Burn Injury Lawyer
It’s heartbreaking to see someone suffer from an accidental burn injury caused by another person’s negligence or carelessness. Unfortunately, it’s very common in our society and can happen to anybody, regardless of their age or gender. If you have been the victim of an accident that resulted in burn injuries, take heart – your family may be entitled to compensation with the help of a burn injury lawyer in your area, even if the accident was completely out of your control! Here are five pieces of advice from our friends at Cohen & Cohen that will help you recover from your injuries and move on with your life after the unfortunate incident.
Do Get Medical Attention
If you or someone you know has suffered from an accident that includes any sort of fire, get medical attention right away. This applies to first responders too. Anyone who is exposed to high heat or flames is at risk for an acute burn injury, which can lead to lifelong complications if left untreated. Some symptoms include difficulty breathing, excessive pain when inhaling or exhaling, popping sounds in the airways (stridor), shortness of breath, wheezing with each breath and blue fingernails due to lack of oxygen flow through the body. These symptoms will occur soon after a burn injury but some may not appear until later in life. If you have any concerns about your health or know someone who does, please seek medical attention right away!
Do Report the Accident to Your Insurance Company
Most people don’t know that the first call they should make after experiencing a burn injury is to their insurance company. You will want to do this so that you can be sure your medical bills are covered. Though the company will want to know all about what happened, it’s important not to disclose any details you don’t have to, as there may be some matters best left private. For example, if someone else caused the accident that burned you but they are denying it or refusing to cooperate with authorities then there’s no reason for them to know you were in an accident unless they become your lawyer later on. In these cases, work closely with your own lawyer so they can navigate your insurance company while limiting information disclosure.
Don’t Assume it Won’t Happen to You
All it takes is one accident to leave you with the need for legal counsel. It may seem improbable that you will ever experience a burn injury, but with statistics showing that nearly 4% of the American population each year suffers from this kind of accident, it could happen to you too. If you are fortunate enough not to be the one who experiences such an accident, then don’t let the possibility scare you from providing care if someone else comes to your home or workplace seeking assistance after such an event.
Don’t Underestimate the Seriousness of Your Injuries
Burn injuries are among the most excruciatingly painful and potentially debilitating injuries that can be sustained. The issue is that they are often not immediately and readily identifiable as such, which often leads to victims underestimating their injuries. A good rule of thumb is that if you sustain an injury in which your skin may have been exposed to flame, you should seek immediate medical attention — especially if it has resulted in blisters or open wounds. While this may seem like basic advice, many burn victims don’t actually realize they’ve even sustained such an injury until hours or days later when symptoms worsen. This can result in all sorts of problems from permanent scarring to slow healing. Early treatment is key!
If you experience a burn injury, contact a lawyer for help with your case!