Nassau County Burn Victim

According to the American Burn Association each year in the United States there are over 475,000 burn injuries that require medical treatment. There were over 40,000 hospitalizations related to burn injuries and nearly 3500 people died as a result of burn or smoke injuries. While some people are severely burned in residential fires in their own homes, many people are injured in accidents at construction sites, at factories, in car accidents, and in other types of accidents. In such cases the fire or accident that caused the burn was often a negligent act caused by another person. If you were injured in an accident that left with a serious burn, it is important that you immediately contact an experienced Nassau County personal injury lawyer as you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and other losses you experienced.

There are many factors that can lead to a victim suffering a serious burn.

• Fires. A fire is one of the most common reasons for burns. A fire can happen in a residence or in any type of workplace. In some cases fires are caused by carelessness such as throwing a lit cigarette on paper, hot grease in a residential or commercial kitchen, or negligent use of matches.
• Explosions. Explosions at construction sites, in factories, and at other workplaces can lead to serious burns. Common causes of explosions in the workplace include flammable gases or liquids in storage tanks that are accidentally ignited and faulty electrical wiring.
• Inhalation. An inhalation burn occurs when the victim inhales smoke or dangerous chemicals causing severe damage to the lungs. For example, in a house fire or a fire that results from a car accident, the victim may experience both burns to the skin and may inhale smoke causing inhalation burns to the lungs. The severity of an inhalation burn is not always immediately apparent, particularly in the case of a chemical inhalation that does not involve a fire. It may take a few days for the victim to experience symptoms.
• Contact burns: A contact burn can be caused by coming in direct contact with fire. However, a contact burn can also be caused by coming in contact with another type of heat source. For example, industrial accidents resulting in serious burns involving hot metal, coals, glass and plastic.
• Chemical burns: Chemical burns can happen when a dangerous substance comes in contact with the skin, or when a dangerous substance is inhaled or swallowed. Chemical burn accidents occur not only in factories and construction sites. They also happen at universities and hospitals in labs, and at agricultural workplaces. Chemical burns also occur in homes since many cleaning substances contain dangerous chemicals.
• Electrical burn: A person is "electrocuted" or suffers an electrical burn when he or she comes in contact with the flow of electricity. As a result the victim suffers internal burns. Electrical burns can result from coming in contact with downed power lines, unmarked electrical lines, and electric current being left on during construction work.

Victims of serious burn injuries suffer serious medical problems.

• Damage to the skin
• Damage to muscle or bone
• Permanent scarring and disfigurement
• Brain damage
• Heart problems
• Infection
• Nerve damage
• Amputation

Victims who suffer serious burn injuries face pain, substantial medical bills, and loss of income. It is not fair that they take on the burden of the financial loss alone. The law agrees that in cases where another person was responsible for the incident that caused the victim's injury, that person must pay the victim compensation.

Compensation may be available for your medical expenses including the costs associated with you medical needs in the moments, days and weeks immediately after the accident as well as for lifetime care. Because you may not be able to return to work for a long time, or you may not be able to return to work at all, the law allows you to demand compensation for lost wages and loss of future income. Furthermore, the pain and suffering associated with burn injuries is also a compensable loss.

If your loved one passed away as a result of the burns suffered in the accident, you may be entitled to compensation based on a wrongful death claim.

Serious burns suffered at construction sites, in factories, in research labs and in other workplaces can leave victims with painful injuries and with substantial financial losses. In order to hold the responsible party accountable it is important that you are represented by an attorney with experience. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates have the experience and resources to thoroughly investigate your case and ensure that your legal rights are protected. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case. We represent clients in the following locations: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan, Nassau County, Queens, Staten Island, Suffolk County and Westchester County.