Burn Injuries

Law Firm in Harris County Helping Victims of Fires, Explosions, and Electrical Accidents

Burn injuries are not only incredibly painful, but they also can impact the victim's daily routine and quality of life. Every year, about 486,000 individuals are treated for burn injuries, a large portion of whom require long-term medical care. As a result, burn injury victims often face significant medical expenses and time away from work during recovery. Burn injury lawyer Shane R. Kadlec in Houston, Texas has dedicated his 20-year career to helping victims secure due compensation for injuries. He works on a contingency basis, so you can focus your energy on recovering while he pursues legal action. To learn how Mr. Kadlec can help, contact our firm today and review your case in more detail.

Types of Burns

The severity of a burn can range from mild to permanently disfiguring. Most often, burn injury cases deal with first, second, and third-degree burns, as more severe burns may be fatal.

• First-degree burn: First-degree burns affect the top layer of skin and result in redness, swelling, and peeling. Most often, first-degree burns heal in three to six days, after the affected skin cells shed.
• Second-degree burn: Second-degree burns extend beyond the top layer of skin to deeper layers of the dermis, causing redness, soreness and open blisters. They can take three weeks or more to fully recover.
• Third-degree burn: Third-degree burns affect all layers of skin and extend to the tissue beneath. They can cause severe pain and require hospitalization at a burn unit or intensive care unit (ICU). If treated immediately, these burns may not require a skin graft or amputation. However, in some cases, third-degree burns can leave victims permanently scarred.

These types of injuries can impact all aspects of your life, especially if they require ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, and home modifications.

Causes of Burn Injuries

There are many scenarios which can result in a burn injury, including but not limited to:

• Contact with fire or flames
• Contact with steam or hot liquids
• Inhalation of chemicals
• Explosions
• Vehicle accidents

Depending upon the cause, you may suffer a thermal, electrical, or chemical burn.

Long-Term Effects of Burns

Burn injury survivors face a long and difficult recovery process, especially those with extensive burns across their body. Third-degree burn victims can spend weeks, if not months in burn units. The length of stay will depend on the severity of the burn, the percentage of the body affected, and whether the lungs suffered damage due to smoke or chemical inhalation. In the long term, burn victims can face:

• Scars and permanent disfigurement
• Dulled sensations
• Altered skin tones
• Difficulty regulating body temperature
• Emotional trauma
• Amputation

When building your case, Mr. Kadlec can evaluate the extent to which your life has altered to ensure you receive maximum compensation for your injuries.

Damages Awarded to Victims

Mr. Kadlec can pursue compensatory damages to cover both economic and noneconomic expenses. The severity of the injury, the intent of the defendant, and their ability to pay will affect the total amount of damages you may receive. In addition, we must take into account where and how the accident took place and the extent of the physical and emotional pain you have endured.

If the defendant acted in gross negligence, we can also pursue punitive damages, which will be added to the compensatory damages you receive. Often, medical costs associated with burn injuries are incredibly high, costing tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. Though reparations cannot reverse the course of an accident, they can help to relieve the financial burden.

Explore Your Legal Options

After representing burn injury survivors for over two decades, Attorney Shane Kadlec knows how to maximize damages awarded in a personal injury lawsuit. He offers personalized and compassionate care to each one of his clients. To learn how Mr. Kadlec can assist you, contact us online or call 281-962-8949 for a free consultation. We serve clients in Harris County, Fort Bend County, Galveston County, and throughout the greater Houston area.