It’s estimated by the American Burn Association (ABA) that approximately 500,000 burn injuries receive treatment across the USA every year, and there is little doubt that with a 94% survival rate, a burn injury is one of the most painful injuries a person can live through.

From our experience of dealing with numerous burn survivors and their families in burn injury cases nationwide, we can tell you that a catastrophic burn injury is perhaps the most devastating injury a person can suffer.

An external burn injury occurs when our skin is exposed to a source of heat, electricity, chemicals or radiation; internal burns can be caused in three ways – by inhalation of superheated gases or liquids, by ingestion of chemicals, or through electrocution.

A burn injury will vary in severity according to the skin tissue damaged and any subsequent complications; the 3 layers of your skin, as well as muscle, bone, and blood vessels can all be damaged by a severe burn.

According to the ABA, the most common cause of burn injuries were:

• Contact with fire or flame – 46% of burn injuries in the US are caused by fire or flame
• Scalding injuries – 32% of burn patients suffer injury from steam, hot bath water, spilled coffee…etc
• Thermal burns – 8% of burn accidents happen through contact with hot objects like irons or ovens
• Electrical burns – 4% of burn injuries are caused by inadvertent contact with electricity
• Chemical burns make up 3% of nationwide burn injury cases
• The remaining 7% are a combination of other causes, including sun burn, fireworks, inhalation…

The results of the ABA study also show that men (70%) are more likely to suffer a burn injury than women (30%), and that the most common place for a burn incident is in the home. 43% of burn injuries occurred at home, with 17% on the street/highway, 8% occupational, and 32% in other places.

Source: American Burn Association 2007 Burn Incidence and Treatment Fact Sheet.

At the Cunningham Law Firm in Phoenix, our experienced attorneys have handled numerous burn related cases nationwide over the last fifteen years; we are proud to have developed superior expertise in burn injury cases across the country.

Our case summaries highlight our experience of handling all types of burn related cases, including thermal, chemical, scald, and electrical burn injuries.  What’s more, we work on a contingency fee basis, which means that our clients don’t owe us a fee unless we obtain a recovery for them, so contact us today to arrange your free consultation.

Statements on Cunninghamlawfirm.com are not meant as legal or medical advice. Consult with your health care provider for diagnosis or treatment.