on the type and severity of the chemical exposure. Treatment of a chemical burn includes removing any contaminated clothing, brushing away any dry particles, and thoroughly and repeatedly rinsing the affected area with water.

What are electrical burns?

Electrical burns are caused by making contact with a source of electricity, like lightning or a high-voltage electrical current. These burns occur when electricity enters and exits the body, and happen in several ways:

Electrical arcs

Electrical arcs happen when a strong current passes through the air from its source to another conductor or to the ground. A person in the path of the arc can suffer serious injury, including damage to internal organs, if the current travels through the body. These incidents often occur during on-the-job accidents, when a worker comes into contact with a high-voltage power line.

Flash burns

These types of burns are caused by electrical arcs on the skin. Although flash burns typically don’t penetrate the tissues, they can cause burns over a wide area of the body.

Flame burns

A flame burn is just what it sounds like, and is the result of a fire started by an electrical charge. A person may also suffer initial injuries from electric shock before experiencing burns from a resulting fire.

Many electrical injuries can be deadly without immediate intervention.

What are steam burns?

Steam burns are caused by heat and scalding, and mostly occur at home. Steam burns can penetrate deeper than dry heat burns and may affect multiple layers of skin. Younger children and older adults are more at risk for steam burns, as their skin is thinner and more vulnerable to these types of injuries. First aid includes cooling the injured area with cool, not cold, water and seeking medical attention for serious injuries. One famous example of a serious scalding injury is the McDonald’s coffee lawsuit.

What are explosion-related burn injuries?

Gas, propane, or chemical explosions can cause severe burn injuries. An explosion may ignite surrounding structures, vehicles, or equipment, putting anyone nearby at risk of catastrophic harm. Explosions may occur because of a car accident, industrial accident, or construction site incident, among other causes.

Explosions can lead to deep third- and fourth-degree burns affecting multiple layers of skin, often requiring skin grafts and reconstructive surgery. When this level of burn covers large portions of the body, there is an increased risk of infection, scarring, and long-term disability. Nerve damage can also result, leading to numbness, loss of sensation, and chronic pain that may be permanent.

Additionally, burns resulting from explosions can come alongside other blast injuries, like broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, or internal organ damage. Smoke or chemical inhalation can cause additional harm. As a result, treatment for victims of explosions often requires lengthy and costly medical care. On top of the physical harm, explosion-related burns leave many victims with psychological trauma, including PTSD and anxiety, as well as emotional complications possibly related to permanent disfigurement. Explosions may also lead to fatal injuries, leaving grieving families facing unimaginable loss and often confusing questions about what went wrong.

Maryland burn centers

According to medical literature, approximately 450,000 patients receive treatment for burn injuries annually in the United States, with tens of thousands requiring care at specialized burn centers. Burn injury centers serving Maryland residents include:

• Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Johns Hopkins Burn Center (Adult burn center)
• The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins Burn Center (Pediatric)
• National Burn Reconstruction Center at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital (reconstructive burn care)
• MedStar Washington Hospital Center (located in Washington, D.C., regional burn center)

Our burn injury attorneys can work with your doctors and surgeons to ensure the court understands the full extent and scope of your injuries when we seek compensation against the negligent party or entity. We have experience working with some of the most highly-qualified burn life care planners, burn trauma doctors, and burn psychologists in the country.

Burns can be caused by gas explosions, unsafe working environments, car accidents, defective space heaters, and improperly labeled cleaners. At Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A., we protect the rights of burn injury victims whose pain and suffering are the direct result of someone else’s negligence. We know what kind of treatments are necessary for burn victims, and how a serious burn may affect your ability to provide for yourself and your family. Our aggressive personal injury attorneys fight hard for our clients to ensure that their needs are taken care of, so that they can begin the healing process in a less stressful way.

Serious burn injuries often cause a lifetime of suffering

The initial trauma of a burn injury can be catastrophic. In many cases, the injuries can last a lifetime. Victims can face permanent scarring, disfigurement, chronic pain, and loss of mobility that can affect their daily life. Tasks that were once simple, such as getting dressed or going back to work, may be too difficult.

Beyond the physical effects, the emotional toll of a serious burn injury can be just as significant. Because of this, serious burn injuries often require long-term care planning and financial support. Pursuing compensation can help ensure that victims have access to the treatment and support they need.

Experienced Maryland burn injury law firm

At Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A., we believe that burn injury victims deserve compensation that truly makes a difference. We never stop fighting on behalf of our clients. Talk to us today to put over 40 years of experience in your corner. To learn more or to schedule a free consultation, please call us now or fill out our contact form.

Call our Baltimore burn injury attorneys for a free case consultation

Our Baltimore office is located at 575 S Charles St, Suite 504. We’re happy to meet clients in person or via video or phone conference.