Mike Ranzenhofer

Buffalo Burn Injury Lawyer

The human epidermis, or your skin, is the largest organ in your body.

The skins sole purpose is to protect your body and regulate body temperature. Normally, skin heals very quickly when it is injured.

But burn injuries are another issue. They are incredibly painful and take a long time to heal. And severe burns can permanently alter your appearance as well as your body’s ability to function. If you, or a family member has suffered a burn injury, it's important to know the different types of burns.

Burns are classified four ways.

• Burn Injuries from Light
• Burn Injuries from Thermal sources
• Burn Injuries from Chemicals
• Burn Injuries from Electrical sources

Light Burns

Light burns are caused by over-exposure to light, especially the sun. A burn from a light source may also be caused by cancer treatment, defective X-ray machines, tanning beds and even light bulbs.

In some instances, an infant or an elderly person can be entitled to compensation for sunburn if they are left in the sun too long by a caregiver. Light burns may also increase a victim’s risk for developing skin cancer later in life.

Thermal Burns

Thermal burns are another common type of burn injury. A thermal burn is caused by the skin being exposed to extremely hot temperatures - like touching a hot burner on a stove, being scalded by steam, spilling hot coffee on yourself or being exposed to an open flame.

Thermal burns can range from mild to severe - and if you were burned by the negligence of someone else, it's critical that you contact an attorney as soon as possible to address any ongoing medical care you might need.

Chemical Burns

Chemical burns are most commonly caused by exposure to common products you have around the house - things like bleach, drain chemicals, pool chlorine and other cleaning products.

But Chemical burns often happen at work. Depending on the type of chemical, damage to the skin can be severe because chemicals burn deeper into the layers of skin.

If you've suffered a chemical burn at work, have a family member contact an attorney to discuss your options.

Electrical Burns

Electrical burns are the result of high voltage electricity traveling through the body. Electrical burns may be caused by lightening, but more common is direct contact with a source of electricity. If enough voltage passes through the body the heart can stop. Frequently though, contact with an electric source can cause severe burns and damage internal organs.

And these burn injuries are most often seen by those who work in an industrial or construction setting. If you've suffered an electrical burn while working, take a few minutes and contact an attorney that is experienced in work-related burn injuries.

Severity of Burns

Burns are classified as first degree, second degree, and third degree.

First degree burns are superficial and damage the top layer of skin (the epidermis) - think sunburn.

Burns extending into the second layer of skin, the dermis, are known as second degree burns.

Third degree burns damage the epidermis, the dermis, and fat tissue beneath the layers of skin.

Third degree burns are the most serious type of burns because they permanently damage the skin’s nerve endings. However, third degree burns are potentially fatal and require long-term, painful treatment.

If you (or a family member) is burned - and the cause was no fault of their own, it is crucial to seek medical attention immediately and get the injuries taken care of.

Don't worry about the cost - get the best treatment possible. Let an attorney deal with ongoing costs and responsibility for the injury.

If you wish to talk about your burn accident, or the injury that happened to a family member, please give me a call. There is no charge to speak with me - and we'll spend the time needed to discuss what happenned and what rights you have regarding the incident.

You can contact me using the contact form found on this page or by calling me at 716 631 9999 or toll free at 1 800 729 4571.