Burn Injuries in Raleigh & NC

Burns in the home or workplace are among the most common types of personal injury - and among the most serious. Burn injuries are not only physically debilitating but can cause mental and emotional trauma as well.  On average, someone dies in a fire every 135 minutes in the United States, and someone is injured every 30 minutes, according to the Centers for Disease Control.  In 2007, an estimated 650,000 burn injuries were treated by medical professionals, and 75,000 of those injuries required hospitalization.

If you or someone you care about has been seriously burned due to someone else's negligence or a product defect, contact the Raleigh burn injury lawyers of Hardison & Associates for a consultation about a potential legal claim. Our Wake County burn injury attorneys and staff are here to help you through the healing process.  We promise to keep you up to date on your case as it progresses and we always make time to answer any questions you may have.

Burn injuries stem from a variety of sources, including contact with flames, hot liquids, hot surfaces, and other sources of high heat, as well as chemical burns and electrical burns. They may occur in the kitchen, in a car accident, truck accident, motorcycle accident, during a restaurant mishap or in a workplace explosion. Sometimes faulty electrical wiring is to blame.

Burn Types & Injuries

First Degree Burns - First degree burns are the least severe but they can still be painful and cause infection if not properly treated.  First degree burns involve the top layer of skin and often appear red in color.  Examples of first degree burns include sun burn and hot liquid burns.

Second Degree Burns - Second degree burns are caused when both the skin and the layer beneath are burned.  Blisters often form and the skin is red and painful.  If a deep second degree burn is not treated properly, swelling and decreased blood flow can cause it to form a third degree burn.  Second degree burns can result from hot liquids, scalding liquids, heated metals and fire.

Third Degree Burns - Third degree burns are often the result of prolonged fire exposure, steam, scalding liquids, chemicals or electricity.  Third degree burns destroy all layers of the skin.  Victims often need multiple skin grafts to repair the damage.

Several internal injuries can be caused by breathing in the hot air around fires and heavy concentrations of heat.

Heat inhalation - Directly breathing heavily heated air can cause serious injuries to the upper airways such as the trachea, esophagus and the mucous membranes.  In extreme cases, the lungs can be directly injured.

Smoke inhalation - Smoke inhalation kills more people than direct contact with fire.  Victims of smoke inhalation are often passed over for immediate medical attention due to the lack of visible injuries.  Physical burn victims are often treated first.  As many as 80 percent of fatalities in burn injuries are the result of smoke inhalation.

Systemic Toxins - Systemic toxins affect the body's ability to absorb oxygen.  Systemic toxins can lead to permanent damage of the brain and other organs.  Carbon monoxide poisoning is an example of systemic poisoning.

Victims of serious burns are highly susceptible to infection and opportunistic diseases -- up to 10,000 persons die each year from burn-related infections. Recovery from a burn injury can be a long and painful road.  Pain medication, skin grafts and reconstructive surgeries are costly and time-consuming.

We understand the medical costs involved after a serious burn injury.   If you or someone you love has become the victim of a burn injury due to someone else's negligence, you may be entitled to compensation.  Typical damages include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of consortium and future medical expenses.

At Hardison & Associates, our Wake County burn injury lawyers devote personal attention and professional dedication to each and every case.  When you hire our Raleigh burn injury attorneys, you can rest assured that we are using our extensive resources to ensure that you receive maximum compensation.  The staff and lawyers of Hardison & Associates work hard so that you can focus on rest and recovery.  We can be reached by calling (800) 434-8399 or please contact us online. We have offices conveniently located in Raleigh, Dunn, Fayetteville, Southern Pines, Durham, and Wilmington.

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