Each year over 2.4 million Americans seek treatment for burn-related injuries. These injuries can range from minor to fatal, depending on the severity and location of the burn. Often, negligence on the part of an employer, organization, or individual can result in a burn injury. Attorney Halström represents burn injury victims who have been hurt as a result of another's actions or negligent inactions.

What is a Burn Injury?

To fully understand the damage a burn injury can cause, it is important to understand the ways in which a victim can sustain such an injury. Boston burn injury lawyer, Frederic Halström, represents clients who have been victims of the following types of burn injuries:

• Scalds - The most common form of burn injury, scalds occur when the skin makes contact with hot water or other liquids. Often, these injuries occur within the house or in a work environment, especially in kitchens where hot oil is commonly used.
• Flame - After the scald, the flame is next most-common form of burn injury. When skin makes direct contact with a flame (often caused by a careless cigarette or unattended candle), a burn injury can occur. In some cases, negligence can be determined if a defendant failed to properly monitor an open flame.
• Electrical - When an electrical outlet or wire that is charged with energy makes contact with the skin, an electrical burn injury can occur. In addition to burning the skin, an electrical burn injury can cause internal damage to the victim because the electrical current goes through the body. Often, a burn injury lawyer can help prove the negligence of property owners or business owners if they fail to take proper precautions to cover electrical wires or warn consumers about the presence of the dangerous materials.
• Chemical - Most commonly, chemical burns occur during industrial accidents. These burns can be extremely serious and even fatal because the chemical can continue to cause damage until it is completely removed from the body. Depending on the length of exposure and the area exposed, chemical burn injuries can cause a great deal of damage.
• Contact - Contact burns occur when skin makes direct contact with hot metal or other objects. It is the responsibility of a business or property owner to warn consumers about hot products that have the potential to cause a burn injury. An attorney can help consumers to determine the liability of the property or business owner.
• Ultraviolet - These burns are the result of prolonged exposure to the sun or to ultraviolet light bulbs. Men and women who use ultraviolet tanning beds can put themselves at risk for ultraviolet burns. It is the responsibility of the business owner to ensure the safety of the bulbs within his or her tanning beds and to limit the exposure time consumers have to their products.

Can a Burn Injury Really Hurt Me?

It is also important for our potential clients in Boston to understand the varying degrees of a burn injury. Attorney Halström generally represents victims of serious or highly damaging burns, but our office is always willing to speak with you regarding your injury.

• First Degree Burn Injury- These burns are often associated with sunburns and minor flame or scald burns. First degree burns only affect the epidermis (outermost layer of the skin) and rarely cause long term damage. In most cases, first degree burns do not result in injuries that require a burn injury lawyer.
• Second Degree Burn Injury- Second degree burns typically destroy the epidermis and cause some damage to the dermis, hair follicles, and glands. These burns are typically extremely painful and can cause swelling and scarring. In some cases, it might be necessary to file a personal injury lawsuit against the individual whose actions or negligent inactions cause the burn.
• Third Degree Burn Injury- Third degree burns are the most dangerous and cause the most amount of short-term and long-term damage. Third degree burns are most commonly associated with chemical burns and serious flame burns. There is usually very little pain, because the burn has extended into the fat layer, moving beyond and damaging the nerve endings. Sometimes, in cases of negligence, third degree burns require the assistance of an experienced burn injury attorney to assist the victim in being compensated for losses associated with the injury.