If you are involved in an accident, such as a car collision or an accident involving a campfire, you can suffer a burn. Burns can be as severe as other types of injuries, causing victims to suffer a loss of sensation in the affected body part, permanent scarring, and the psychological impact of surviving the trauma of the accident and living with a visual reminder of their pain. Depending on their severity, burns can require excision or even amputation of the affected body part. In extreme cases, victims can be burned to death.
If you have suffered a burn or lost a loved one to a burn caused by another party’s negligence, you can file a personal injury or wrongful death claim to seek compensation for the damages related to the injury or death.
If You are a Burn Victim
If you are in need of immediate medical attention, call 911 to get yourself to a hospital right away. The sooner you receive appropriate medical care for your burn, the better chance you have of making a full recovery. You may require a skin graft as part of your medical treatment, which is the placement of healthy skin from another area of the body onto the burned area, allowing the healthy skin to transplant into that area.
In less dire situations, you can take steps to stop the burning process and make yourself more comfortable before you receive professional medical care. These steps include the following:
- Run the burn under room temperature water, not cold water. This will stop the burning process and replenish the moisture lost in the skin;
- Remove any clothing or jewelry that is burned or covered in a burning chemical, but do not remove clothing or jewelry that is stuck to the body. Instead, allow a medical professional to remove stuck clothing and jewelry; and
- When the burn is cooled, apply a clean, dry cloth to the burn. Keep it covered at all times to keep bacteria and debris out, which can cause infection.
Seek medical attention in a timely manner following the accident. Document all that you can about the accident, such as when and where it happened and the event or hazard that caused it to happen. These documents will serve as evidence to support your claim in the event you choose to file a personal injury claim.
Work with an Experienced La Crosse Personal Injury Lawyer
If you have suffered a burn in an accident caused by another party’s negligence, consider seeking compensation for your damages related to the burn and any other injuries suffered in the accident through a personal injury claim. Our team at Moen Sheehan Meyer, Ltd. has served the La Crosse area for more than 100 years and can draw upon this rich experience to represent your interests and protect your rights during the personal injury claim process. Contact our firm today to set up your initial consultation with a member of our team.