Tulsa Burn Injury Lawyers
Compassionate care when heat, chemicals, electricity, or radiation cause death or severe burns
Burn injuries can cause excruciating pain. They require skilled immediate treatment by burn specialists. The physical pain and discomfort can last for a lifetime. Burns typically cause scars and disfigurement, which can be quite traumatizing. Most victims, even with the best doctors, need psychological help to cope with their appearance especially if the burns are on visible parts of the body such as the face or arms.
The Tulsa burn injury lawyers at Biby Law Firm Injury and Accident Lawyers have the experience and resources to hold responsible parties accountable. We file claims against vehicle drivers and owners when a car, truck, or vehicle accident causes a fire. We file claims against construction site companies, restaurants, hotels, and any other property owners if their negligence causes a fire, an explosion, or causes any type of burn. We demand compensation for your physical pain, your emotional scars, your disfigurement, your hospital and other medical costs, and your lost wages.
How common are burn injuries nationwide?
According to the American Burn Association:
- Between 2011 and 2015, nearly a half-million people were seen at emergency rooms for burns.
- In 2016, 3,390 civilians died from residential structure fires, vehicle fires, and other types of fires
- The primary causes of burn injuries are, “fire-flame, scalds, contact with hot object, electrical and chemicals.”
- 2/3 of the people seen at burn units are male though the percentages for treatment at ER centers, by gender, was fairly even.
- Children and the disabled are “especially vulnerable to burn injuries”
While 96.7% of those people treated at burn centers survive, most survivors have severe scarring, life-long physical disabilities, and difficulty adjusting. [American Burn Association]
Many fire-related burn injuries are due to auto accidents, when a car explodes or catches fire, or due to electrical or stovetop fires in residential and commercial structures. People who work with dangerous chemicals and in dangerous conditions are also likely to suffer thermal and chemical burns.
In Oklahoma, burn injuries can also be due to oilfield explosions and fires. These fires may be due to failure to follow OSHA and other industry safety standards. Employees can generally file a workers’ compensation claim against their employer. Independent contractors can file a personal injury claim against the oilfield owners and operators for their negligence if the negligence caused the burn injuries.
What are the different types of burn injuries?
There are four major types of burn injuries:
- Thermal burns. These burns are due to contact with hot items such as fire, scalding liquids, hot frying pans, and boiling water.
- Chemical burns. Here, burns are due to skin contact with acids, chlorines, toxins, and cleaners.
- Electrical burns. These burns are due to contact with the electrical current of a live wire. Electrical burns are often deadly.
- Radiation burns. These burns are due to cancer radiation treatments and other radiation treatments.
How are burns categorized?
Burns are categorized according to their severity and the depth of the burn – how far they penetrate the skin. The core categories, according to Stanford Children’s Hospital, are:
- First-degree burns. These superficial burns affect just the skin’s outer lawyer, called the epidermis. Signs include redness, dryness, pain – with no blisters. Mild sunburn is a common example. There’s rarely any long-term damage.
- Second-degree burns. These partial thickness burns penetrate the epidermis down into the dermis, the lower level of skin. Blistering, redness, swelling, and pain are common.
- Third-degree burns. These full thickness burns “destroy the epidermis and dermis.” The burns may even affect the subcutaneous tissue, the skin’s innermost layer. These burns “look white or blackened and charred.”
- Fourth-degree burns. These burns penetrate the layers of skin and deep tissue. They can also damage the muscle and bone. They destroy the nerve endings and, thus, any sensation of pain. They are often fatal.
Burn injuries are generally considered catastrophic injuries because they can lead to health complications and disfigurement.
Understanding and treating burn injuries and their complications
The treatments vary depending on the type and the degree of the burn. First-degree burns usually heal on their own. Second and third-degree burns require medical care including hospitalization. Fourth-degree burns are often deadly. In addition to the damaged skin, victims may suffer:
- Sepsis
- Permanent scarring
- Infections
- Difficulty breathing
- Contracture
- Nerve damage
- Hypothermia
- Damage to bones and joints
Patients may need skin grafts and plastic surgery. They may also need to seek help from pain management doctors. Many patients also need to treat with physical therapists and occupational therapists. Burn injury victims often consult with psychologists and other mental health professionals.
The initial ER and burn center victims are costly enough. The long-term rehabilitative care is usually quite expensive.
In addition to the medical care, many burn injury victims have difficulty working. Some may never be able to work again. Burn victims may also have difficulty maintaining or developing personal relationships.
How much is my Tulsa burn injury worth?
As with any injury claim, there is no way to say for certain how much your burn injury claim is worth until we know the full extent of both liability and your injuries. Generally, you can make a claim for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Because burn injuries are among the most painful and disfiguring injuries a person can suffer, this position of your claim may be worth more depending on where the burns are located.
A Tulsa burn injury lawyer from Biby Law Firm will review your medical records and any witness statements and investigate the cause of your injuries. Together, we will create a plan to help you and your family move forward.
Burn injury centers in Oklahoma
Alexander Burn Center at Hillcrest (formerly the Tulsa Burn Center)
1120 South Utica Ave
Tulsa, OK 74104
Experienced legal counsel for Tulsa burn injury victims
At Biby Law Firm, we fight for burn injury victims in and around Tulsa. We work with your doctors to fully understand how much pain you are in and what your lifetime medical needs will be. We work to properly determine whether the burns will prevent you from working. Our law firm demands that the individuals and companies that caused your burn injuries are held accountable for paying for your medical care and your changed life. To discuss how a Tulsa burn injury lawyer will fight for you, call us at 918-574-8458 or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment. We handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. We proudly serve all of Green Country, including the communities of Tulsa, Grove, Broken Arrow, Bixby, Claremore, Jenks, Sand Springs, Sapulpa, Wagoner, Muskogee, and the surrounding areas.