Every year, hundreds of thousands of people suffer burn injuries in New Mexico and across the United States. Nearly 30,000 burn victims suffer injuries so severe that they require hospitalization. Generally speaking, burn victims can anticipate spending one day in the hospital for every degree to which their body is burned. As a result, the treatment for a burn injury - even a relatively moderate burn - can be quite costly.
In fact, research suggests that, depending on the severity of the burn injury, treatment can range from hundreds of thousands of dollars to more than seven figures. Costs skyrocket when a burn victim suffers complications, such as infections, sepsis, organ failure, or bone damage. When the comprehensive costs of a burn injury are calculated, including things like lost wages, property damage, and emotional distress, they can certainly be overwhelming.
That’s why it’s critical to speak with an experienced Santa Fe, NM, or Albuquerque burn injury attorney at Singleton Schreiber if you’ve suffered burns in an accident. You may be entitled to compensation, and we can offer local lawyers and national resources to help you fight for maximum recovery.
Contact our legal team in Santa Fe today to discover the immeasurable benefits of having our award-winning personal injury attorneys in Albuquerque in your corner. Your first case evaluation is absolutely free.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Burn Injuries in Santa Fe?
First, it’s important to understand the underlying cause of burns. There are four primary causes: chemical exposure, radiation exposure, thermal exposure, and electrical exposure. Simply put, coming into contact with hot objects, scalding liquids or gasses, electricity, radiation, or caustic chemicals can damage the skin and, in some cases, underlying tissue.
At Singleton Schreiber, we represent clients who’ve suffered debilitating burn injuries because of:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accident
- Uber accidents
- Bus accidents
- Train accidents
- Boating accidents
- Maritime accidents
- Accidents involving defective products, including pressure cookers and lithium-ion batteries
- Fires and explosions
- New Mexico wildfires
- Workplace accidents
- Construction accidents
- Assault
- Arson and other acts of criminal violence
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home abuse
When someone else is responsible for your burn injuries - either because they were careless, responsible for a defective product, or committed a crime - it’s important to hold them accountable. Singleton Schreiber has decades of experience fighting for burn victims in New Mexico and across the nation. We’ve recovered more than $3 Billion for our clients. Discover the kind of impact we can have on your burn injury lawsuit by calling our Santa Fe law office now.
Understanding the Different Types of Burn Injuries
Burn injuries are classified by the amount of damage they cause. First-degree burns are the least serious while fourth-degree burns are the most severe. The part(s) of the body that are damaged, the necessary treatment(s), the appearance of the wound, and the potential long-term consequences will all vary, based on the degree of the burn.
First-degree burn injuries damage part of the outer layer of the skin, known as the epidermis.
- Appearance: red, swollen, hot to the touch
- Treatment: running the wound under cold water, over-the-counter pain medication, cooling ointments like Aloe
- Long-term consequences: usually none, as these burns tend to heal within a week or two on their own
Second-degree burn injuries, also known as partial thickness burns, damage the epidermis and penetrate into the dermis.
- Appearance: red and wet, many times severe second-degree burns will blister
- Treatment: running under cool water, applying antibiotic ointment, wrapping with a loose-fitting bandage and changing it regularly
- Long-term consequences: depending on the severity of the wound, heightened sensitivity to heat or the cold and/or permanent scarring
Third-degree burn injuries are also known as full-thickness burns because they damage all of the layers of the skin. Severe full-thickness burns can also cause nerve damage and destroy muscle, tendons, and other soft tissue.
- Appearance: white or charred leathery skin, often with an absence of pain due to the destruction of nerve endings
- Treatment: cleaning and covering the burn, pain medications, oral or IV antibiotics, debridement of dead tissue, and/or skin grafts
- Long-term consequences: permanent scarring and disfigurement, chronic physical pain, limited physical mobility, psychological distress
Fourth-degree burn injuries penetrate beyond the soft tissue and can begin to damage the bone.
- Appearance: white, charred, and leathery
- Treatment: surgery is often required to remove dead tissue, graft new skin to the affected area, and/or amputate parts of the body that pose a threat to the victim’s life
- Long-term consequences: amputation, permanent physical disfigurement and scarring, severe emotional distress, functional impairment, death
Long-term outlooks will depend not only on the degree of the burn but also on the body parts that have been burned and the percentage of the body that’s been harmed.
Why Should I Hire a Burn Injury Attorney in Santa Fe, New Mexico?
Burn injuries are expensive. You deserve compensation if someone else is to blame. Hiring an experienced Santa Fe personal injury lawyer to take charge of your burn injury claim puts you in a position to win your case and walk away with a sum that really represents what your damages are worth.
You’ll have time to focus on recovering from your burn injuries while your attorney works hard to get you compensation for:
- Current and future medical bills
- Rehabilitation
- Nursing assistance
- Therapy
- Lost wages
- Disability
- Reduced earning capacity
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Inconvenience
- PTSD
- Emotional distress
Funeral expenses can also be sought through a wrongful death action if you’ve lost a close family member to fatal burn injuries.
Burn victims and families in Santa Fe choose Singleton Schreiber because we’re honest, reliable, fearless advocates who go above and beyond. We carefully investigate each case we handle, gather important pieces of evidence throughout the discovery process, and work hand-in-hand with reliable expert witnesses as we build a claim. We’re not afraid to demand life-changing settlements for our clients during negotiations, and if our demands aren’t met, our top-rated civil trial attorneys are always ready to bring a dispute to court.
You’ll have limited time to file a burn injury lawsuit in New Mexico. Don’t hesitate to contact our burn injury lawyers in Santa Fe or accident attorneys in Albuquerque to discuss your case. Your first consultation is always free.
