Houston Wrongful Death Claim After Severe Burn Injury

Severe burns can result in significant damage to the skin, nerves, muscles, organs, and bones, all of which can change a person’s appearance and physical abilities moving forward. These burns could also cause death. If you or someone you care about in Houston suffered a catastrophic burn that demanded substantial medical attention, an attorney can help you develop a claim and seek compensation.

People can treat minor burns at home. However, burns are more severe and require specialized medical attention at a burn center, such as Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Center or Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Doctors classify burns into different categories based on how deep the injuries are. These categories are called “degrees,” and they include:

• First-degree burns

  First-degree burns are the least severe, but they can still be painful. Only top layers of skin, also known as the epidermis, are affected. Sunburn is a prime example of a first-degree burn. The damages linked to this injury are low and are unlikely to warrant a settlement.




• Second-degree burns

  Second-degree burns affect both the epidermis and the deeper layer, the dermis. These burns can be prone to dangerous infections. They require medical attention when they cover more than 10% of the body or affect the joints, groin, feet, hands, and face. A burn injury lawyer in Houston is here to help in cases of severe second-degree burn damage.




• Third-degree burns

  Third-degree burns extend to the muscle and can cause scarring, disfigurement, and death. They require comprehensive, time-intensive medical care, which might include skin grafts and plastic surgery. Houston wrongful death attorneys can help the family of patients who do not survive treatment.




• Fourth-degree burns

  Fourth-degree burns are the deepest and can cause damage to the bone. They are life-threatening. People who survive this type of burn often require amputation because the skin and tissue are unsalvageable.

A Houston wrongful death claim after severe burn injury will typically occur in third- and fourth-degree burn cases. If you or someone you care about is facing this outcome, the Houston attorneys at Carabin Shaw are here to help.

Houston, the nation’s fourth-largest city, has a vibrant economy with strong roots in the energy sector, advanced manufacturing, and transportation and logistics. Unfortunately, all of these industries are at high-risk for burn-causing accidents.

A burn injury lawyer in Houston might deal with the following types of burns:

• Chemical or caustic burns

  Substances like drain cleaners (lye), paint thinner, chlorine, and gasoline can cause chemical burns. Cleaning personnel, energy workers, pool maintenance staff, and mechanics are at risk for this type of injury.




• Thermal burns

  Hot metals, scalding liquids, steam, and flames can cause thermal burns. Houston wrongful death attorneys know that many of our city’s leading fields put them at risk for this type of injury. People who work in manufacturing, food service, oil and gas, and transportation engage with materials and processes that can cause thermal burns.




• Electrical burns

  Roughly one-third of all electrical traumas and most high voltage burn injuries are job-related. As a result, electricians and industrial plant workers are more likely to sustain this type of burn.




• Radiation burns

  These burns occur due to prolonged exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays or other radiation sources, like X-rays. People who work outside, such as builders, risk serious sunburn, while people who work in (or are patients at) hospitals risk radiation burns from medical devices.

Other accidents, such as car wrecks or semi-truck collisions, can lead to burns, too. In any of these cases, the Houston attorneys at Carabin Shaw can assist you.

If a negligent individual contributed to an accident that left you or someone you love with severe burns, call Carabin Shaw today for a free initial consultation and case review.

To speak to our team, dial 800-862-1260.