Third-Degree Burns in Irvine

Burn injuries are extremely painful and severe, and third-degree burns are especially hazardous to your health. They are deep and severe burns that damage more than just the skin, requiring intensive medical care from specialists who know how to treat them. These horrific burn injuries often result from exposure to chemicals, motor vehicle accident fires, and much more.

When another party’s wrongful act is the cause of the burn, you could be entitled to compensation. For help with third-degree burns in Irvine, let an experienced burn damage attorney assist you with your case.

What is a Third-Degree Burn?

A third degree burn is often called a full thickness burn. It destroys not only the outer layer of the skin—known as the epidermis—but also the entire layer beneath it called the dermis. It may even affect the hypodermis, which is the tissue just below the dermis and is the innermost layer of skin. This form of burn is more severe than a first- or second-degree burn.

Third-degree burns destroy sweat glands and hair follicles, but they can also destroy nerve ending which might mean the injury does not feel painful at first. When this is the case, the pain often reappears during the healing process.

Symptoms of a Third-Degree Burn

A plaintiff should describe all of their symptoms to an Irvine third-degree burn injury attorney. Symptoms of a third-degree burn may include, but are not limited to:

  • Black, brown, white, or yellow skin
  • Severe swelling
  • Extreme pain or lack of pain because of destroyed nerve endings
  • Dry or leathery skin
  • Waxy skin

A person who suffers third-degree burns may also suffer from shock. The body may overreact from a severe burn, causing an extreme inflammatory response, which often damages other tissues and organs by depriving them of vital oxygen.

Treatment for Third-Degree Burns in Irvine

Treatment will ultimately vary based on the severity of the damage done by the burn. In any case, treatment for a third-degree burn is likely to be intensive and expensive. Treatment may include some of the following:

  • Antibiotic creams, ointments, and prescriptions
  • Early cleaning and debriding of tissue
  • Intravenous electrolytes or antibiotics
  • Nutritional supplements or a high-protein diet
  • Pain medications
  • A tetanus shot
  • Functional and cosmetic surgery and reconstruction
  • Skin grafting
  • Physical therapy and other rehabilitative procedures

A third-degree burn will require significant treatment. It may leave lasting damage anyway such as permanent scarring and disfigurement. Severe burns may even require amputation of certain parts of the body.

Seeking Compensation in Third-Degree Burn Cases

A third-degree burn accident lawyer in Irvine could help someone pursue compensation. When the cause of the burn is someone else’s negligence, they should be financially responsible for the losses that the plaintiff suffered.

For example, imagine a tanker truck driver carrying gasoline is watching videos and is distracted. This causes them to drift over the line and hit a car, leading to a major accident that spills gasoline and starts a fire. The fire causes third-degree burns to passengers in the other vehicle. The truck driver, and potentially their employer, may be liable in a personal injury claim for the burn victim’s damages.

File Your Claim with an Irvine Third-Degree Burn Attorney

Third-degree burns in Irvine may have left you suffering in pain, dealing with high medical bills, and being unable to work. You could be dealing with permanent disfigurement and scarring. This experience was also traumatic and has harmed you emotionally and psychologically.

All of these and more may be compensable in a personal injury claim. Let an Irvine burn injury lawyer pursue your claim after a third-degree burn.