Every year in the United States, hundreds of thousands of individuals suffer from burn injuries, ranging from minor burns to life-threatening conditions. According to statistics from the CDC, approximately 398,000 people receive medical treatment for burn injuries annually. These injuries result from a variety of causes, including fires, scalding liquids, and electrical accidents. The severity of these incidents is underscored by the National Fire Protection Association‘s data, which reports 3,800 deaths annually due to fire and smoke inhalation, highlighting the critical nature of burn injury prevention and treatment.
During Fourth of July celebrations in South Florida, incidents involving fireworks often lead to significant injuries, illustrating the potential dangers associated with these festivities. This past July Fourth, at least five individuals in South Florida were injured in fireworks explosions. Near 300 E Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale, an 18-year-old suffered burns when fireworks unexpectedly detonated. Similarly, another teen at a professional fireworks display on Fort Lauderdale Beach sustained injuries while handling fireworks.
In addition to fireworks, unfortunately, there are a variety of reasons including negligence and defective products that can lead to serious injuries and subsequently, burn injury lawsuits.
Common Types of Burn Injuries
Burn injuries vary significantly in severity and cause. Here are some common types:
Thermal Burns
Thermal burns are caused by contact with hot objects, flames, steam, or scalding liquids. They can range from minor first-degree burns to severe third-degree burns, which destroy all skin layers and cause nerve damage.
Chemical Burns
Chemical burns result from exposure to strong acids, solvents, or detergents. These can be particularly dangerous as they continue to cause damage until the chemical is thoroughly washed away.
Electrical Burns
Electrical burns occur when an electric current passes through the body. These burns often cause internal injuries that might not be immediately visible.
Radiation Burns
Radiation burns include sunburns and those caused by radiation therapy. They can damage the skin and underlying tissues.
Friction Burns
Friction burns are a combination of heat and abrasion injuries. They often result from accidents like motorcycle crashes or carpet burns.
Burn Injury Due to Fire Products
Landlords and employers have a responsibility to provide and maintain fire safety devices like smoke detectors and fire extinguishers on their premises. However, not all of these products perform as expected, posing significant risks to occupants.
Defective Smoke Detectors
Ionization smoke detectors, commonly used in homes, have been implicated in delaying fire detection significantly compared to other types of alarms. In critical situations, this delay can be life-threatening. Several states have banned these detectors due to their ineffectiveness in timely alerting residents to fires. Manufacturers such as Kiddie, BRK Brands, and USI Electric have faced lawsuits over these defects.
Faulty Fire Suppression Devices
Certain stove-top fire suppression devices, designed to swiftly extinguish fires, have faced criticism for their failure to perform as expected. Instances have shown these devices failing to activate or adequately contain fires, posing significant risks to users. Concerns have been raised over incidents involving hot grease splashing onto stoves during activations, highlighting the potential hazards associated with their use. Despite these issues, these products remain in use across various apartment complexes, notably in low-income housing settings.
Burn Injury Lawsuits in Miami
If you or a loved one has experienced a serious burn injury or other personal injury due to someone else’s negligence or recklessness, seeking legal guidance is crucial to protect your rights and explore compensation options. At Panter, Panter & Sampedro, our team of dedicated Burn Injury Lawyers in Miami is committed to advocating for your rights. With over 30 years of experience, our attorneys have a proven track record of helping our clients recover compensation.
For more information on how our attorneys can assist you, contact us today at 305-662-6178 to schedule a FREE CONSULTATION.
Sources:
https://www.webmd.com/first-aid/types-degrees-burns
https://panterlaw.com/personal-injury/burn-fire-injuries/
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhamcs/web_tables/2021-nhamcs-ed-web-tables-508.pdf
