Burn Injury

San Jose Burn Injury Lawyers

Our Legal Team Can Help You Seek Justice

With the long recovery times, lingering impairments, and diminished quality of life, victims of burn injuries deserve to receive the full amount of compensation available. In most cases, burn injuries are the result of another person's negligence.

Some of the dangerous conditions that can result in a burn include:

Consequently, individuals responsible for the poor conditions or dangerous product that led to the burn injury can be held liable for resulting damages. In order to hold a person, company, or other party accountable for what happened, your first step should be to document the event as quickly and as accurately as you can.

The more evidence you have about your injury, the easier it can be to work with a San Jose burn injury attorney to build a case against the responsible parties.

If you were severely burned, contact Caputo & Van Der Walde at (800) 900-0863. We serve burn victims throughout Santa Clara County from our office in Campbell, CA.

Common Types of Burn Injuries

Burn injuries take on a variety of forms and can occur for a variety of reasons, such as:

  • Fire burns: Flames can seriously harm a person, wreaking havoc on skin layers, consequently damaging nerves and hindering the growth of new skin cells; 6,000 people die each year as the result of fire injuries.
  • Scalding water burns: Water that is heated to more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit can damage the skin, resulting in severe burns; just about 5,000 people are burned by scalding water each year.
  • Chemical burns: Acidic or base substances can negatively impact the skin, burning their way through skin layers and causing scarring.
  • Inhalation burns: Heated smoke that is inhaled into the body can result in damage to the esophagus and lungs, affecting one's ability to breathe and ultimately rendering one unconscious if exposure is not curbed.

Scalding Burns

Scalding burns involve extremely hot steam or liquid. Children are at an increased risk for scald burns, due to the fact that they have thinner skin than adults. Some studies suggest that young children can get scalding burns from just 5 seconds of exposure to 140-degree water or from 30 seconds of exposure to 130-degree water.

A scald can burn deeper than a fire burn - that is, it may penetrate into the second and third layers of the skin. Although hot vapors and liquids cause the majority of scalding cases; sometimes serious sunburns can also cause similar symptoms. Some studies suggest that over 112,000 people go to the E.R. for scalding each year.

Inhalation Burns

Inhalation burns result from the breathing in of dangerous fumes, gases, or high heat vapors. Depending on the duration of the exposure to the burning stimulus, your own medical predispositions, and the care you got after the event, you could face a difficult road to recovery. Over the long term, inhalation injuries can lead to asthma and emphysema, heart problems, cardiovascular stress, and even death.

Chemicals that commonly cause inhalation burns include:

  • Formaldehyde
  • Ammonia
  • Nitrogen dioxide
  • Chlorine

Chemical Burns

Common burning acids include sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid. Common burning alkaloids include lye, silver nitrate, and lime. Unlike scalding and fire burns, chemical burns may not require "heat" to do damage. Simply the contact between the dangerous chemical and the skin can lead to serious pain and injury.

In some cases, the burn will create immediate sensation and damage. In other cases, the injury may not even be noticeable for days. Burns that afflict the eyes, mucus membranes, lungs, and other orifices may be particularly painful and damaging.

Chemical burns may involve a gamut of substances, such as:

  • Solvents
  • Acids
  • Reducing agents
  • Oxidizers
  • Ammonia-based cleaners
  • Nail products
  • Chemicals at work
  • Paint thinners

If you are looking for help holding a manufacturer, employer, or other party legally responsible for your burns, get in touch with our San Jose burn injury attorneys at Caputo & Van Der Walde LLP for a free initial consultation. We will fight for you.

Classifying the Severity of Burn Injuries

Types of Burn Injuries infographic

There are three classifications of burns:

  • First degree burns - These involve damage to the outer layer of the skin, known as the epidermis. Although these burns are superficial, they still can be painful and cause inflammation, redness, swelling, and tenderness. A first degree burn might include the burn you get after briefly touching a pan on a hot stove.
  • Second degree burns - These burns involve deeper damage to the tissue and can hinder the skin's ability to regulate your fluids and temperature. Damage to the elastic fibers and collagen in the second layer of your skin may occur. Unlike first degree burns, second degree burns often cause blistering on the skin.
  • Third degree burns - Third degree burns involve damage to all three layers of your skin - the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis. Essentially, this burn kills the skin in that area. Like second degree burns, third degree burns can result in permanent scarring and problems with temperature and fluid regulation.

Treatment for Burn Injuries

Recovery from burn injuries can be expensive, and should not be the responsibility of the victim alone if the victim was not responsible for causing the burn injury.

Burn injuries may have all of the following impacts on your life:

  • Require extensive surgery to repair
  • Permanent scarring
  • Permanent life changes

Factors that will influence the success of your treatment will include:

  • Duration and intensity of the fire burn
  • Quality of your medical help and how soon you receive it
  • Your rehabilitation
  • Your general health and strength prior to the burn
  • Whether you suffered additional injuries

Helping Burn Victims Seek Fair Compensation

If you or a loved one has suffered from a burn injury, don't hesitate to contact the team at Caputo & Van Der Walde LLP. Our skilled burn injury attorneys in San Jose will examine the details concerning your accident, and will work to hold negligent parties accountable for their actions. We serve victims throughout Santa Clara County from our office in Campbell, so call now to get started on your case.

Call us today at (800) 900-0863 for a free consultation.

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    - Chris G.

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    - Gary G.

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