New Jersey Burn Injury Attorney
Serious burn injuries can be among the most catastrophic injuries one can incur – often leaving permanent damage, disfigurement and even death. If someone else’s negligence leaves you or a loved one with serious burns in New Jersey and you want to file a claim against the responsible party, contact a dedicated New Jersey burn injury attorney at Meirowitz & Wasserberg, LLP.
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Common Causes Of Burn Injuries
Though open flames cause most burn injuries, many other heat or chemical elements seriously burn people every day. Friction is one of the common causes of burns. Friction burns occur when a hard object rubs off some of your skin. It is a combination of a scrape and a heat burn. Friction burns, also called road rash, are common in motor vehicle accidents such as motorcycle accidents. A burn from your skin rubbing on carpet is also a type of friction burn.
Extreme cold, or frostbite, can also lead to a burn injury. Cold burns happen when a part of your skin freezes due to prolonged exposure to severely cold temperatures.
Heat is the most common cause of burns. Thermal burns include burns caused by flames, hot metals, scalding liquid, steam, and many other hot surfaces and substances. It occurs when intense heat begins killing your skin cells. Radiation also causes burn injuries. The most common type of radiation burn is a sunburn.
Chemical and electrical mishaps can also cause significant damage to your skin. Strong acids or detergents cause chemical burns that burn away your skin. Electrical burns happen when your skin comes in direct contact with an electrical current.
If any of the above scenarios were caused by another negligent party and resulted in the harm of you or a loved one, be sure to speak with a qualified New Jersey burn injury attorney to learn if you have a claim.
Types Of Burns
Medical professionals generally use four categories to determine the severity of a burn:
- First-degree burns damage only the surface layer of skin. You may feel pain, but the damage is rarely permanent.
- Second-degree burns affect the surface layer of your skin and the dermis layer underneath it. They cause blisters and swelling and are painful to the touch. Depending on whether it is a superficial burn or a deep partial-thickness burn, you may have permanent scars or discoloration.
- Third-degree burns destroy the top two layers of your skin. The injury will appear black, brown, white or yellow. You will not experience any pain though, because third-degree burns damage the nerve endings.
- Fourth-degree burns are the most severe. They can cause permanent damage and can be life-threatening. Fourth-degree burns damage all layers of your skin, along with bones, muscles and tendons.
Proving Negligence In New Jersey Burn Injury Claims
To win a burn injury case, you and your New Jersey personal injury lawyer will need to prove that the defendant was responsible for your injury. The easiest way to prove he or she was at fault is by proving negligence. It takes three factors to prove that a defendant was acting negligently:
- He or she had a duty to keep you reasonably safe.
- He or she breached that duty.
- Your injury happened because he or she failed to uphold his or her duty.
Discuss Your Legal Options With A New Jersey Burn Injury Lawyer
If you or a loved one has suffered a serious burn injury because of another person’s negligent actions, you may be eligible to file a claim. Contact Meirowitz & Wasserberg, LLP, for experienced and knowledgeable representation.
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