Experienced and Trusted Burn Injury Law Firm

San Diego Burn Injury Lawyers

Advocating for San Diego Burn Victims

Severe burns rank among the most serious injuries a victim can suffer. They may require hospitalization, multiple surgeries, skin grafting, and specialized treatment. The Burn Institute provides services for burn survivors in San Diego.

If you or your loved one has sustained serious burns because of someone else’s negligence, consult with an experienced San Diego personal injury attorney as soon as possible. At Eugene Bruno & Associates, we work hard and win for our clients.

Eugene Bruno & Associates has been helping burn accident victims in San Diego for over 30 years. Expertise.com rated Eugene Bruno & Associates as the Best Personal Injury Lawyers in San Diego, and we have an A rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Contact our San Diego burn injury lawyers at 1-888-BRUNO-88 (1-888-278-6688) for the skilled legal representation you need after a severe injury. We offer a FREE consultation.

What Types of Accidents Can Result in Burn Injuries?

Burn injuries may result from a several type of accidents, including:

• Car accidents: Automobiles engines use gasoline and combustion and become heated when driven. Thermal burns can occur when drivers or passengers come into contact with hot surfaces or liquids in a crash. Electrical burns can be caused by contact with wires that are exposed in a collision.
• Motorcycle accidents: Riders are vulnerable to several types of burns in a motorcycle crash. A spark can start a fire when a collision causes the gas tank to leak. Metal parts on a bike can reach high temperatures, including the exhaust and engine. A rider can come into contact with hot surfaces in a collision. Corrosive materials, such as gasoline and battery acid, can cause chemical burns to a rider’s skin.
• Apartment and hotel fires: Faulty wiring in buildings and other factors can cause fires in apartment buildings and hotels. Tenants and guests can be seriously injured when property owners fail to maintain their premises in a safe condition.
• Truck accidents involving CNG-powered vehicles or truck transporting flammable substances can lead to severe burns. The high impact of truck collisions may cause fuel tanks to rupture and ignite, putting road users at significant risk.
• Construction workers face the threat of burns from hazards that include exposed wires, welding equipment, and the handling of hot materials.
• Defective products: Defective electrical products, such as vaping devices, kitchen appliances, space heaters, and electric blankets, can cause fires and severe burns to consumers when they malfunction.
• Workplace accidents are a significant source of burn injuries, particularly in industries that handle flammable or caustic materials. This includes oil rigs and refining and chemical plants.

What Are the Different Types of Burn Injuries?

Burn injuries are categorized by their severity and the source of the burn. The most common types include thermal burns, which result from exposure to flames, hot liquids, steam, or other sources of intense heat. Chemical burns are the result of contact with corrosive substances like acids or alkalis that can eat away the skin. Electrical burns happen when electric current passes through the body, potentially causing internal damage. Radiation burns are caused by exposure to radiation, including sunburns from ultraviolet light.

Burns are also classified by degrees, with first-degree being the most minor and fourth degree being the most severe, often resulting in damage to bones and internal organs:

• First-degree burns: A first-degree burn is a minor injury that causes pain and redness in the epidermis – the outer layer of skin.
• Second-degree burns: In the second degree, burns affect the epidermis and also penetrate to the dermis, the deeper layer of skin. Second-degree burns can cause pain and scarring. Symptoms include swelling and skin that is red, white, or splotchy.
• Third-degree burns: The damaged tissue extends through the epidermis and the dermis to the fat layer beneath the skin. Affected tissues may be white, brown, or black. Third-degree burns can cause nerve damage leading to numbness and loss of mobility and result in permanent scarring and disfigurement.
• Fourth-degree burns: These are the highest level of burns, affecting all layers of the skin, tendons, muscles, and bones. Fourth degree burns are often fatal.

Wound Care and Treatment Options Are Available for Burn Injury Victims

Immediate treatment for burn injuries is crucial to minimize damage and begin the healing process. For minor burns, cooling the burn under cold running water can help reduce swelling and pain. It is important not to apply ice, as this can cause further tissue damage. Covering the burn with a sterile, non-fluffy cloth or dressing can protect the area from infection.

For more severe burns, it’s vital to seek professional medical attention promptly. In such cases, emergency services should be called, and the victim should be kept warm and calm until help arrives. Removing any constrictive clothing or jewelry near the burned areas is advised to prevent further injury as the affected area may swell.

Severe burns are typically treated in burn centers. Treatment may involve skin grafting and other surgical procedures. Burn injuries may require pain management and occupational therapy. Common therapies include:

• IV fluids to prevent dehydration and organ failure
• Water-based treatments such as ultrasound mist therapy to clean and stimulate wound tissue
• Burn creams and ointments to help prevent infection
• Specialty wound dressings to prepare the wound to heal
• IV antibiotics to fight infection
• Tetanus shot
• Pain and anxiety medications

Long-term Care Options for Burn Victims

The road to recovery from severe burn injuries often requires long-term care, which can include a combination of physical therapy, reconstructive surgery, and psychological support.

Physical therapy helps burn victims regain mobility and strength, while reconstructive surgery can repair and minimize scarring and disfigurement. Since burn injuries can also have a profound psychological impact, counseling and support groups are essential for emotional recovery. For some, specialized care facilities offer comprehensive rehabilitation programs.

Establishing Liability in San Diego Burn Injury Cases

Determining liability in burn injury cases is a complex process that requires your burn injury attorney to establish negligence. Eugene Bruno & Associates will conduct a thorough investigation to uncover the root cause of the accident, whether it’s a violation of safety protocols at a construction site or a manufacturing defect in safety equipment. In cases involving truck or construction accidents, multiple parties may bear responsibility, including employers, property owners, equipment manufacturers, or other negligent parties.

Proving liability often requires expertise in California law, OSHA safety regulations, and industry standards. We work diligently to gather evidence, such as eyewitness testimonies, accident reports, and expert analyses, building a strong case on behalf of our clients. By identifying all liable parties, we seek to obtain the compensation that burn injury victims need for their medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Employers or property owners can be held liable for burn injuries if their negligence contributed to the accident. An employer’s failure to provide proper training, enforce safety protocols, or maintain a safe working environment can be grounds for liability. This includes not providing adequate protective gear or failing to manage and store hazardous substances correctly. Property owners have a duty to ensure their premises are safe for occupants and visitors. If a burn injury results from unsafe property conditions, such as faulty wiring or a lack of fire safety measures, the property owner may be liable.

How Can a San Diego Burn Injury Attorney Help?

Severe burn injuries may require extensive medical treatment and time away from work. They may cause permanent partial or total disability. It is important for your financial future to recover the maximum compensation available from responsible parties. Our San Diego burn injury lawyers at Eugene Bruno & Associates will accept no low ball offers. We get results for our clients, with a 99.7% success rate.

If you or your loved one has suffered severe burn injuries in San Diego, call us 1-888-BRUNO-88 (1-888-278-6688) to schedule a free consultation. We can investigate the accident to determine fault and liability, assess the full extent of your damages, and effectively pursue the compensation you need and deserve.