McGowan, Hood & Felder, LLC
Burn Injury Lawyers

A burn is an injury that is caused by heat, radiation, chemicals, or electricity. Serious burns – especially third degree or higher burns, and those that involve a large surface area – can be fatal.

Burns are complicated injuries that affect skin muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and bone. Burns also affect body temperature, body fluids, dexterity, and physical appearance. A severe burn injury may have far-reaching consequences in terms of emotional and psychological damage. This damage may last for years.

TYPES OF BURN INJURY:

Radiation Burns: Radiation burns may be caused by X-rays, radiation therapy for cancer treatment, or tanning beds. Sunburn also falls under the category of radiation burns. Even a malfunctioning (halide) light bulb can cause radiation burns; the bulbs – often used in places such as school gyms, where their bright light can illuminate the large space – may crack and expose people to shortwave radiation.

Thermal Burns: Thermal burn injury is common and may be caused by flame, steam, hot metals, hot oil or grease, hot liquids (“scald burns”), fireworks, space heaters, electrical malfunctions, or improperly stored flammable liquids such as gasoline. Thermal burns resulting from explosions – such as from gas tanks, car accidents, boat accidents, and airplane accidents – can be swift and severe when fuel and clothing ignite.

Inhalation Burns: A burn injury to the airways can be caused by inhaling smoke, steam, or toxic fumes. The injury may be intensified if the victim is inhaling within a poorly ventilated space.

Electrical Burns: Electrical burns can have many causes including high voltage wires, damaged electrical cords, and electrical outlets. The internal injuries that may result from an electrical burn are not always evident in that the visible burns may simply be small entry and exit points of the electrical current.

Chemical Burns: Chemical burns are often associated with industrial accidents. The chemical compounds that can cause moderate to severe burns include strong acids or bases; these compounds are found in cleaning products, battery fluid, pool chemicals, and drain cleaners. The severity of chemical burns may be deceptive. Hydrofluoric acid, for instance, can eat to the bone before the extent of the burn injury becomes evident.

Degree of Burn Injury

Higher degree burns mean deeply exposed tissue and therefore a greater risk of infection to the burn injury.

Burn Injury Management

The first step is, of course, to stop the burning process. Most burns should be doused with a large amount of clean water. The only exception to this is dry powder (such as lime powder) burns: the powder must be brushed off before water is applied. Water not only stops the burning process but removes debris that could encourage infection from the body. Very cold or icy water should never be applied to someone with extensive burns, as it could send the person into shock. Never apply ointment, butter, or grease of any kind to a burn injury; ointment may be applied at later stages to less serious burns.

It is critical, immediately after a burn injury, to assess the victim’s airway. If the victim was burned in a fire, one should assume that there is an inhalation injury unless proven otherwise. Any suggestion of a burn injury to the lungs (such as from smoke inhalation) should be considered a medical emergency.

A burn injury is one of the most painful injuries that a person can experience. Millions of people are burned each year, and of these, thousands will die. Many victims require specialized hospitalization or longterm care for complications. Skin grafts, deformities, dexterity problems, and scarring may require extensive therapy. A burn victim may also require psychiatric care.

Attorneys with McGowan, Hood & Felder, LLC have the ability to represent clients who have been suffered a burn injury. If you or a family member have been injured as the result of a serious burn situation, contact South Carolina burn injury attorneys at McGowan, Hood & Felder, LLC toll free at 18773273800. Attorneys in our Rock Hill, Columbia, and Anderson office locations represent clients throughout Charleston, Spartanburg, Florence, Sumter, and Myrtle Beach and all parts of South Carolina.