HOUSTON BURN INJURY ATTORNEY

Should You Hire a Houston Burn Injury Lawyer?

Serious burn injuries are rated as one of the most painful and devastating injuries a person can endure. In addition to pain, it can leave long-lasting physical and psychological health outcomes. At Husain Law + Associates Accident Attorneys, P.C., our Houston, TX burn injury lawyers understand all the difficulties and suffering that arise after a burn injury.

That is why no matter how a burn injury happened – whether it is from a defective product, a hazard on the poorly kept property, or an accident burn at another party’s negligence, we will work hard to make sure are adequately compensated for pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost wages, recovery, and rehabilitation, and other related loses.

If you or a loved one has suffered serious burn injuries as a result of negligence, don’t delay, call today. Our burn injury lawyers in Houston can also be reached by email message. Hospitalized patients and injury victims recovering at home can be visited for free initial consultations.

Our contingency fee policy means that we can charge no legal fees unless we win your case.

Common Types of Fire and Burn Injury Lawsuits in Houston Texas

Our Houston burn injury lawyers can investigate your burn injury accident to find the at-fault party. Some common types of burn injuries could be caused by:

Consequences of Burn Injuries

The effects of severe burn injuries are painful and long-lasting. Not only are the victims subjected to excruciating pain and prolonged recovery times, but they also experience long-term psychological and life-threatening challenges. Living with the scars and disfigurement can be difficult and emotionally traumatic and victims may have to adjust to a different quality of life.

Furthermore, victims will be unable to do the activities they once enjoyed and unable to work, leading to financial strain as medical debt piles up.

Infected Burn Injuries: What to Look For

Burns cause many complications, including disfigurement and disability. However, burn infection is an under-appreciated problem that can affect many burn survivors. At Husain Law + Associates Accident Attorneys, P.C., we work closely with Houston burn victims and their families following an accident. We understand how expensive an infection can be to treat and how hard it is to fully recover.

Below, our Houston burn injury attorney reviews some of the leading infections that impact burn victims.

Cellulitis

Cellulitis is one of the more common bacterial infections. Cellulitis is treatable if caught early. If not, however, cellulitis can progress to potentially life-threatening complications.

Look for the following:

• Redness around the burn, such as red streaks shooting off from it or a red halo around the wound.
• Tenderness around the burn, so that touching this area is painful.
• The heat emanating from the wound.
• Foul odor coming from the burn.

A doctor can treat cellulitis by cleaning your wound and prescribing antibiotics. If you delay treatment, however, your cellulitis can progress to something more serious.

Toxic Shock Syndrome

Burn victims can develop toxic shock syndrome (TSS) as a result of severe cellulitis. You might also develop toxic shock syndrome from an old bandage or gauze. This is one reason why you need to change your bandages regularly.

Signs of toxic shock syndrome include:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Rash
• Extreme fatigue

Treatment begins by removing the impacted bandage or gauze and then fully cleaning your burn wound.

Necrosis

Necrosis is a type of invasive injury where healthy tissue begins to die. Early on, you’ll notice necrosis when healthy skin becomes red. The color can change to purple or blue before finally turning black, which means the tissue has died.

You should pay close attention to the color of your wound bed and any surrounding tissue. Other symptoms of necrosis include a foul odor or a loss of sensation in the affected body part.

To treat this type of injury, a doctor will probably clean the tissue and administer antibiotics. However, if your medical team can’t halt the necrosis, you might need surgery, including amputation, to stop the spread.

Sepsis & Septic Shock

Sepsis is a serious type of response to an infection that leads to extreme inflammation. Ultimately, this inflammation can lead to septic shock and a dangerous drop in blood pressure. A patient’s kidneys and other organs can become stressed and begin shutting down. Doctors usually respond to sepsis by prescribing antibiotics to treat the infection. They might also counter a drop in blood pressure and provide dialysis or supplemental oxygen. Septic shock is very deadly, with roughly 40% of patients dying.

Compensation For Your Burn Injuries

Depending on the location, severity, and degree of the burn injury, treatment can be expensive and traumatic. Any time the skin is damaged, the body cannot defend itself as well as it usually can. Even a small first-degree burn from very hot water may become infected and require medical treatment.

Third-degree burns have a higher risk of infections and may take years of treatment to heal. Extensive burns can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars due to extensive medical treatments, hospital admissions, and rehabilitation for a healthy recovery.

The Damages You Seek

Burn injury statistics show that at least fifty percent of all burn injuries arise from preventable accidents. If another party is at fault for your burn injury, you may be able to recover reasonable and fair compensation. The following are the damages that can usually be claimed:

• Reasonable and necessary past and future medical expenses
• Cost of Care
• Past and future lost earnings
• Punitive Damages
• Actual Damages
• Pain and suffering (such as disability, disfigurement, suffering, mental impairment, emotional distress, shortened life expectancy, and loss of a normal life)

Are Burn Injuries Permanent?

One concern people have after a fire is whether their burns will fully heal. We understand the concern. Unfortunately, burns often have permanent consequences that make life very difficult for victims. If you were hurt in an accident, you should seek compensation for all injuries, including burns. Your burn injury attorney also should consider how these injuries will affect your life when determining how much compensation to request.

Here are 4 ways burns can permanently affect you—even years after the accident.

Skin Contractures Limit Movement

Contractures are a common side effect of burns. A contracture is the permanent tightening of tendons, muscles, and ligaments that eventually causes joints to become stiff and difficult to move. Even those who get skin grafts can suffer contracture as the skin pulls in from the far edges. Although contractures are unsightly, they can limit your movement when you suffer a burn on the skin that covers a joint, like your elbow or knees.

To improve movement, you may need surgery or rehabilitation to attempt to loosen the skin and bring mobility back to your joints. With sufficient effort, many burn victims can regain the use of the affected limb, but this can be a grueling challenge.

Burns Leave Permanent Scars

Scars form naturally as a byproduct of how skin heals after it is damaged, such as by fire. Collagen thickens the skin, which can lead to discolored areas that are bumpy. Although some scars will fade over time, others will remain visible indefinitely.

It is very difficult to reduce scars once they form. Some people report benefits from micro-needling, laser, or other therapies, but unsightly scars can cause emotional distress, especially if they are on the face, neck, or hands.

You Can Suffer Nerve Damage

Serious burns end up damaging the nerve endings in the skin. For many people, this nerve damage is permanent, which can mean either chronic pain or tingling, or a complete loss of sensation. Nerve damage in the face, for example, can impair a person’s ability to express emotion or speak normally.

Burns Can Lead to Amputation & Death

Ideally, burns should heal in a matter of months. Unfortunately, some burn victims will suffer from catastrophic infections, such as necrotizing fasciitis. This is a bacterial infection that largely affects soft tissue, killing it. Because the infection spreads so rapidly, patients often need to amputate the affected limb before the condition becomes fatal. Even with the best treatment, a high percentage of people die from the condition.

Burns is one of the ways that this infection takes root in the body. You should discuss with your doctor what symptoms to watch out for and seek immediate assistance if you experience pain or other symptoms.

Contact Our Houston Burn Injury Attorneys Today

If you or a loved one have suffered serious burn injuries at no fault of your own, contact our firm today. Our Houston, TX burn injury attorneys are prepared to fight for your rights and help you recover the compensation you deserve for your losses.

With an office in Houston, we service burn injury victims in Harris County, Fort Bend County, and Waller County including but not limited to Jacinto City, South Houston, Uptown, West University Place, Southside Place, Spring Valley Village, Northside, Hedwig Village, Jersey Village, Mission Bend, Four Corners, Sugar Land, and Chinatown.