Austin Burn Injury Lawyers

Classification of Burns

Most people think of burns as being classified as first-, second-, or third-degree. In the medical world, four degrees are recognized, and one of them has two variations. In their treatment, doctors and nurses will describe burn injuries as (least severe to most severe).

Medically, burns are classified as one of the following:

• First-degree if the burn involves only the epidermis, the outermost layer of skin; these burns heal in a few days without major treatment
• Second-degree, which is often broken into:
  • Partial thickness, which involves the entire epidermis and the uppermost layers of the dermis
  • Full thickness, which involves the destruction of the entire epidermis and most of the dermis
• Third-degree, in which all layers of the skin are destroyed, so damage extends into the subcutaneous tissues
• Fourth-degree, in which damage extends even further, into muscle and bone

While textbooks discuss these categories as if they were clearly visible differences, doctors often have to simply estimate the depth of the burn, which is complicated by the fact the thickness of the epidermis varies from body location to body location and that skin is thinner on children and the elderly.

Exploring Related Physical Injuries

If the burn incident involved a fire, the victim may have respiratory damage from the smoke, especially if toxic materials were burning. If muscle and bone have been injured, mobility can be impaired.

The primary injury from a burn itself is to the skin; however, third- and fourth-degree burns affect deeper tissue as well.

Deep burns may destroy:

• Sweat glands, which are involved in the body's temperature regulation; lack of these glands can make it very difficult to be in environments that are very hot and/or humid and can make the victim more prone to overheating while engaged in strenuous activity
• Sebaceous glands, which lubricate and moisturize the skin
• Sensation on the skin surface, altering the victim's ability to sense hot and cold, distinguish between sharp and dull contact, and identify changes in pressure on the skin

Scarring is a major concern, though modern medicine has made tremendous advances in minimizing scars. If scars form near joints, mobility can be restricted. Scarring is an even greater concern in child burn victims, whose continued growth requires that their skin expand.

Addressing Emotional & Psychological Injuries

Emotional disturbance is common after severe burns. The experience of the traumatic event can affect sleep, mood, and general willingness to engage in normal activities. The problem is exacerbated when the victim has scars, especially in areas that are very visible (mostly the face, hands, arms). The disturbance is exacerbated still more in children, who are by nature self-conscious, females who in this society remain subject to social expectations as to appearance, and victims whose employment requires considerable public contact.

Handling a burn injury case requires four things:

• Experience with the specific type of incident that caused the burn (defective product, auto accident, industrial accident, premises that are prone to fire, etc.); the necessary evidence and potential witnesses differ from type to type
• Experience with the legal principles which apply to liability of specific people or organizations that may have been negligent (homeowners, local governments, retailers, industrial businesses, etc.)
• Experience with burn injuries that allows computation of immediate, medium-term and long-term damages for which the defendant may be responsible; that includes both physical injuries and the emotional/psychological injuries so common for burn victims
• Experience with the behavior and tactics that defendants are likely to display in attempts to avoid or minimize liability, which speeds up the resolution of the case, either through fair settlement or a court trial

Burn Treatment Centers in Austin

Access to specialized care is crucial for anyone recovering from a severe burn injury, and Austin boasts several renowned treatment centers that provide exemplary care. The Burn Unit at Dell Seton Medical Center is a pivotal resource, offering advanced medical interventions and specialized rehab services designed to address the multifaceted needs of burn victims. Equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, their specialists work collaboratively to ensure holistic recovery pathways.

Additionally, the Shriners Children's Texas Hospital, although slightly outside Austin, is another vital facility providing pediatric burn care and recovery programs tailored to the needs of younger patients. This institution is committed to delivering acute care and ongoing support, facilitating extensive recovery journeys for children and their families. These centers focus on immediate medical needs and support long-term rehabilitation, emphasizing physical recovery and emotional well-being.