Trusted Delaware Burn Injury Attorneys
Protecting the rights of the injured in and around Wilmington, Seaford and Newark, Delaware
Burn injuries are not only terribly painful, the scarring that results both physically and psychologically can affect a person for the rest of their lives. The severity of burn injuries can range from mild enough to be treated with first aid supplies, to causing debilitating disabilities, to being deadly. The American Burn Association which compiles data from the National Burn Repository reports that there were 486,000 burn injuries that required medical treatment in 2016. There were 40,000 hospitalizations with 30,000 at hospital burn centers.
At Silverman, McDonald & Friedman, our compassionate burn injury attorneys are here to protect the rights of our clients who have sustained serious burn injuries because of someone else’s negligence. We are adept at determining who is at fault and pursuing justice on behalf of our clients. We fight for the compensation you deserve.
Northeast regional burn centers
The United States boasts one of the most advanced healthcare systems in the world. Regional burn centers are a vital part of our national healthcare network. The American Burn Association has a national map with the locations for all of the burn centers hyperlinked. With Delaware’s location in the Northeast region, there are six burn centers within driving distance including:
- The Nathan Speare Regional Burn Treatment Center
- The Temple University Hospital Burn Center
- Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Burn Center
- Stuart J. Hulnick Burn Center
- Johns Hopkins Burn Center
- National Burn Reconstruction Center at Good Samaritan Hospital
- The Burn Center at MedStar Washington Hospital Center
The Burn Foundation, which focuses on prevention, education, treatment and recovery, reports that each year in southeastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, and Delaware, approximately 33,000 people experience a burn injury that requires a hospital emergency room visit. Advancements in medical care has allowed critically burned people to survive but they face many months and even years of medical to recover.
Common causes of burn injuries
There are many causes of burn injuries that can result in a person being admitted to an emergency room for treatment. When these incidents are because of someone else’s negligence, the injured person may pursue legal action for burn injuries from:
- Structure fires
- Electrical fires
- Fireworks
- Car accidents
- Chemical exposure
The National Burn Repository https://ameriburn.org/who-we-are/media/burn-incidence-fact-sheet/ reports the following causes for admission to burn centers:
- Fire/flame 43%
- Scalding 34%
- Contact 9%
- Electrical 4%
- Chemical 3%
- Other 7%
Most burn injuries (73%) occur in the home, 8% are occupational injuries, 5% occur on streets or highways, 5% during recreation/sports and 9% are other places of occurrence.
Categories of burn injuries
Because burns vary so much in terms of their severity, they are divided into categories which quantify the severity of the injury:
- First degree burns are superficial burns which injure the outer layer of skin. The injured person can be treated at the scene with first aid. They may have some pain and the skin may be red and enflamed.
- Second degree burns are more serious as they penetrate to the next layer of skin, they are quite painful and require medical attention.
- Third degree burns are the most severe and can be fatal. Third degree burns can penetrate through the skin, muscle, connective tissue and down to the bone.
The psychological effects of burn injuries
The Phoenix Society for burn survivors discusses how the trauma of a burn injury and the intrusive medical procedure required to treat them can be profoundly traumatizing. This can lead to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
People who suffer from burn injuries must deal with the intense physical pain from the injury, and the psychological distress from the trauma of the event, and from the ongoing trauma of living with the scars of their injury. People with burn injuries feel distress and anxiety about the accident, they worry about their scarred appearance, and they must deal with the physical pain and discomfort as the wound heals.
Taking legal action after a burn injury caused by negligence
If the cause of your injury was someone else’s negligence, you may be able to take legal action against the party that caused the incident. An experienced Delaware burn injury lawyer from Silverman, McDonald & Friedman will hold the responsible parties accountable for their losses.
We handle burn injury cases for people who have been injured in car crashes, occupational accidents, structure fires, electrocutions, explosions, chemical burns, and the like.
If we are successful in proving the negligence of the other party, you may be able to recover compensation for your damages such as:
- Medical expenses now and future care related to the injury
- Lost income from time missed at work
- Diminished earning capacity from the injury
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
Burn injuries can take months and sometimes years to resolve. The pain, the limited range of motion, the prevalence of infections in burn injuries, and the psychological impact of the scarring can have a lasting impact on a person’s life and their ability to work and interact with others. Our skilled legal team focuses on getting the compensation you need to establish a new normal in your life. We offer free consultations to discuss your case and to offer guidance on next steps.
Schedule a consultation with a professional and dedicated burn injury attorney who knows how to help
At the law offices of Silverman, McDonald & Friedman we are here to protect the rights of those who have been injured because of the negligence of someone else. With offices in Wilmington, Seaford and Newark, DE we help injury victims and their families in every county. You are welcome to call 302-888-2900 or fill out our contact form to make a no-cost appointment with an experienced Delaware personal injury attorney now.
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