Long-Term Effects of a Burn in Terre Haute

A burn injury is traumatic and often comes with long-term health issues. Depending on the cause of the injury, burns can leave behind scars, both physical and mental. If you have experienced a severe burn due to fire, steam, electricity, or chemicals, you may be eligible to pursue compensation by filing a personal injury claim.

Every burn victim deserves the chance to speak out about what happened to them. We want to help you take a stand and seek justice against those responsible. Simply contact our burn injury attorneys to discuss the long-term effects of a burn in Terre Haute and find out what we can do for you in a personal injury claim.

Key Factors That Determine Burn Severity

In assessing a burn injury’s potential for long-term effects and what damages you may recover in Terre Haute, it is essential to understand the key factors that determine burn severity. These factors include:

• Burn size: The size of a burn matters, as burns over 10% of the body are severe for children and the elderly; for adults, it’s 15–20%.
• Burn location: Burns involving the face, genitals, hands, or feet are a concern due to the potential for long-term damage or impairment of function.
• The cause of the burn: Burns resulting from sources such as chemicals, electricity, or explosives require careful analysis by a physician to ensure proper treatment.
• Age and overall health: Elderly individuals and children should seek medical attention for burns, even if the injury does not initially appear severe, as they may be at greater risk for complications.
• Burn depth: How deep the burn goes into the skin affects severity and risk of lasting issues.

Burn depth is often the most talked about when discussing burn severity. It is where we typically hear the term degrees. This is determined by how deep the burn penetrates the affected area, and includes the following:

• First-degree burns: These look and often feel like sunburns, and the only affected area of the body is the outer layer of skin (epidermis).
• Second-degree burns: These impact the top two layers of skin (epidermis and dermis). These types of burns will have blistering and may appear to be wet or moist.
• Third-degree burns: These affect the epidermis, dermis, and the fatty layer of skin that houses blood vessels and nerves. Burns that go this deep may turn red, white, or black and have a leathery appearance.
• Fourth-degree burns: These extend to muscle and bone. These burns are considered the most severe as they can cause a significant loss of function to the affected area of the body.

Regardless of what caused the burn injury, proper care is needed because even minor burns with blisters can lead to infections. This can further complicate your health and raise concerns for other long-term effects of burn injuries.

What Are the Long-Term Complications of Burn Injuries?

The long-term complications associated with burn injuries in Terre Haute are typically permanent scarring, disfigurement, and/or disability. Injuries often require prolonged medical treatment and rehabilitation due to nerve damage or chronic pain. People healing from burn injuries also often have an increased risk to their cardiovascular, respiratory, and endocrine systems.

Depending on the cause of the injury, people may also have PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Individuals may experience reduced self-esteem due to scarring, which can negatively affect overall quality of life.

The impact of a burn injury can significantly alter a person’s life. If someone else’s actions caused these injuries, seeking compensation from the party responsible is an important step, especially if there are medical expenses and lost wages or a reduced earning capacity on the line.

Contact Our Legal Team to Discuss the Long-Term Effects of a Burn in Terre Haute

If a burn occurred during a vehicle accident, workplace accident, or other situation, compensation may be available to help you heal, especially if it can be proven that another person or entity was neglectful and led to the injury.

Our personal injury attorneys are here if you want to discuss a claim or the long-term effects of a burn in Terre Haute. Contact us today for more information during a private consultation.